Post by rdywenur on Mar 5, 2008 13:59:13 GMT -7
The Castle Museum occupies a once fortified castle, with time converted into an elegant, three-wing residence. In all likelihood, the first castle in Pszczyna – according to Heinrich Schaeffer, a ducal annalist and Pszczyna chronicler who lived in the 19th century – was built in the 11th or 12th century by the Piast princes. It had been a one-wing construction, surrounded by earthworks and a moat. It served as a hunting lodge, also throughout the following centuries until the 20th century since the nearby forests, abundant in chase game, were famous for hunting parties organised in the area. It was only in the 15th century that a brick castle was built in Pszczyna by Helena Korybutówna, a niece of Wladyslaw Jagiello.
This mediaeval castle – within the centuries - was many a time rebuilt and extended. The last reconstruction – in the neo-baroque style – was carried out in the years 1871-1876, by Aleksandre Hippolite Destailleur, a famous French architect (1822-1893). Contrary to the previous works, protracted due to lack of financial resources, this reconstruction was done with a flourish and without getting into debt. In this style the castle has preserved up to these days.
Today, the CastleMuseum in Pszczyna is a scientific and cultural centre. It is one of the most frequently visited museums-residences in Poland. Every year, the castle attracts over 100 thousand tourists. Moreover, the music-making tradition always vivid in the castle is still continued. It goes back to the times of Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767), a famous composer of the German baroque, who spent summer months in Pszczyna in the years 1704 to 1707.
Since 1979 the Museum has been organising concerts of baroque music, known as Telemann Soirées.
Frans Floris (1516-1570)"Dziatki pajdzcie do mnie"
Zamek Park (castle grounds)
After your walk in the park you may have built an appetite and you should go to the famous Frykowka Restaurant nearby.