POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CASTLE OF THE POMERANIAN GRYFITS IN SZCZECIN

Abstract

Rebuilt in the years 1958-1980 in the Renaissance style with elements of Gothic, the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes from the Griffin dynasty in Szczecin is located on a promontory of the high western escarpment of the Odra river valley, within the non-existent medieval perimeter walls of the city, in the area of today's Rycerska, Kuśnierska, Mściwoja and so-called Castle Route. Below the castle, there is a partly rebuilt lower town called Podzamcze. Reconstructed in Renaissance forms, the castle is one of the archaeologically and architecturally well-recognized objects of the Duchy of Gryfit. Szczecin's medieval Old Town was almost completely destroyed during American and British air raids on the Szczecin ship base in 1942. It caused the greatest destruction in the history of the Old Town and the castle located in its immediate vicinity. The degree of destruction of the Szczecin castle after the war, as well as the entire Old Town, was estimated at 85%. No elements of the interior furnishings of the castle have survived, except for individual pieces of furniture stored in the cellars. Valuable paneling and wooden furnishings were burnt down in a fire that lasted for many days after the bombing. The preserved buildings were completely unknown to Poles, not related to Polish tradition and history, so it was considered whether they should not be completely demolished, and the area cleared of rubble should be used for new buildings. This is what happened to a large part of the Old Town, where only a few buildings have survived, the technical condition of which allowed their further use. The reconstruction of the castle began in 1956 and was basically completed in 1985, taking into account new program elements, allocating the rooms of the castle, mainly for cultural purposes. In order to preserve the historic character of the building, scientific and conservation supervision over the reconstruction of the castle was carried out by art historians: Dr. Henryk Dziurla from Wrocław (until 1960) and residents of Szczecin: Dr. Zbigniew Radacki in the years 1960-1984 and Krystyna Kroman after 1984. A multi-stage renovation of the former duke's castle was started in 2005, combined with the modernization and change of the technical equipment of the rooms. The unknown stone foundations dating back to the 12th century were discovered under the main courtyard of the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in 2012.