Ducal Castle, Szczecin

Ducal Castle
Eastern facade.
General information
Architectural style	Gothic, Pomeranian mannerism
Town or city	Szczecin
Country	Poland
Construction started	1346
Completed	1428
Demolished	1944
Design and construction
Architect	Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus (mannerist reconstruction)

The Ducal Castle in Szczecin, Poland, was the seat of the dukes of Pomerania-Stettin of the House of Pomerania (Griffins), who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania from 1121 to 1637.

Barnim the Great of Pomerania-Stettin erected the castle within Szczecin's walls against the will of the burghers in 1346. An older Pomeranian burgh had been leveled in 1249. In 1490 the castle was partially reconstructed for Bogusław X's wedding with Anna Jagiellonka (daughter of king Casimir IV Jagiellon).

Between 1573−1582 the castle was rebuilt again, this time in the mannerist style for duke John Frederick by Italian stonemasons according to design by Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus. Two new wings were added to close the courtyard before the medieval southern and eastern wings. The main gate was adorned with ducal crest, the eastern wing was enhanced and the northern wing was intended for chapel.

In 1648, due to the tenets of the Peace of Westphalia, the castle become a seat of Swedish governor. Before 1705 another reconstruction occurred to prepare the castle for Queen of Poland - Catherine Opalińska, who lived here with her daughters Anna and Marie Leszczyńska (future Queen of France) and a small court between 1705-1711. In 1711 king Stanisław I Leszczyński, who sought refuge before chasing him Saxon and Russian forces, joined his wife and daughters at the castle.

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