Pszczyna Castle
| Pless Castle Zamek w Pszczynie (Polish) |
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| Location | ul. Brama Wybranców 1 43-200 Pszczyna |
| Coordinates | 49°58′41″N 18°56′25″E / 49.97806°N 18.94028°ECoordinates: 49°58′41″N 18°56′25″E / 49.97806°N 18.94028°E |
| Elevation | 242 m |
| Built | 12th century |
| Rebuilt | 15th century, 16th century, 1734–1768, 1870–1876 |
| Architect | 1870-1876: Hippolyte Alexandre Destailleur |
| Architectural style(s) | Baroque Revival architecture |
| Designated | 07.02.1966 |
| Reference no. | 535/65 |
 Location of Pless Castle
Zamek w Pszczynie (Polish) in Poland |
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Pless Castle (Polish: Zamek w Pszczynie), is a classical-style palace in the city of Pszczyna (formerly called "Pless") in south-western Poland. Constructed as a castle in 13th century or earlier, in a Gothic architectural style, it was rebuilt in a Renaissance style in the 17th century. During the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, the exterior of the castle was partially changed into a Baroque-Classical style. The Classicist modernization transformed the complex into what is usually described a palace.
In its history the castle was a residence of Silesian and Polish Piast nobles, then the Promnitz family members (mid-16th to mid-18th centuries) and later the von Pless family. The castle has been state-owned since 1936, after the death of the last Prince of Pless, Hans Heinrich XV. In 1946 it was turned into a museum operating until today.
In 2009 it was voted as one of the "Seven Architectural Wonders of the Silesian Voivodeship" by the Silesian authorities and is often described as one of the most beautiful castle residences in Poland.
In the early the Middle Ages, Pless was a stronghold of the Piast dynasty and several dukes of Poland. The city belonged to the historical region of Lesser Poland until 1177, when it became part of the Duchy of Ratibor. From this time on, it also was part of the Bishopric of Cracow. In 1548, the palace was sold to the noble Promnitz family from Saxony and given a Renaissance appearance, which it lost after a fire. It was subsequently rebuilt in a more baroque style.
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Wikipedia