Koenigsberg Castle of the Three Kings. Legends and were the Royal Castle of Königsberg

With the creation of the German Empire, Prussia fades into the background, becoming a province of the newly formed state. Königsberg is still its capital, and the Royal Castle is still its royal residence, since the Kaisers are de facto and de jure kings of these lands. The center of all important events is transferred to Berlin, the capital of Germany, while the city on the Pregel lives in relative calm. And the further narrative will be closely intertwined with the stories of the entire empire, because it cannot be otherwise.

The Empire created by Bismarck, also known as the Second Reich, was federal in nature. Under the new constitution, twenty-two monarchies, including Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, the Grand Duchies of Baden and Hesse and other lands, along with free cities, were included in the state. Each of these subjects, according to the adopted constitution, had a certain independence.

At the head of the empire was the Kaiser - the first among equals, the king of Prussia. On behalf of the entire empire, he could declare war and make peace, appoint and dismiss officials of the state administration, including the head of government - the chancellor.

Parliament was divided into two chambers - upper and lower. The upper house was called the Bundesrat and consisted of representatives of the states that were part of the empire, and the Kaiser personally appointed representatives from Prussia. He also exercised general leadership, through the imperial chancellor. In fact, it was the executive branch, the decree of which had the force equivalent to that of the law.

The lower house was called the Reichstag. Representatives to it were elected by universal and direct elections, by secret ballot, for a term of three years. Its creation was necessary to deprive neighboring states of the opportunity to declare that the empire was created by force, and not from the common will of the peoples included in it. The power of the Reichstag was insignificant, moreover, the Bundesrat could easily dissolve it by decree, which subsequently happened quite often, but, nevertheless, not a single law relating to the internal structure could be adopted without its participation.

South wall of the Royal Castle:

Courtyard:

In Germany, a favorable environment is developing for conducting all kinds of research, especially related to military affairs, which is facilitated by the rapid development of progress. In 1860, the technology of rifled artillery appeared, the firing range of guns was significantly increased. And this served as an impetus for the improvement of the construction of fortresses. The enemy should have been stopped long before he got within range of the city. And since 1872 in Koenigsberg, the construction of a ring of the same type of defensive forts with a length of about forty kilometers began, protecting the city center, most of which have survived to this day. At a distance of about four kilometers from each other, twelve large and five small forts were built, each of which was named after the German generals and kings. The main construction was completed by 1876.

Plan of Fort X, "Kanitz"

Ruling the empire, Otto von Bismarck ruled with an iron fist, for which he received the nickname "Iron Chancellor". In 1873, he begins reforms of law, administration, finance and education. The last of these reforms led to conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, given that the population of Germany consisted mainly of Catholics, and Prussia did not betray Protestantism, this was not surprising. The confrontation reached a critical point and the chancellor took tough measures, starting the "Kulturkampf" - the fight against the dominance of the Catholic Church. Many bishops and priests fell into disgrace and were arrested. Schools were separated from the church, civil marriage was introduced, the Jesuits were expelled from Germany.

Under his leadership, any political alliances that could harm the interests of Germany were suppressed, good relations were maintained with all the great powers, in particular, alliances were concluded with Austria-Hungary, Russia, England and Italy, in various combinations. All of these actions were designed to keep France, humiliated and hurt by recent losses, isolated and to maintain the status quo in the Balkans and the Middle East.

The rapidly developing industry gave birth to the working class, which by this time could no longer exist in the conditions in which it was. The workers' socialist movement is gaining strength, becoming a serious threat to the state. In 1878, the socialists make an attempt on the Emperor. Enraged by this, Bismarck passes through the Reichstag the "Socialist Law", which prohibits the activities of social democratic parties. Dozens of newspapers and societies are closed. These measures, of course, could not isolate the masses of the proletariat from the influence of the parties, but for some time distracted them from revolutionary sentiments. A year later, the chancellor goes into open confrontation with the liberals, completely ousting them from politics, and subsequently relies on a coalition of large landowners to pass laws in their interests.

In Konigsberg in 1881, the horse-drawn movement was opened - the carriage of passengers along rails in wagons driven by horses. This was the first sign of the beginning of democratic public transport.

Konka:

Tram prototype trailer:

On Bridge:

Until the end of his days, the Kaiser was a supporter of friendship between Germany and Russia, he said that if someone from his entourage tries to turn against the Russian Empire, this will be regarded as treason. And the chancellor, acting for the benefit of the state, has always remained within the framework of the existing alignment of forces in the world.

After the death of Wilhelm I on March 9, 1888, his son Frederick III ascends the throne, but ninety-nine days after the coronation, he dies of illness, passing the throne to his son Wilhelm II, who took it on June 15, 1888. This was the year known as the year of the three Kaisers.

The Empress Dowager, the mother of the enthroned Kaiser, will write shortly after her coronation: "I mourn for Germany, now it will be different. Our son is young, blinded, possessed. He will choose the wrong path and allow bad people to incline him to bad deeds." As history has shown, her words were prophetic.

Kaiser Wilhelm II and his wife Kaiserina Augusta Victoria:

Wilhelm II was born with a physical defect and the constant struggle with the disease made him a strong and stubborn person. The first manifesto issued by Wilhelm II was a proclamation to the army and navy, which stated that he was ready to fight side by side with them so that not a single inch of German territory was lost. It was understood that he was faithful to the course of his ancestors and the militarization of the country would continue, the ultimate goal was to establish the world domination of Germany. While in Königsberg, he said: "The Prussian king is able to maintain peace, and I know that whoever wants to break it will receive a lesson that he will remember a hundred years later." Bismarck was still in power, but the new emperor did not want to be in the shadow of this great man. At one of the banquets, he said: "There is one, only one master in the country - this is me, and I will not tolerate another." A little later, taking advantage of significant disagreements about changing the Socialist Law, Wilhelm II forced the chancellor to resign. On March 18, 1890, Otto von Bismarck left his post, which caused great concern in neighboring states, because it was with his figure that the future of diplomacy in Europe was associated.

Otto von Bismarck:

Leo von Caprivi, a Prussian general, is appointed to the post of chancellor, but the real power, perhaps equal only to that of the Turkish sultan or the Russian tsar, belonged solely to the Kaiser, who did not want to share it with anyone, and before the end of his reign, six more chancellors, former his "errand boys". The political course completely departs from the methods used by Bismarck, nullifying all his foreign policy achievements.

The emperor of Germany does not tolerate any criticism and explodes for any reason, while considering himself infallible, the ruler of God's grace. He vehemently opposes any encroachment on his rule, including against the working class. In a speech in 1894 in Königsberg, he called on the nation to fight for "religion, morality and order" against subversive parties. Declaring at the same time that the soldiers must unquestioningly obey his will and if they receive an order, they must "kill their fathers and brothers." Later, when his Law on Subversive Elements did not pass the Reichstag, he exclaimed: "Now we have nothing left but rifle fire in the first instance and buckshot in the second!"

In Königsberg in 1893, Hermann Theodor Hoffmann was appointed to the post of mayor. Under him, factories and plants were actively built in the city, in pursuit of the ever-increasing needs of the city and the military industry. In 1895, the first electric tram was put on the route. And the city becomes the first in Germany where public transport does not belong to private owners, but to the municipality. A year later, to the delight of the residents, he opens the gate.

The first electric trams near the castle walls:

Tram on the bridge:

:

Wilhelm passionately desires a redistribution of the world in which Germany would play a leading role. Dominion on the seas has become one of his priorities, England, with its superiority at sea, is becoming one of the main enemies of the empire, not yet explicitly, without open confrontation, but the first steps towards challenging her are already being taken. The country begins the construction of a fleet, which would not be equal in the whole world. At the same time, the ground forces are only marginally improved. Forces are gradually concentrated on the borders with potential enemies, the Kaiser in 1898 writes: "In East Prussia I must keep one army corps on the border against three Russian armies and nine cavalry divisions, from which no Chinese wall surrounds me."

Eastern wall of the Royal Castle, with gates:

Kaiser's soldiers at the East wall of the castle:

The Kaiser personally oversees the construction of each warship. The general management of the creation of the fleet was entrusted to the initiator of the construction program approved in 1898 by the Reichstag, Secretary of State of the Naval Department Alfred von Tirpitz. According to the adopted plan, 19 battleships, 8 coastal defense battleships, 12 heavy and light cruisers were to be built, and two years later the program was doubled. And in 1900, a statement was made publicly: “The ocean is necessary for the greatness of Germany ... Now not a single important decision in the world can be made without Germany and the German emperor ... And to apply everything for this ... including the most tough measures are not only my duty, but also my most pleasant privilege.

In the same year, the construction of a small railway was completed in Koenigsberg, linking the capital of Prussia with resort pearls on the coast. Routes were launched - Koenigsberg - Neuhausen (Guryevsk) - Curonian Lagoon and Koenigsberg - Neikuren (Pionersky) - Raushen (Svetlogorsk). The construction of a modern harbor has begun and the city is becoming a major trading center through which hundreds of tons of cargo pass per day. One hundred and ninety thousand people lived in the city.

Boat on the Pregel:

Work on board:

Wilhelm saw an opportunity in asserting his policy in moving towards the warm seas in the Turkish direction, expanding influence in the Middle East and rapprochement with Austria-Hungary, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Caprivi. All these actions were openly directed against Russia. According to the new doctrine, cooperation between the Teutons and the Slavs became irrelevant.

History has never known a more unreasonable ruler in foreign policy, possessing such enormous power. Intervening in all world conflicts, he either warns the world against the "yellow danger", then demands the annexation of Mozambique, then declares himself the patron saint of all Muslims, then dreams of creating a colony in South America, then promises the US protection of California from Japan, then demands rapprochement with Russia and France against England, then with England, even through concessions to the colonies, then ... He declares that: “I finally understood what the future holds for us Germans, what our mission is! ... We will become the leaders of the East in the fight against the West! ... As soon as we explain to the Germans that the British and French are not white at all, but black, and we will be able to raise the Germans against this gang! Wilhelm changes course ten times a year. His mind made up dozens of combinations in which some sides became allies, others opponents, and after a couple of days everything changed and those who seemed to be allies became enemies in this scenario. It was simply impossible to predict the development of events. But one thing was certain - day after day, year after year, Germany was preparing for war.

Troops at the barracks:

Wilhelm II tried by all means to remove Russia from influence in matters of European politics. And he, in his letters to Nicholas II, tries to push the latter to get involved in a war in the east: “Russia ... should strive to go to the sea and have an ice-free harbor for its trade ... In the Far East, you cannot reconcile yourself with such a situation (lack of Pacific ports). Therefore, it is clear to any unprejudiced person that Korea must be and will be Russian.” This letter was followed by the Manifesto of Nicholas II declaring war on Japan, which was called the Russo-Japanese War of 1905-1907. However, oddly enough, contrary to the wishes of the German, the events that took place further strengthened the authority of Russia in Europe, and it turned out to be a completely unexpected turn for him that the Russian Empire went towards rapprochement with Great Britain.

Koenigsberg continued to modernize. In 1905, the Kaiserbrücke bridge was built across the Pregel arm, connecting the island of Lomse with a densely populated area south of the island of Kneiphof. The following year, the bridge on the Schlossteich was reconstructed. In 1907, a powerful power plant was put into operation in the Kosee region, which gave a new impetus to the development of the industrial potential of Koenigsberg. On December 12, from the stocks in Kiel, the brainchild of the naval development program, the cruiser, baptized by the city's mayor at that time, Dr. Siegfried Kerte, "Königsberg" is launched. This graceful and powerful ship has repeatedly appeared in the port of the city, during the celebration of the day of its foundation.

Kaiserbrücke Bridge:

View from the bridge:

Cruiser "Königsberg"

England, realizing the growing threat to its dominance in the sea, gets involved in an arms race, declares that for every warship built by the Germans, it will build two. Dreadnought fever begins. In shipbuilding, a significant impetus followed after the Battle of Tsushima, the experience of which, studied by dozens of strategists, politicians and military engineers, was realized in the idea - big ships, big guns. England, taking into account this experience and, using the recently invented turbines, built the most powerful and fastest ship at that time - the Dreadnought.

In 1910, having once again visited the Royal Castle, Wilhelm II said: “It was here that my grandfather again placed the crown of the Prussian kings on his head in his own right, once again showing those with obviousness that he owns it exclusively by the grace of the Almighty, and not by the grace of Parliaments, national assemblies or plebiscites, "quite unambiguously hinting that his power is based on the will of heaven and does not depend on human laws. These words caused discontent in society, but even then the faithful Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg managed to smooth the corners.

Schlossteich Promenade:

Trade in the port:

In the spring of 1912, the British government sent the Minister of Defense to Berlin with a proposal to slow down the arms race. But all proposals were rejected in a rude manner, the emperor declared: "My patience and the patience of the German people have run out." To which the government of Foggy Albion directly stated that in the event of war, England would take the side of France and Russia, their eternal opponents.

When fatal shots were fired in Sarajevo, Germany had only one ally - Austria-Hungary, while the allied countries of Romania, Greece and Italy declared their neutrality. The blame for unleashing the war lies entirely with Wilhelm II. With his pressure, he actually forced Austria-Hungary to start a war against Serbia, fully confident that Russia would not interfere in the war because of the "regicides". “Serbia is a gang of robbers that must be punished for murder”, “It is time to deal with the Serbs, and as soon as possible,” he wrote. And after Austria rejects the answer to its ultimatum, July 28, 1914, the war begins, called the First World War.

The Kaiser waited in the wings, here it is, the opportunity to show these presumptuous states their place in history, the place of the conquered and humiliated at his feet, here it is the opportunity to test the force that has been gathering for so long in action. And the people, his united people will follow him to the end: "I don't know any parties anymore, I only know the Germans!"

Prussia was the only one of the German provinces where hostilities were taking place. But Koenigsberg itself bypassed the war, and its forts peacefully dozed off throughout the war. Only at the beginning of the war, Russian troops were able to approach Tapiau (Gvardeysk), but then they were driven back to the Masurian swamps. The second army of General Samsonov was defeated, the commander of Rannenkampf was declared a traitor, the Russian troops, left without support and intelligible command, died in the thousands on the battlefields.

Given the power of the German navy, Russian military strategists, considering a naval war in the Baltic, relied on the use of mines. And on the minefields placed on the approaches to Memel, Polangen, Pillau and the Danzig Bay, Germany lost several large warships. At the end of 1915, after studying military operations at sea, Wilhelm wrote: "The war on the Baltic Sea is very rich in losses without corresponding successes."

In the war, personally, the Kaiser showed himself to be a very weak strategist. Having at his disposal the most modern fleet at that time, he was afraid to use it and, all four years of hostilities, the naval armada stood in the ports. Since he could not establish himself and achieve how significant success in the role of commander in chief, the control of military operations passes to the main headquarters. After his appointment on August 29, 1916 as Chief of Staff of Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, he was completely removed from command.

Paul von Hindenburg:

On March 3, 1918, in Brest, after the well-known events in Russia, a peace treaty is signed and the Soviets withdraw from the war, but nothing can stop the balance of power.

In August 1918, it becomes completely clear that the war is lost, and Wilhelm begins to seek peace with the countries of the Entente, which, seeing its success, refuses him. In autumn, a revolution breaks out in the army and navy. Unrest grips Berlin and the Kaiser, clinging to the hope of preventing his fall, orders his generals to lead troops to Berlin to quell the unrest. Hindenburg rejects his order and Wilhelm II flees from the capital to Holland, where he lived until the end of his life. On November 28, 1918, he abdicates the throne, thus becoming the last Kaiser of Germany, as well as the man who destroyed four empires - Russian, German, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian. Thus ends the imperial period in the history of the Royal Castle, Konigsberg and East Prussia. To be continued…

South wall:

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Koenigsberg as a fortress

The struggle for Konigsberg is an episode of the great battle with our Slavic neighbor, which had such a terrible effect on our fate and the fate of our children and whose influence will be felt in the future. This struggle for territory between the Germanic and Slavic peoples has been going on since the time of our ancestors, a time barely known to history. By the beginning of the era, the power of the Germans extended all the way to the lower Volga. But the Slavs were just as powerful - around 700 they crossed the Elbe. Over the centuries, the border has changed in one direction or the other, for borders, like peoples. it is something alive, they change depending on the energy of peoples. After our last rush to the East, the return flow of the Slavs was more powerful than ever, it demolished all dams and obstacles. This war captured Konigsberg, which then served the Germans as a bastion against the East.

Königsberg was founded in 1258 by the German Order of Knights in honor of King Ottokar of Bohemia, who took part in the Order's summer campaign to the East. The castle, the construction of which began during the founding of the city, was its first defensive structure. In the 17th century, the city was fortified with ramparts, moats and bastions, thus becoming a fortress. These structures gradually fell into disrepair and neither in the Seven Years' War nor in the Napoleonic Wars did they serve a special purpose. In 1814, Koenigsberg was declared an open city, but in 1843 its fortification began again, as they said then, a fortress fence was erected, that is, a ring of fortifications around the city with a length of 11 kilometers. Their construction was completed in 1873. In 1874, the construction of a defensive belt of 15 advanced forts began, the construction of which was completed in 1882. To protect the mouth of the Pregel, a strong fortification was built on the right bank near the Holstein estate. Even stronger was the fortification of Friedrichsburg on the left bank of the mouth of the Pregel.

The circumference of the defensive belt of forts reached 53 kilometers by the time of the final battles. Back in the period of World War I, the defense was strengthened by the construction of intermediate fortifications between the forts. The forts had, in general, the following structure: the main barracks, surrounded by a moat and a drawbridge with an entrance device. The main barracks was covered by an earth embankment, 3-4 meters thick, which protected from shelling even modern medium-caliber artillery pieces. Above was an open position, from where the main fire action of the fort had previously been conducted. Later, special artillery positions were built nearby for the batteries adjacent to the fort. The brick used for construction was fired several times, which achieved increased strength. Thus, these old fortifications were quite reliable protection, including against modern artillery. However, their disadvantage was that the ability to observe from there and fire was very limited. Having an entrance from the back, they were a real mousetrap. In World War I, Russian cavalry reconnaissance reached the very gates of Koenigsberg in August 1914, and even then the fortress was not of great importance. However, given the very fact of its existence, the Russians at that time were advancing in East Prussia at a relatively slow pace, which created the conditions for the battle of Tannenberg.

Yes, and in World War II, the Russians had too much honor for the fortress of Koenigsberg. Only after three months of fighting until the fall of Koenigsberg, having pulled together 5 armies, did they decide on the final battle. In general, only in combination with a defensive position on the Daime line and in the Heilsberg triangle, Königsberg was a fortress in the modern sense of the word. It ceased to be such when the defense could rely only on the belt of forts in 1882 (and this was exactly what happened in the spring of 1945). The defensive system of Koenigsberg proper included the following fortifications:

1. Forefield defensive line: in the south: Gutenfeld - Ludwigswalde - Bergau - Heide - Waldburg. in the north: Palmburg - Kleinheide - Trutenau - Moditten.

2. Front line of defense: along the line of old forts in front of the ring highway.

3. Defensive fortifications on the outskirts of the city.

4. In the city: fortifications for single and group defense of houses, basements, etc.

The construction of direct defensive structures was started, strictly speaking, only at the end of December 1944, when an order was received to focus on the fortress itself. Therefore, much of what could have been built in the course of a long war turned out to be no longer feasible. In addition, in terms of providing resources, the front, of course, always stood in the foreground, and for it something had to be given from the reserves of the fortress.

The foreground defensive line, consisting of trenches and some barbed wire, was basically prepared for combat operations. However, due to the strong onslaught of the enemy and the inability to occupy it entirely, this position did little to justify itself. From the beginning of January 1945, the main attention was paid to the belt of forts, which was equipped as a front line of defense.

As for construction, with a lack of manpower and resources, unfavorable weather and limited time, it was no longer possible to do anything particularly significant in the old forts. However, we were able to supplement them with field fortifications - machine-gun and rifle nests were equipped on the crests of the ramparts, sectors of fire were cleared, firing points and barbed wire on glacis were arranged, and pressure mines were placed. The ring of forts was closed by anti-tank ditches. The anti-tank guns, designed to flank the anti-tank ditches and, above all, the glacises of the forts, arrived too late from Berlin.

The barracks of the forts, which had been partly occupied before December by administrative offices and the like, were in a good condition. The roads leading from the line of forts to the city were mined and equipped with electric anti-tank barriers. The following fortifications of the 19th century also played a role in the battles on the outskirts of the city on April 8-9: the Haberberg and Friedland ravelins, the Friedland Gate, the Pregel bastion, part of the field fortifications, the Lithuania bastion, the ramparts between Pregel and Oberteich, Sackheim and the Royal Gates, the Grolman bastion with the Kronprinz defensive barracks, the Rossgarten Gates, the Don tower, the Wrangel tower, the Betgershefchen forward fortification, the Sternvarte bastion, the gate for sorties.

In the next chapter, General Lyash recalls the military operations of his troops on the territory of the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944. In 1944 he was sent to the Western Front, to France. In October 1944, Lyash received a five-week sick leave and arrived in East Prussia, in Osterode.

TRIP TO KENIGSBERG LETTER 57 Dear friend! As you, I hope, are very curious to know what kind of news that made us so happy, I will begin my present letter with the satisfaction of this curiosity of yours and say that it was the following.

ENTRANCE TO KOENIGSBERG Letter 58 Dear friend! As with our coming to Konigsberg a new and especially memorable period of my life began, then, before describing my stay in this city, may I be allowed from you, dear friend, to preface some

KONIGSBERG LETTER 79 Dear friend! We celebrated both Christmas time and the beginning of 1760 in the usual way - with many amusements, and our general, being a hunter before them, and moreover, for his love affairs with Countess Keyserlingsheyu, having this need, this time did not

2. Koenigsberg - Royal

Postscript to the novel "Königsberg-Korolevets": my interview with RIA Novosti on June 23, 2004 regarding the book "The Amber Room" by K. Scott-Clark and A. Levy I am one of those people who have very close friendly ties with Great Britain. I have been to many times

“My home is my fortress” At first, people lived on one large land and were sociable, benevolent, hardworking. They cultivated fields, settled forests, mountains. They moved along the rivers. And finally they went to the sea. They began to swim in the sea. The islands have been discovered. They settled them. And they split up!

My home is my castle My home is my castle! Understandable for everyone. Here only in construction Success is necessary. My home is my castle! I'll lock up. To constipation, of course, We need a fence. To the fence, of course, the Dog is needed. To the dog in addition, Of course, the wife. There are already three of us, We -

Chronicle of the battles for East Prussia and Koenigsberg 1944-1945 August 1944. The offensive launched by the Russians on June 21 was stopped in early August near the borders of East Prussia.

Moscow - Koenigsberg Lili and Krasnoshchekov were one of the most discussed love couples in Moscow; Lily did not hide anything, it would be against her nature and principles. But if she hardly paid attention to the gossip around this novel, then the rumors about the embezzlement that began

Their home and fortress

Fortress Mid-seventies. In Arkady Natanovich's desk there are several completely finished unpublished things. However, no one in the USSR is in a hurry to print them - disgrace. One of his friends is visiting Arkady Natanovich.

KOENIGSBERG The formation of senior lieutenant Zinaida Shepitko, by the spring of 1945, became part of one of the armies of the 3rd Belorussian Front, which was aimed at storming and capturing Koenigsberg. Preparation, and then carrying out the operation to capture the fortress and the capital of Eastern

Königsberg The Tehran Conference has ended. Judging by the dates of service, the newly minted General Nikolai Grigoryevich Kravchenko is again sent to war, but to war in the rear, as if hiding a well-deserved person who unexpectedly found

Veshki - Kyiv - Koenigsberg On January 3, the youngest - Masha - has a birthday. Joy! A week later, something completely different in my heart. I looked around, talked to the district committee members and was horrified. Bad things in the area. Thinned the ranks of district workers. Lugovoy, for example, was transferred with a promotion to the regional committee. Badly

Chapter 4. KOENIGSBERG In Konigsberg, two very different people appeared at the Arsenyevs at different times and independently of each other. Both of them were prisoners of war. Their names were Pyotr Khomutin (everyone called him Petka) and Nikolai Shestakov. The first appeared at the beginning of 1943, the second - before

Koenigsberg The city-fortress of Koenigsberg, the capital of East Prussia, was well prepared for long-term resistance to the advancing. As we were informed before the assault, the city was surrounded by three lines of defense, the first of which, the outer one, consisted of 15 old fortress forts,

The Royal Castle in Warsaw is a baroque and classicist castle located in Warsaw at Castle Square 4. The palace is a museum and a hallmark of the city.

Royal Castle in Warsaw. Photo from the East-West highway

History of the Royal Castle

At the end of the 13th century, during the reign of the Mazovian prince Konrad II Czersky, a wooden and earthen castle was built, called the "Small Manor" (lat. Curia Minor). The next prince, Casimir III, in 1350 decided to build the first brick building in Warsaw - it became the Great Tower (lat. Turris Magna) (today it is the Grodskaya Tower). Between 1407 and 1410 the Warsaw prince Janusz Mazowiecki erected a castle, the floors of which were made in the Gothic style, and called it "Great Manor" (lat. Curia Maior). The style of the new residence of the Polish princes and its size (47.5 m by 14.5 m) determined the new status of the castle, which since 1414 functioned as a ducal court. Since 1526, when the last princes of Mazovia, Stanisław I and Janusz III, died, the castle became a royal residence, and after the transfer of powers to manage the capital to the Warsaw princes, also the seat of the Sejm and the Senate. After the creation of the Seim of the Commonwealth in 1569, the castle was expanded to include the New Royal Court, designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Baptista di Quadro. October 29, 1611 In the Senate Hall of the castle, Tsar of Russia Vasily Chuisky, captured by Hetman Stanislav Zolkiewski, took a solemn oath to the Polish King Sigismund III. In 1622, he significantly expanded the area of ​​​​the castle thanks to the construction of a modern pentagonal courtyard.

On May 3, 1791, the Four-Year Sejm adopted at the Royal Castle. During the November uprising on January 25, 1831, the Sejm decided to overthrow the Russian Emperor Nicholas I from the post of King of Poland. In retaliation for this act, the Russians remodeled two halls: the Marble Study and the Senator's Chamber. In 1926-1939 the castle was the residence of the President of the Second Polish Republic, Ignacy Mościcki.

After the outbreak of World War II, all movable parts of the castle were moved to the National Museum. During the rescue operation, the curator of the castle's collection, Casimir Brokl, was killed. The castle was seriously damaged during artillery fire on September 17, 1939 - the roofs and helmets of the towers, the roof of the Great Hall were destroyed. After the shelling began at about 11:15, the clock on the statue of Chronos in the Knights' Hall of the Tower of Sigismund, engulfed in flames, stopped. This time has become a symbol for the Castle. And now every day at this very time you can hear a heinal (exact time signal) from the tower of Sigismund.

After the Germans entered Warsaw, it was decided to blow up part of the castle in the place where, according to the "Pabst Plan", the Hall of Glory (in German) was to be built. Volkshalle). At the turn of 1939 and 1940, about 10,000 holes were made in the castle for laying dynamite. However, the castle was not blown up at the time because the shock wave could have destroyed the Kerbedza Bridge, which was needed to transport German troops east. And only in 1944 the castle was blown up - during the events of the Warsaw Uprising.

Nowadays, fewer people realize that the castle we see today is just a building restored after the Second World War. In the few photographs taken in 1945, only small fragments of the walls are visible against the sky. The reconstruction of the Royal Castle, and in fact construction from scratch, began in 1971, when Edvard Gierek became the first secretary of the PUWP Central Committee, and was completed in 1981, when he retired. After the Second World War, almost nothing remained of the old Royal Castle. Only about 2% of the materials used in its reconstruction are genuine.

The Royal Castle is one of the most famous buildings in the world, not because it looks especially spectacular, but because it is over 700 years old and was a royal residence in the past, and because Shakespeare used history in his play The Winter's Tale. that actually happened in the castle. The uniqueness of the castle lies in the fact that for 37 years it did not actually exist, and yet it was reborn like a phoenix from the ashes. It was destroyed, being a symbol of Polish statehood, and was restored as a symbol of statehood.

How to get to the Royal Castle for FREE?

Interiors of the Royal Castle

The interiors of the castle were most shaped during the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski. Much of the equipment and furniture salvaged during World War II is from this period, although there are also many post-war gifts from around the world.

The most interesting room in the castle is the former Chamber of Deputies, located on the ground floor, on the ceiling of which is the coat of arms of the province:

On the first floor are the New Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of the Senate, where the Sejm was located in a later period and where the Constitution was adopted on May 3, 1791. It was there that Tadeusz Reitan lay down before leaving the ward with the words: "Kill me, do not kill the Fatherland!" In the Senate Hall in 1831, a Decree was adopted on the dethronement of Nicholas I. Later, in retaliation for this decree, the Russian princes divided the chamber into smaller rooms.

On the second floor in the Royal Chambers of Stanisław August Poniatowski is the Knight's Hall, which houses portraits of prominent Polish scientists and artists, as well as statues of Glory and Chronos with a clock on their backs. In another room - the Marble Study - there are portraits of Polish kings. Both rooms introduce visitors to Polish history before they enter the throne room, furnished and decorated by Jan Christian Kamsetzer. Also on the second floor are the Great Hall, designed by Dominik Merlini and Jan Christian Kamsetzer.

Photo of the throne room

How to get to the Royal Castle?

Summer opening hours (May - September): Monday - Wednesday: 10:00 - 18:00, Thursday: 10:00 - 20:00, Friday - Saturday: 10:00 - 18:00, Sunday 11:00 - 18:00.

Opening hours in winter (October - April): Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 - 16:00, Sunday: 11:00 - 16:00.

Entrance fee: 30 PLN, children under 16: 1 PLN.

Additional facts

• A model of the Royal Castle can be seen in the Minimundus park in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt, which has a fine collection of models of the most famous buildings in the world (including a model of St. .
• Original fragments of cornices and windows of the castle, created at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, can be seen in the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
• In honor of the dramatic events that took place in September 1939, every day at 11.15 a.m. the Heinal of the Royal Castle is heard from the Clock Tower. The melody, written by Zbigniew Bagiński, is based on the motives of "Warsawianka". Hejnal is repeated three times to emphasize Poland's core patriotic values: God, Honor and Fatherland. Heinal was first performed on May 3, 1995, and since 2008 it has been the official time signal in Warsaw.

The Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow is a whole architectural complex, which is the most important symbol of the country.

The history of Wawel begins in the 10th century. The castle at that time became a symbol of both political and spiritual power. For quite a long time, from the 11th century to the 17th century, Wawel Castle had the status of the main residence of local rulers, since the capital of Poland at that time was located in Krakow. The best time for the royal palace came in the XIV century, during the reign of Casimir the Great, and then the Jagiellonian dynasty. Later, after the conclusion of a historic agreement between Poland and Lithuania, the Wawel complex began to be territorially located on the very border of the Commonwealth, as a result of which its position began to deteriorate, and the importance of another Polish city - Warsaw, located in the geographical center of the country - on the contrary, to grow. At the same time, there was a big fire in Wawel, after which a decision was made to move the capital. In 1609, during the reign of Sigismund III, Warsaw actually finally became the capital of the state, and officially this status was assigned to the city in 1795. In the same year, the Wawel Castle became the property of Austria.

Many ups and downs experienced this complex over the centuries of its existence. For example, after the invasion of Napoleon in 1815, Krakow was defeated and became a separate free city that did not belong to any country. In 1846, the Austrians again settled in these places, who built barracks for their military here. In 1905, the Polish government bought the lands and territory of Wawel and returned them to their historical property. After that, the castle began to be restored, and in 1930 it again acquired the status of a state residence for special occasions, and part of the Wawel territory became a museum. In wartime, the headquarters of a German general was located in the Wawel Castle.

Inside the castle

Wawel Royal Castle includes many architectural historical sights. The most famous and visited of them: the castle itself, the cathedral, and castle fortifications. Entrance to the territory of the complex itself is free, but each exhibition has a separate entrance fee (there is no single ticket for all exhibitions).

Attractions Wawel:

• cathedral house
• the Royal Castle
• royal kitchen
• Rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas
• Church of Saint Gereon
• Church of St. Michael
• Church of St. George
• Chapel of Sigismund
• Fortification
• Administrative building
• Vikarówka
• Gate of Bartolomeo Berrecci
• Hospital
• Seminary building
• Bastion of Vladislav IV
• bernardine gate
• Gate of Vazov
• Heraldic gate
• villain tower
• Panenskaya tower
• sandomierz tower
• senatorial tower
• Tenchinskaya tower
• gentry tower
• State Art Collection
• Wawel dragon
• Wawel Chakra
• Stefan Batory's courtyard
• royal gardens
• Lost Wawel
• Monument to Tadeusz Kosciuszko

At the entrance to the complex is the main gate, which leads to an old paved path. To the left of the entrance is a wall engraved with the names of people and firms (as well as the year and the amount) that once donated a certain amount to the restoration of the Wawel. Just outside the entrance you can see the monument to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a famous Polish hero who led a popular uprising in 1794. During the Second World War, the statue was destroyed, but then restored and put in its original place.

To the right of the entrance there is a ticket office and an information center for tourists, where you can order excursion escort, which takes place, including in Russian.

At the entrance to the Wawel Castle through the armorial gate on Kanoniche Street, the Cathedral in honor of Saints Stanislav and Wenceslas will be located on the left. It is easy to recognize it by real mammoth bones hanging right above the doors, which, according to legend, bring happiness and good luck. The building of the cathedral was erected in the 11th-12th centuries, Polish rulers were crowned in it at one time, and it also served as a burial place for them in the future. Until now, a small part of the old cathedral has remained from the tower of the Silver Bells and the crypt of St. Leonard, in which the remains of Józef Piłsudski are buried. The modern Gothic look of the Cathedral acquired in the XIV century. Inside, its central position is occupied by the Altar of the Fatherland, and next to it are stone sarcophagi and the tomb of Casimir Jagielon. The bell of Sigismund, which is one of the largest bells in the country, is kept in the tower of the cathedral. At the farthest north-eastern end of the Wawel, there is a beautiful old medieval tower, which, due to its seclusion and impregnability, served as the personal apartments of local rulers throughout its existence, and therefore it was called “Chicken's foot”. If you go a little further, then on the right side of the gate you can visit the Cathedral Museum.

In the courtyard of the architectural complex of the Wawel Castle on the right there is a huge lawn, on which the ruins of ancient castle buildings are located. From the buildings that have survived to our time, you can see the 11th century palatium, which was the residence of the princes, stone fortifications, a small castle in the Romanesque style built in the 12th century, rebuilt in the 14th century into a large Gothic castle. On the left, there is another exhibition “Lost Wawel” (which, among other things, includes the oldest of all the buildings preserved in the city - the rotunda of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and right there is a small cafe where you can take a break from walking around the castle. To the left of the cafe, if you go along the road that winds between the brick building and the tower, you can get to the entrance to the dragon's cave. According to legend, a fierce dragon lived here, taking away the most beautiful representatives of the city. He was defeated only by the smart son of the king of Krak, who founded the city of Krakow of the same name.

Further, after the ancient arch, is the central royal courtyard. On its right side there are three floors of the royal chambers and royal rooms, in the chambers of which the main value is large canvases depicting historical events and antique furniture, and in the main hall there is a ceiling decorated with carved “Wavel heads”. On the left side you can visit the armory (with a collection of Polish and European weapons of the XV-XVIII centuries, as well as many ancient swords and armor) and a treasury, as well as an interesting exhibition called "The Art of the East".

On the central square of the complex there is also the Sigismund Chapel, inside which are the tombs of the Polish rulers: Sigismund the Old and Sigismund August. Nearby rises the 16th-century Jagiellonian chapel with the tomb of Anna Jagielonka. To the left of it is a chapel from 1676 with burials of the Vaza dynasty.

Ticket to Wawel Castle

How to get to the Wawel Castle in Krakow

The Wawel architectural complex can be reached on foot from the train or bus station in Krakow. To do this, you need to go left along Lubicz, Pijarska or Flopianska street, then through the underpass there will be an exit directly to the city walls. Passing along the walls, the road will lead to the Market Square and Grodska Street. At the very end of this street on the right side is the Wawel Castle. You can also use taxi services in Krakow: Radio Taxi Mega, Eco Taxi Krakow, Radio Taxi 919 and many others.

You can get to Wawel Castle by public transport, for this you need to take trams 1, 3, 6, 8 and 18 to get off at the Wawel stop - this is the nearest stop to the complex. If you go a little further, you can take trams 10, 19, 22 and 40 and buses 128 and 184, their stop will be called Stradomska. A little further is the Jubilat stop of tram 2 and buses 103, 114, 124, 144, 164, 169, 173, 179, 194, 279, 289, 409 and 424.

Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow on google panoramas

Architecture of the Wawel Royal Castle complex in Krakow inside

Video of Wawel Castle from a bird's eye view

Video inside the Wawel Royal Castle complex in Krakow