Piast Castle in Racibórz - Station 02 - History
Description
Please take a comfortable place on one of the benches and listen to information about the history.
Raciborski castle stood on the place of wooden village, surrounded by a wood-and-earth shaft. In the literature we find reports that the building, formerly located on the right bank of the river, with its history reached antiquity and was once the capital of the ancient people of Kwadowie.
The first historical mention of Racibórz appears only in "Chronicles" of Gallus Anonymus in 1108. Racibórz city became important after 1172, when it became possession of Mieszko IV Laskonogi, son of Władyslaw II Wygnaniec. In 1201, after the death of his brother Bolesław and his nephew Jarosław, Mieszko IV Laskonogi united the principalities of Opole and Racibórz and established in the latter the capital. The castle town on the right bank of the river became the seat of the ducal court.
In the second half of the 13th century, Władyslaw, brother of Mieszko Otyły, took over the authority in this area. Then, the local castle became the political and administrative centre, growing in strength and active in the political scene of the Duchy of Upper Silesia. The line of Piast of Racibórz ended in 1336, when the Duke Leszek died childless. After his death, Mikołaj II Przemyślida took over the principality. The descendants of Mikołaj II ruled these lands till 1521, till the death of the last of the dynasty, the crippled ruler Walenty, called Garbaty (hunchbacked). Upon an arrangement with the Duke of Opole, Jan Dobry of the Piast family, the districts of Racibórz and Opole were again united. Jan Dobry died as a bachelor in Racibórz castle in 1532. After him, the heirloom became property of the King of Czech Republic. Jerzy Hohenzollern took the Duchy of Racibórz as lien for liability of Margrave to the royal court. After the payment of the debt, the castle and the goods associated to it returned in possession of the Habsburgs. They then gave the principality in the hands of various powerful families. The first was Izabela Jagiellonka, daughter of Zygmunt I Stary and Bona Sforza. In 1556 she renounced to her Silesian estate, which went to the hands of the Emperor Ferdynand I Habsburg, and he managed it through the chiefs of the province.
In the years 1532-1645 the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz had eight temporary rulers, also repeatedly changing the legal status of the constituent estate. They were given as liability, sold, then again taken over from the emperor. The Castle at Ostróg was administered, among others, by Oppersdorff and Mettich, private landowners of goods in Racibórz. In the years 1645-1666 the castle was ruled by the Polish King Władyslaw IV Wasa. In subsequent years, the rulers on Racibórz castle were, among others, the families: Sobeck, Schlabrendorff, Wilczek and Reuss von Plauen.
In 1820, the Duchy and the castle were controlled by Landgrave Victor von Hessen-Rotenburg, who died childless in 1834. Under his will, the estate of Racibórz (including the castle) was taken by his wife's nephew, Victor von Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. His descendants (Victor II and Victor III) ruled the castle until 1945. The 19 January 1858 at the castle there was a fire that destroyed two/thirds of the buildings. During the reconstruction, the north wing of the building was replaced with a brew house of new brewery. In the western part was created a malt and a coach house. The chapel, to which new equipment was purchased, including an altar with a painting by Jan Bochenek, was completely renovated.
The castle together with the brewery came out unharmed from the war in 1945. Since the end of the war until 2010 it was owned by the State Treasury. The Polish authorities placed here the archive. Part of the Prince’s House was given as apartments. Starting from the 50s of the 20th century, the castle fell into disrepair. After a fire a residential building on the east part (from the gateway to the southern corner) was demolished. The destruction of the altar and the benches in the chapel was permitted. The painting of St. Thomas Becket and the figures of the apostles, formerly adorning the interior of the chapel, survived and are now kept in the museum in Racibórz. The buildings of the carriage house and the cloister were demolished. The prince’s house was destroyed. Starting from the 90s of 20th century the building was successively renewed. Mikropiling was made to prevent it from subsidence. The facade was renovated and maintenance on the stonework of the windows in the chapel was carried out.
Currently, the owner of the building is the district of Racibórz and is managed by Agencja Promocji Ziemi Raciborskiej i Wspierania Przedsiębiorczości (the Agency for Promotion of the Area of Racibórz and the Support to Enterprise) in the Piast Castle in Racibórz, which main goals are the promotion of Racibórz Area, the protection of the cultural heritage of Brama Morawska (Moravian Gate), the development of tourism, cultural activities, and support the development of entrepreneurship.
After hearing the history of this place, you are welcome to the interior of the castle and to the chapel.