- Type
- Castle
- Location
- Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
- Commissioned by
- Casimir II the Just
- Coordinates
- 51.2005°, 22.5717°
History
An early medieval stronghold stood on the hill above the Bystrzyca valley, and in the 13th century a round brick keep was built here – the oldest surviving building in Lublin. Casimir the Great surrounded the hill with walls, and Władysław Jagiełło had the castle chapel decorated with frescoes, completed in 1418 by a Ruthenian master named Andrew. In 1569 the parliament meeting in Lublin concluded the union of Poland and Lithuania. Ruined in the wars of the 17th century, the castle was rebuilt in 1824–1826 in Gothic Revival style as a prison, which operated until 1954. During the German occupation and the Stalinist years thousands of people were imprisoned and killed here. Today it houses the National Museum in Lublin.
What to see
The Gothic Revival facade with its gateway closes the view from the Old Town. The highlight is the Gothic Holy Trinity Chapel, its interior almost entirely covered in Byzantine-Ruthenian paintings that blend Eastern iconography with Western architecture. The Romanesque keep can be climbed for a view over the city. The museum shows a gallery of Polish painting, including Jan Matejko's Union of Lublin, along with archaeological and ethnographic collections.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q2604117
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