Kazimierz Castle in Przemyśl

The Kazimierzowski Castle in Przemyśl, situated on Castle Hill at an altitude of 270 meters above sea level, is an example of Renaissance castle architecture. Its origins date back to 1340 during the reign of Casimir the Great, when the first stone castle was built on the site of an earlier fortified settlement. The Gothic style in which it was constructed is evident in the preserved pointed-arch gateway. The castle has undergone numerous modernizations, destructions, and reconstructions. After the invasions of the Vlachs in 1498, the castle was partially damaged. Between 1514 and 1553, Piotr Kmita Sobieński transformed it by strengthening its defenses and building bastions, giving it a quadrangular layout with round towers. Further renovations took place in the 17th century, the most significant under the direction of Galeazzo Appiani, who erected a new residential wing and heightened the existing towers. In 1678, an armory was established, and in the second half of the 17th century, work continued to reinforce the defenses. In the 18th century, a decision was made to significantly alter the castle's layout—part of the walls and towers were demolished. From the 19th century, the castle served as the seat of the Przemyśl Dramatic Society "Fredreum." At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, reconstruction work was carried out, uncovering the foundations of a Romanesque rotunda and a palatium from the time of Bolesław the Brave. In 2012, efforts began to showcase the discovered relics, including a three-nave Romanesque basilica. The Kazimierzowski Castle is not only an important element of regional architecture but also a carrier of the history, culture, and traditions of Przemyśl, attracting the attention of tourists and historians. Elements of cultural and historical presence make it a unique place that has undergone numerous stages of architectural and social evolution over the centuries.