Szreńsk Castle

Szreńsk Castle, located in the northeastern part of Mazovia, is a late Gothic private structure built in the first half of the 16th century on the initiative of Feliks Srzeński. It was characterized by a perimeter wall in the shape of an irregular quadrilateral, reinforced with four towers. Inside, there were residential buildings, and over time, after 1800, the Great Tenement (Kamienica Wielka) was rebuilt in the Classicist style. Throughout its history, the castle passed through the hands of various owners, including the Bishop of Płock, Andrzej Noskowski, and the Bieliński family. In the 18th century, it became the property of the Podoski family, and during the Bar Confederation (1769–1771), the castle served as a base for confederate forces commanded by Józef Sawa Caliński. The castle also gained significance during the Swedish Deluge when it was occupied by Swedish troops, including King Charles X Gustav. In 1734, during the War of the Polish Succession, it was plundered by the Russians, and later it played a strategic role in armed conflicts. After the Third Partition of Poland, it became the property of Karl Ludwig Erhard Knobloch, who partially dismantled it in 1800, transforming it into a Classicist palace. Unfortunately, the palace survived only until 1945 when, after being nationalized, it was converted into a school and then burned down in 1948. Today, the castle remains in a state of ruin, marking a sad end to its centuries-long history. Szreńsk Castle is an important local monument that preserves traces of a rich past and architecture, reflecting Poland's complex history over the centuries.