Travel Guide "Remembrance Connects Region Oder-Warta"

19 A h i stor i ca l ly common cultura l area A h i stor i ca l ly common cultura l area its affiliation (Prussia, Grand Duchy of Warsaw, Prussia, etc.) due to its border location. Today, the historic complex serves as a state museum. The castle ruins were protected from further decay and ar- chaeological work has revealed unex- pected finds from many different eras. Meserice Castle in Międzyrzecz is one of the oldest fortresses in western Poland. It can be visited during the museum‘s opening hours (in the former manor house). The museum‘s permanent exhibition features a unique collection of Baroque nobility coffin portraits. Other exhibitions focus on applied art, the history of the border town, local archaeological finds, and the culture of the western land- scape of Wielkopolska. The original wooden castle was built in the 9 th century at the mouth of the Paklica River into the Obra. The first rulers of the Piast dynasty used the castle as a base for their expansion to the north and west. It is also an important location for the Meseritz Castle and Museum, Międzyrzecz) As one of the oldest fortresses in western Poland, Meseritz Castle in Międzyrzecz has been a witness to the region‘s global political events for over 1000 years. This palace in Krosno Odrzańskie, formerly Crossen an der Oder, whose origins date back to the 13 th century, has an interesting history. By building a fortified colony, the Polish Piast dynasty secured the western border of its empire here. The foundation stone for the present palace complex was laid during the reign of the Polish Duke Henry I the Bearded ( 1165 - 1238 ). In the 15 th century, Crossen was annexed by Neumark, one of the two parts of Mark Brandenburg. In the following century, Crossen became the widow‘s seat of the Brandenburg Electors. During the Thirty Years‘ War, the palace was fortified with ramparts, a larger moat, and a drawbridge. It was rebuilt again when it served as a resi- dence for the widow Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, among others. During the reign of Frederick II , the site was converted into barracks. The Prussian army recognised the strategic importance of the site and rebuilt the palace again between Crossen Palace Once the widow‘s seat of Brandenburg‘s Electresses, today the Crossen Palace invites visitors to take a stroll against the picturesque backdrop of the ruins. beginnings of Christianity in Poland. From the 13 th century onwards, the town developed into an important location on Poland‘s western border, protected by the castle, which was walled in the mid- 14 th century. Meseritz was a port of call for many emigrants from the German lands, but also for Jewish, Dutch or Scottish emigrants who wanted to settle in Poland. In the 16 th century, Międzyrzecz was one of the richest communities in the country, where different cultures, languages and religions coexisted peacefully. In the course of world political events of the 18 th and 19 th centuries, Meseritz often changed 1886 and 1887 . From then on, the complex and its historic buildings were used as barracks. During the Second World War, the castle was severely damaged. More recently, the gatehouse and the inner courtyard were upgraded, and in 2008 parts of the south wing and the chapel in the west wing were revitalised. The museum rooms of Piast Castle host exhibitions on the history of Krosno Odrzańskie, while the exhibition galleries showcase the works of local artists. Concerts, jousting and other cultural events are held in the court- yard, the main organiser of which is the „Zamek“ Art and Culture Centre. The building also houses the tourist information centre. Address: Podzamcze 2 66 - 300 Międzyrzecz, Polen www.muzeum-miedzyrzecz.pl Open: January-December GPS : 52 ° 26 ‘ 42 . 2 “N 15 ° 34 ‘ 21 . 1 “E Meseritz / MiEdzyrzecz Castle and museum i Address: ul. Szkolna 1 66 - 600 Krosno Odrzańskie, Polen zamek.krosnoodrzanskie.pl Open: January-December GPS : 52 ° 02 ‘ 51 . 8 “N 15 ° 06 ‘ 06 . 4 “E Crossen Palace i 18