CASTLES AND PALACES – TIME MACHINES

Most of the stones and bricks, which were first laid and then demolished, burned or rebuilt elsewhere, are a living testimony to the volatility and customs of the times. By tracking the history of some of our selected Lower Silesian castles and palaces, it is easy to notice that most of them appear to have a similar historical framework. They were built by someone from the Piast Dynasty (the castles) or by their rich German owners (the palaces) then subsequently sold, donated, attacked or stripped, usually not living up to its defensive or stately duties and finally falling into disrepair. They can even be linked by those architects who have attempted to rebuild some of them! Even though they seem to posses common genes, each building has, however, retained its own distinct characteristics and has managed to maintain its own unique atmosphere.

PEOPLE LEAD US THROUGH THE ERAS

Primarily, people lead us through the eras – the most ancient ones remain alive in stories that border on history and legend. Others, through their deeds, are still present and give us testimony of their uniqueness. Finally, those from modern times, who have undertaken the huge effort to improve the material and spiritual culture of Lower Silesia in these times of slowly emerging stability after so many years of turmoil. They are turning to the past in a variety of cultural activities, ranging from the spectacular re-enactment of battles to the regeneration of prosaic kitchen recipes. Paradoxically, they clearly affected the way we look at the future, shaping, through their treatment, entirely new patterns. Whilst wandering along the Lower Silesian section of the European Route of Castles and Palaces we will look at the same walls as our ancestors once did, we will rest amongst the same greenery like the ancient knights, perhaps we will even taste the same dishes. All the richer for the experiences of past eras, we not only have the opportunity to take a fascinating journey through time and space but also learn a valuable lesson for the future.

Let see the most interesting Lower Silesian`s castles and palaces