Polski
Cesky
The Castle in Prószkówwith a rectangular courtyard, corner bastions, and two towers in the front elevation in the "palazzo in fortezza" style was created in the second half of the 16th century on the initiative of Baron George Prószkowski, an imperial official. It was the second residence in the region (after the ducal castle in Brzeg) inspired by the Italian Renaissance. Its facades were decorated with sgraffito decorations depicting battle, genre, and mythological scenes. As part of the expansion taking place at the beginning of the 17th century, a library hall, concert hall, and theater hall were added. The current appearance of the building is the result of reconstruction from the end of the 17th century in the Baroque style under the direction of the Italian architect, Giovanni Seregno.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, a faience (ceramic) factory operated in the castle, whose products were known throughout Europe. After a fire in the castle in the mid-19th century, the interiors were adapted into an Agricultural Institute, and subsequently an Agricultural Academy. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, a teacher's seminary and a hospital were located in the edifice. To this day, Renaissance portals, Baroque interior decorations with rich stuccoes, especially in the Knight's Hall and the chapel, and an 18th-century fountain in the courtyard have been preserved. Currently, a Social Welfare Home is located in the castle, which is surrounded by a landscape park.
According to legend, in 1783, the Prussian King Frederick II Hohenzollern purchased the castle from Prince Karl Maximilian von Dietrichstein, husband of Karolina Maximiliana, daughter of Johann Christoph II Prószkowski. The Dietrichsteins sold the Prószków castle for the amount of 333,333 and 1/3 ducats. To finalize the purchase, the king ordered a coin with a denomination of 1/3 ducat to be minted in the royal mint for this occasion.
Practical information:
Parking spaces on Opolska Street.
