WIZNA'S CASTLE

The castle in Wizna was one of the oldest in the Mazowsze area. According to documentations it was built in 1130 by prince Zbigniew the brother of duke Boleslaw Krzywousty. Since the second half of the XII century in was used by the castellans and later on by the head of the county. It was visited by kings and queens, queen Bona even stayed there with her daughters, it was a stop for king Zygmunt August on different occasions.

The location of the castle on a high point was very helpful during defense campaigns. On the east it was protected by the river Narew and its surrounding fields and swamps, by valleys and streams on the south-west. The best time of the year was autumn and spring because the river would overflow and surround the hill on which the castle was situated with water. Besides the natural protection on the north side there was a wall made of stones, clay and sand. Unfortunately the castle was destroyed in the second half of the XVII century by the Swedish army.

Text: Natalia Pawlak of the book: Brodzicki Czesław „Początki osadnictwa Wizny i ziemi wiskiej na tle wydarzeń historycznych w tym regionie Polski (do 1529 roku)”

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