Gross Stein Castle
The baroque castle Gross Stein is located in the village of the same name in Gross Stein in the Opole Voivodeship in Upper Silesia .
history
The first castle complex in the same place was built in the 11th century under the Odrowąż knight family . In 1183 the later canonized Hyacinth of Poland was born in this castle and a year later the later canonized Ceslaus of Breslau . In 1200 it was the birthplace of Bronisława, who was later canonized.
In the following centuries, the castle was rebuilt several times. It was owned by numerous noble families, including von Strzal, von Larisch and von Strachwitz . The castle was given its current appearance in 1779.
In the last years before the end of the Second World War , the premises of the palace were used as a hospital. The building survived the war unscathed. In December 1945 a children's home moved into the palace complex.
In 1954 the palace was incorporated into the adjacent airport, which was used by the military. The Soviet troops stationed here were not very careful with the interior and the historical building fabric. After a few years, the castle was no longer habitable. In 1970 a fire destroyed the entire building. The castle then fell into ruin.
In 1990 the land including the castle went to the Diocese of Opole . Shortly afterwards, the reconstruction work on the castle began. In 1994 the castle was inaugurated with an adjacent sanctuary . The interior as well as the exterior facades were partially reconstructed true to the original, so that the palace building regained its old baroque appearance. Cologne Archbishop Joachim Meisner also took part in the celebrations.
Today the castle and the sanctuary are an important religious and spiritual center. The village of Groß Stein is also an important recreational and health resort in the Opole Voivodeship.
literature
- Albert Glaeser: Large stone (Kamień Śląski). Palace and park complex . Wydział Teologiczny Uniwersytetu Opolskiego (Opole), 2011.
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 32 ′ 10.6 ″ N , 18 ° 4 ′ 31.9 ″ E