The Castle in Sochaczew

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The first settlements on the Castle Hill in Sochaczew date back to the 12th century. In the first quarter the 13th century, Konrad I of Mazovia erected here the stronghold of the Mazovian Piasts, made of wood and earth, which was the headquarters of the Sochaczew castellany in 1221. The first stone castle was built thanks after the mid-fourteenth century, probably thanks to the funds of Prince Siemowit III the Elder. During the times when the Sochaczew lands belonged to the Duchy of Mazovia, the stronghold served as the residence of the prince. In 1476, the castle along with the city and the lands became part of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. Since that time, the stronghold became the residence of the castle's governor and a royal station. The castle was destroyed in 1794, during the Kościuszko Uprising and stands in ruins to this day.
In 2013, after many years of efforts by the "Nasz Zamek" Association from Sochaczew, the ruins were successfully revitalised and the castle hill was strengthened. Thanks to this, it has become one of the major tourist attractions in Sochaczew.

Interesting facts

Each year, the area surrounding the castle is the venue of a number of cultural events organised by the "Nasz Zamek" Association. The biggest of them is the historical picnic "Zawisza Czarny at the Bzura River" - an event whose main theme is the cultivation of a local tradition that refers to the events of July 15, 1414, when Zawisza Czarny of Garbów declared war in Sochaczew on the Teutonic Order on behalf of the king of Poland.

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