The Dybowski Castle
On the left bank of the Vistula River, under the J. Pilsudski road bridge is the Dybowski Castle, called also Nieszawa.
It was built between 1422-1425, by Wladyslaw Jagiello, the King to reinforce the control over the Vistula River. That time a dwelling part of the Castle was built, too, but it does not exist now.
After the Castle had been taken over by the Order, in 1431, it's reconstruction started. Probably Teutonic Order built a courtyard, walls and a tower gate then.
Between 1454-62, after Poles had regained the Castle, it's next extension began. Walls were raised and a tower was remade on dungeon.
The winter of 1454, Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk, the King granted privileges to Nieszawa. This event started an age of democracy and polish parliamentalism.
In 1656, during the Swedish Wars, the Dybowski Castle was tried to blow up. Destroyed then, has never returned to his former splendor.
In spite of serious destruction, the Castle was strong enough to become a point of resistance for soldiers from Napoleon Army, fighting against Russians, in 1813.
In 1848, after becoming a part of Torun's fortifications, the Dybowski Castle was partly rebuilt again.
The history of the Castle is very mysterious and full of unclear stories. In addition, there is no original maps of the Castle. The summer of 1998, archeologists and historians started archeological studies to complete the history of the Castle. As a result, they brought much more questions than answers.
The studies showed that there was much more reconstructions of the Castle that anyone supposed. Old, unknown cellars were also found. What's more, studies proved that courtyard was not built by Teutonic Order, but by Poles. They built it, and walls, very close to the river, so now there are signs of water on wooden poles and foundations.
It need to be said, that knowledge that we have about the Dybowski Castle is still only hypothetical and needs to be confirmed by much more further studies.
Not only the history of the Castle is very mysterious. There is many unclear stories about it's tower, too. It is known, that Castle had a big courtyard and three floors, but there is many hypotheses where the tower was. According to one of them, the tower was on the south-east part of the courtyard, just above a habitatable part of the castle. According to another, on the south-west part.
Although The Dybowski Castle is a place worth seeing when visiting Torun, it is still not so popular as The Teutonic Order Castle.
Vogelsgang ?
Archeological Studies in 1999 showed a part of the unknown walls. That was the reason of creation a new hypothesis, saying that the courtyard was build over more times, that scientists supposed.
But next studies did not confirm it. They expose, on the contrary, the other, unknown 3.5 yarded long wall on the east part of courtyard. Sins of the discovered constructions are much older than signs of the Dybowski Castle. So, it is clear, that it is not a part of the same castle. Probably no the place, where remains of Dybowski Castle are now, had been another Castle, much more powerful. It is dated from XIII century and called Vogelsgang (which means 'bird's song'). It is supposed that this Castle was Teutonic Order's property, where Knigts were marching out on a Chelmno Land.
Nieszawa
In 2000, archeological studies brought up a new discovery: not more than a half mile from Dybowski Castle they found a city. It is called Nieszawa and dated from XV century. Nieszawa was granted Civic Rights on 29th May, 1425. (Building of the Dybowski Castle was finished that year too). Still growing up, city started to compete with Torun. As a result, people from Torun attacked Nieszawa. They conquered castle and destroyed the city. In1435 military actions finished. At the '60 of the XX century, Nieszawa has been relocated up the River.
|
