Lublin castle

Lublin Castle was first established in the 12th century. In the 13th century, it was expanded and fortified. It is one of the oldest royal residences in the country. Now it is the iconic symbol of the city. In the castle’s courtyard, you will find the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. It was added to the Castle in the 14th century – during the reign of Casimir III the Great – one of the most powerful Polish kings. The chapel’s interior is decorated with Byzantine-style frescoes influenced by the Eastern Orthodox church. The well-preserved frescoes are acclaimed internationally as an important historical monument mainly because of the unique combination of Western and Eastern Orthodox styles. During the Jagellonian dynasty, the Castle was frequently visited by members of the royal family and became a royal castle. Even the founding act of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was signed in the Castle!

In later centuries the castle was used as a prison by different occupants of Lublin. First by the Russians, and later during the Nazi occupation. The prison has been closed since 1954, and nowadays it is the main site of the Lublin Museum. Did you know that this is the largest and oldest museum in Eastern Poland?