History
The castle in Świecie (German: Schwerta) was probably built in the first decades of the 14th century, on the order of the prince of Świdnica-Jawor Bernard or his brother Henry of Jawor, in order to protect the route from Lusatia to Lubań and Jelenia Góra. It was first recorded in documents in 1329. It probably lost military significance after Silesia was incorporated into the Bohemia and passed into private hands. In 1385, it was recorded as the property of the Üchteritz family. After a fire in 1527, the castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. It was rebuilt again after a fire in the first half of the 18th century, when a Baroque palace was built in its eastern part. In 1827, the castle burned down again and has been left in ruin since then, although it was still partially used in the 20th century, when an inn was set up there.
Architecture
The castle was built on a low but rocky outcrop, in a bend of a stream. It had a plan close to a flattened oval, corresponding to the shape of the hill. It occupied a small area, because its longer axis was about 27 meters, and the average width was about 11 meters. From the east and north there was a small bailey with a gate on the west side, placed in arched defensive wall. In the eastern part of the castle, the defense was reinforced by a tower, connected to a building that may have housed a chapel. The outer defense zone could have been a moat.
Current state
The castle is preserved in the form of a ruin. A significant part of the Gothic peripheral walls, an almost full-height tower and a residential building equipped with internal divisions and fragments of vaults have survived. The building in the eastern part of the castle grounds dates back to early modern times. Until recently neglected and unprotected, the monument is currently in private hands and attempts are being made to revitalize it.
bibliography:
Boguszewicz A., Corona Silesiae. Zamki Piastów fürstenberskich na południowym pograniczu księstwa jaworskiego, świdnickiego i ziębickiego do połowy XIV wieku, Wrocław 2010.
Chorowska M., Rezydencje średniowieczne na Śląsku, Wrocław 2003.
Leksykon zamków w Polsce, red. L.Kajzer, Warszawa 2003.