History
Since the thirteenth century in Uraz there was a castellan hillfort, belonging to the dukes of Głogów – Oleśnica, and then to the princes of Wrocław. Since 1319, local goods belonged to the knight Andreas Radak, who perhaps built the oldest brick building. In 1344, the castle burgrave Hancko von Auras was mentioned in historical sources, and in the years 1428-1443, the stronghold belonged to the Czirnow family. In 1466 George of Poděbrady granted local goods to the knight Christoph von Skopp, who extended his seat. The next construction works were carried out in the 16th century and then in the 17th century, when corner turrets were added and the castle was transformed into a Baroque residence. In 1810, the outer fortifications were removed, and the palace itself was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style, almost completely removing the older elements of the interior. In 1945, the castle burned down during the war, and from then on, it remains a progressive ruin.
Architecture
The castle was built mainly of bog ore, but also of erratic stones and bricks. In the first, oldest construction phase, castle walls were built on the irregular plan, a triangular residential and defensive tower and a four-sided gatehouse. The outer defense zone was a circumferential ditch and earth ramparts. On the north side of the castle there was the settlement Uraz, while from the south and west the castle was protected by the Odra River arch.
The triangular tower had a side with a length of 23 meters and three floors were originally separated from each other by timber ceilings. The ground floor walls were 2.5 meters thick. Internal divisions were probably also timber at the time. The entrance led from the inner courtyard to the level of the second floor, however, it is not known how the internal communication between the floors ran, perhaps there were stairs in the thickness of the walls. During the medieval reconstruction, the interiors were divided by brick walls with a Flemish bond and a centrally arranged, circular pillar, supporting the rib vaults. Vaults were at the basement and ground floor.
Current state
The ruins of the triangular castle tower, rebuilt in early modern times, have survived to the present day. Currently, it is in private hands, but its visiting is possible after consultation with the owner.
bibliography:
Chorowska M., Rezydencje średniowieczne na Śląsku, Wrocław 2003.
Kozaczewski T., Zamek średniowieczny w Urazie, Wrocław 1955.
Leksykon zamków w Polsce, red. L.Kajzer, Warszawa 2003.