Stare Drawsko, Medieval settlement in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Stare Drawsko is a village in West Pomeranian Poland situated on a narrow strip of land between two lakes. The settlement is defined by the remains of a medieval fortress and the surrounding water landscape.
The Knights Hospitaller built a fortress here in the 14th century that later changed hands between Polish and Prussian rulers. In the 17th century the region was pledged to Brandenburg, fundamentally reshaping the settlement's cultural and linguistic development.
The village shows traces of its divided past in the layout of buildings and street patterns. Locals maintain a connection to the landscape and ruins that shaped their regional identity.
Access to the castle ruins follows marked paths from the village center, with information boards explaining the medieval fortification system. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the trails are dry and easy to navigate.
The settlement served as the administrative center of a special district that was pawned from Warsaw to Brandenburg as part of a 17th-century agreement. This unusual political arrangement left lasting marks on how the community developed differently from surrounding areas.
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