Zamek Książąt Pomorskich w Koszalinie

Zamek Ksiazat Pomorskich in Koszalin is a Renaissance complex featuring a residential building and two brick towers that was constructed between 1569 and 1582. The architecture reflects the classical principles of northern European Renaissance design that still define the site's appearance today.

Construction began in 1569 under Duke Casimir VII of Szczecin and was completed in 1582, marking the transformation of the site from monastic to princely authority. The castle served as a symbol of the ducal power over Pomerelia during the Renaissance period.

The castle was built on the grounds of a former Cistercian convent, and fragments of Gothic portals from that earlier religious community remain visible in the walls. These architectural traces link the site's past as a spiritual center with its later function as a ducal residence.

The castle sustained severe fire damage in 1718 and was never fully rebuilt, though later structures were constructed on its original foundation. The site remains open to visitors who can explore the ruins and examine the remaining architectural features from various angles.

After the Griffins dynasty ended their rule, the castle came under Brandenburg control, representing a major shift in regional political balance. This transition shaped the city's political and cultural development for centuries to follow.