LOCATION
Bytów is located about 100 km away from Szczecinek, about 50 km from Słupsk and 100 km from Gdańsk. The city is best reached by car. Public transport connections are possible, but it take quite a long time. 17°30’E 54°10’N
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SCENIC CHARACTER
The most important monument of Bytów on the Griffins Route is the castle. On the land, which the Pomeranian Duke Warcisław IV sold to the Teutonic Knights, they erected in 1390-1405 from field stones, huge walls with corner towers. The castle was surrounded by a moat through which led the drawbridge. After the defeat the Teutonic Knights during the Battle of Grunwald, the castle was taken over by the Polish king Władysław Jagiełło, who handed him over to the Pomeranian Duke Bogusław VIII, and after the conclusion of the Polish-Pomeranian friendship treaty in 1466, the Pomeranian Duke Erik II received permission to buy the city from Teutonic. In 1500, Duke Bogusław X modernized the fortifications of the castle and surrounded it with another moat. The castle became one of the residences of Pomeranian Dukes. Barnim XI built a stately Ducal House, a knight’s hall and an armoury here. The Old Monstery House was designated for economic purposes. It was located here, among others brewery, bakery and granary. At the command of the last Duke of Griffins, Prince Bogusław XIV, in 1623, the Widow’s House was built here for the widow of his brother Franciszek I. Destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War the castle was rebuilt by Anna de Croy, sister of Bogusław XIV. During subsequent wars, the castle was badly destroyed. Today, after the reconstruction, the castle still has impressive dimensions. The Museum of Western Kashubia, a cultural center and a hotel with a restaurant are located here. In the Museum you can see, among others with an exhibition referring to the Teutonic times and the rule of the Griffins. We will see, for example, the famous Grand Map of the Pomeranian Duchy by Eilhard Lubinus and artefacts related to the introduction of the Reformation in the Duchy of Pomerania. There is also a gallery of portraits of Pomeranian dukes historically associated with the Bytów castle. Museum lessons are held at the museum, and in the last days of July, there are knights’ tournaments.
ATTRACTIONS
Wandering around Bytów, visit the Gothic Tower of St. Catherine, the remains of the first Bytów temple, in which the archaeological monuments of Bytów land are exhibited, the Museum of the Polish School showing the history of Kashubians and their identity, Kashubian Styp-Rekowski homestead in Płotów, once a mainstay of Polishness on the land of Bytów. The city is located among hills, forests and numerous lakes, which makes it extremely attractive in terms of tourism, fishing and hunting. Near the city, there are many nature and didactic paths that can go on foot, by bike or by canoe.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Heritage Class: [ C ]Cultural Heritage
Subclass [CU] : Cultural heritage events and sites
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