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HISTORY of Bytow Castle

The Teutonic Knights started building the fortified castle of Bytów in the years of 1398-1405. They chose the selected location of the castle hill towering above the city with excellent natural conditions of defenses. It was built in a rectangular shape, measuring 70m x 50m. Closing rectangular courtyard with stone-brick walls on the foundations of nearly 3 meters thick in the corners of tower, and the three protruding towers. Approach to the castle from the east side defended the system of moats, ward and drawbridge. Modern for its time, the castle served several functions including the role of guardians of the border, the administration office and for the Teutonic knights inn from Western, travelling to the capital of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. During the thirteenth years of War, the castle of Bytów was taken over by the Polish King, Kazimierz Jagiellończyk. Who gave the land of Bytów for ever to the duke of Pomorze (a region in the north-west part of Poland), Gryfit Eryk II. During that age the castle was served as the duke's summer residence. Over the centuries, the castle served multiple functions. Upon completion of the renovations in the east wing, there was established a library. In 1980 was completed south wing, and there was located the hotel and restaurant. The buildings of the north wing became a seat for the Museum of West Kaszuby (a region in the north-west part of Poland). Nowadays, the Kashubian-Pomeranian Brotherhood of the Knights of Castle Bytów organizes knight's tournaments which are a big attraction for tourists staying in this exceptionally beautiful place. The tourists will find in Bytów ecologically clean environment and climate of cordiality. The land of Bytów highly characterizes varied terrain. Forests in the region are as a magnet for lovers of hikes and bicycle trips and as well as for the hunters and gatherers of undergrowth. Well-developed hydrographic network creates perfect conditions for the development on the lakes, and canoeing. Nature reserves and marked hiking trails increase the tourist attraction for the land of Bytów. Especially recommended routes are: Bike Trail Miastko-Bytów-Lębork-Łeba; canoeing trail of Słupia river; walking trail from the Rekowo to Kłęczono and the two marked hiking trails: blue and green.

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HANDY INFORMATION

TOURIST INFORMATION
Tourist Association - Stowarzyszenie LOT "Kaszuby bytowskie", ul. Zamkowa 2,
tel. +48 59 822 77 77, e-mail: info@lot.kaszuby.pl

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Museum "Zachodnio - Kaszubskie", ul. Zamkowa 2, tel. +48 59 822 26 23

MUSEUM - Monday: 10:00 - 16:00 - free admission
Mondays are only available ethnographic exhibitions, the other rooms may be available only with a tourist guide with prior arrangements.
Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 - 18:00 (out of the season until 16:00)
Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00 (out of the season until 16:00)
The Western Museum of Kashubian in Bytow occupies the northern, the oldest wing of castle called the House of Religious Order "Dom Zakonny", two adjacent towers: Gunpowder Mill "Młyńska i Prochowa", and as well as curtain as the defensive wall.

Ancient church tower of St. Catherine in Bytów
The building houses a branch of the Western Kashubian - Museum. This unit presents permanent exhibitions related to historical past of the city of Bytów and as well as historical land of Bytów.
Railway bridge over the river of Boruja - the railway bridge, on which never operated any train
There was built an overbridge over the river of Boruja in the late XIX century, which was to serve the emerging railway line to Miastka. However, after completion of the work, there was routed paths of the railway tracks just a few hundred meters from the original plans. In result there never ran any part of rail. There appears on the pillars of the bridge, emblem of Prussia, Pomerania, Bytów and the German railways.
Church of St. George, Ukrainian - Byzantine Orthodox church
The St. George's catholic church was built between 1675 to 1985 by local evangelicals. Until the year of 1859 there were held celebrations in the Kashubian language. Today it is an Byzantine-Ukrainian Orthodox church, where you can see the XVII century tabernacle at the church of Surochów (in Podkarpackie), and the iconostasis.
Team of multi-family houses in the development created in the most compact in the late XIX century

text thanks to www.zamkigotyckie.org.pl

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