Liw Castle - Secrets and History of the Masovian Fortress

Martyna Ługowska

09.03.2025 463

Liw Castle Liw Castle is one of the most intriguing monuments in Mazovia, dating back to the early 15th century. Its construction began around 1400, when the mason Niclos (Mikołaj) erected the first walls of the stronghold on an artificial island surrounded by the swamps of the Liwiec River – a river that forms the border between Mazovia and Lithuania. The construction was part of a larger plan by the Mazovian Duke Janusz I the Elder, who ordered the construction of six brick fortresses within the borders of his duchy.

The History of Liw Castle

The castle in Liw was built on a square-like plan, and its basic structure consisted of two parallel buildings divided by a courtyard and a gate. The castle gained popularity due to its military importance, being one of the most innovative buildings in the region. After the death of Prince Janusz I in 1429, the construction of the castle was continued by his grandson Prince Bolesław IV. At that time, the height of the walls was increased to about 6 meters, and a drawbridge leading to the gate tower became a characteristic element of the stronghold.

At the end of the 15th century, the castle underwent its first expansion, aimed at strengthening its defenses. This took place around 1512, during the regency of Duchess Anna née Radziwiłł. The curtain walls of the castle were raised to a height of 12 meters, and the gate tower was built over, creating a passage closed with an iron gate and a drawbridge. Inside the castle there were two two-story houses and farm and military buildings, such as a granary and guard porches.

In the following years, after the incorporation of Mazovia into the Crown in 1526, Liw and the castle were assigned to Duchess Anna by Sigismund the Old as "supply until marriage". After 1547, when Liw was under the management of Queen Bona, the castle was expanded again. Higher floors of the tower were built and a helmet with hoardings was added, which gave the castle an impressive appearance. During her time, the castle was well-equipped with weapons, including cannons and hooks, which were to ensure the defense of this border fortress.

In the 17th century, the castle in Liw suffered much destruction, especially during the war with the Swedes in 1656. The castle burned down again during the Great Northern War in 1703. It lost its defensive values ​​at that time and remained in ruins for many years. It was not until 1782, thanks to the starost of Liw, Tadeusz Grabianka, that reconstruction began. A Baroque manor house was built to serve administrative purposes, and the gate tower was adapted to house an archive.

Liw Castle in the 20th Century – Shadows of War

After 1918, the castle became state property. In the 1930s, the first attempts to renovate it began, but the world war had a tragic impact on them. In 1942, during the German occupation, the castle was almost completely demolished to obtain building materials for the extermination camp in Treblinka. Fortunately, the young archaeologist Otto Warpechowski convinced the German starost to begin rebuilding the castle, falsifying history and convincing that the Teutonic Knights were its creators. Over the course of two years, Warpechowski supervised the necessary renovation work, including rebuilding the walls, covering the tower roof, and organizing an archaeological exhibition.

After the war, in 1961, thanks to pressure from the local community, the full reconstruction of the castle was completed, and in 1963 a museum of old weapons was established there, the aim of which was to remind us of the military role of the castle as a border fortress between Mazovia and Lithuania. The castle in Liw has become a symbol not only of the history of the region, but also of the struggle to preserve the national heritage.

Liw Castle Today

Currently, the castle in Liw is one of the most important monuments of Mazovia, attracting tourists from all over the country. Its history, full of changes and turbulent events, is a fascinating lesson about the role of this place over the centuries. The museum contains exhibits related to the history of the castle, military and everyday life in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The castle in Liw is not only a monument to the past, but also a cultural center that allows visitors to travel back in time to the medieval history of Mazovia.