view of Zamek w Pszczynie (Pszczyna Castle) and colorful rhododendrons
Pszczyna Castle (Polish: Zamek w Pszczynie, German: Schloss Pleß) is a classical-style palace in the town of Pszczyna in southern Poland. Constructed as a castle in 13th century or earlier, in a Gothic architectural style, it was rebuilt in a Renaissance style in the 17th century. During the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, the exterior of the castle was partially changed into a Baroque-Classical style. The Classicist modernization transformed the complex into what is usually described a palace.
In its history the castle was a residence of Polish, incl. Silesian, Piast dukes, then the German von Promnitz noble clan (mid-16th to mid-18th centuries) and later the German von Pless family. The castle became owned by the state after the death of the last Prince of Pless, Hans Heinrich XV in 1936.
In 2009 it was voted as one of the "Seven Architectural Wonders of the Silesian Voivodeship" by the Silesian authorities and is often described as one of the most beautiful castle residences in Poland.
In the early the Middle Ages, Pszczyna was a stronghold of the Piast dynasty and several dukes of Poland. The town belonged to the historical region of Lesser Poland until 1177, when it became part of the Duchy of Racibórz. From this time on, it also was part of the Bishopric of Kraków. In 1548, the palace was sold to the noble Promnitz family from Saxony and given a Renaissance appearance, which it lost after a fire. It was subsequently rebuilt in a more baroque style.
In 1705, Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann became Kapellmeister to Erdmann II of Promnitz, privy Councillor to Augustus II the Strong, elector of Saxony and king of Poland, and spent considerable time at the Pszczyna Palace when the latter's court summered there. This gave Telemann an opportunity to study Polish and Moravian folk music, which fascinated and inspired him.
In 1742 Pless became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1848 the Duchy of Pless became a principality, ruled by the Hochberg-Fuerstenstein family until 1939. Between 1870 and 1876, reconstruction of the palace was directed by the French architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur.
During the First World War, the palace, then in the Prussian Province of Silesia, at times hosted William II, German Emperor, and there are pictures on display of him together with Generals such as Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg discussing military operations. After the war and a plebiscite in 1921, the town became again part of Poland. Following the joint German-Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939 at the start of World War II, the complex was occupied by the Wehrmacht.
After the Second World War, Upper Silesia became part of the Polish People's Republic. For a brief period there was a Soviet military hospital in the palace, but in May 1946 it was turned into a museum, which still operates today.
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front view of Zamek w Pszczynie (Pszczyna Castle) from across the park pond
Pszczyna Castle (Polish: Zamek w Pszczynie, German: Schloss Pleß) is a classical-style palace in the town of Pszczyna in southern Poland. Constructed as a castle in 13th century or earlier, in a Gothic architectural style, it was rebuilt in a Renaissance style in the 17th century. During the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, the exterior of the castle was partially changed into a Baroque-Classical style. The Classicist modernization transformed the complex into what is usually described a palace.
In its history the castle was a residence of Polish, incl. Silesian, Piast dukes, then the German von Promnitz noble clan (mid-16th to mid-18th centuries) and later the German von Pless family. The castle became owned by the state after the death of the last Prince of Pless, Hans Heinrich XV in 1936.
The historic Pszczyna Park, part of the castle complex of the Pszczyna princes, is considered one of the most beautiful in Upper Silesia. It has an area of almost 160 ha and consists of three different parts. The main, central part is the actual Castle Park. From the east, it is bordered by the much smaller Park Dworcowy, stretching along the Pszczynka River, and from the west by the so-called Dzika Promenada or Zwierzyniec, i.e. large, less developed forest and park areas in the Pszczynka valley, created after the large city pond was drained in 1792. The extensive area of the Historic Pszczyna Park is an attractive place for both rest and recreation.
The Castle Park covers an area of almost 50 ha. It was created in the second half of the 18th century, although already in the 16th century there was a small vegetable garden on the western side of the castle and a menagerie in the north-western part of the current park. Created during the Baroque reconstruction of the residence of the Pszczyna princes, it referred to the multi-axis assumptions of the great French architect André Le Notré, subordinated to the dominant shape of the palace building. On the northern side of the Pszczyna Castle, three alleys were marked out, radiating from the main façade of the palace. In the mid-19th century, the castle garden began to be transformed into a landscape park, the so-called English. At that time, among other things, the main, central alley was eliminated, replacing it with a vast clearing opening towards the newly built ponds on the Pszczynka River and the hills in the northern part of the park. Over time, in the park, which was transformed in the mid-19th century, all the elements characteristic of this type of layout appeared: extensive viewing openings, picturesque clusters of trees and shrubs, numerous backwaters and ponds with islands and arched bridges, open meadows and solitary, spreading trees. The banks of ponds and canals were planted with "weeping" trees, with branches and branches hanging just above the water. There are numerous, magnificent and powerful: English oaks, hornbeams, common and red beeches, horse-chestnuts, yews, eastern white pines, small-leaved limes, ashes, elms, larches, silver spruces, birches, maples and plane trees, as well as willows and tulip trees. Among the many interesting shrubs, the beautiful specimens of rhododendrons (flowering in late spring) and smaller azaleas are worthy of attention.
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Our glaciers are on a one-way ticket to tiny-town, and they're not coming back! Grey Glacier has lost a whopping 19 square kilometers, or approximately 7,343 acres, in the last 30 years. That's like saying goodbye to 2,366 football fields of ice! If we don't hit the brakes on climate change, our planet is going to need a serious snow day. Let's keep our cool and save our ice, Earthlings style!
PS Number ONE on Explore on September 8th., 2024.
Tags: Great Chile Grey Glacier the Southern Patagonian Ice Field the Cordillera del Paine Glaciar Grey los Campos de Hielo Sur Grey Lake Glacial lake la isla Nunatak Nunatak island Refugio Grey Grey Refugio & Camping Landscape Landscapes lake Mountain Hostels Chile Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region Torres del Paine National Park Parque Nacional Torres del Paine national park Patagonia End of the World Route Ruta del Fin del Mundo Chilean Patagonia Towers of Paine the Paine mountain range the Paine Massif World Biosphere Reserve UNESCO hike hiker paths mountain hut Multi-day treks treks the W route the W Circuit the W trail the W Trek trail the 8th Wonder of the World trips fall cielo sky day nature photography light outside photographer travel vacation holiday tour autumn mountain photography lakescape photography landscape photography mountain mountains Vertice Las Torres blue reflection mirror Lago Grey iPhone XV on Explore Explore in Explore #1 Number ONE
There's something almost eerie about a body of water that's so still it becomes a perfect mirror. As I stood at the edge of Lake Pehoé, I couldn't help but feel like I was looking into my own soul. The mountains, the trees, the boats - they were all reflected with uncanny accuracy.
I've always been drawn to the idea that nature can be a mirror for our own lives. The towering peaks represent our aspirations, the calm waters our emotions. And just as the anchored boats disturb the surface of the lake, so too do our problems disrupt our inner peace.
I remember a time when I used to think that if I could just get away from it all, my problems would disappear. But as I stood there, surrounded by the beauty of Torres del Paine, I realized that no matter where I go, I'll always carry a piece of myself with me.
It's a humbling thought, but also a comforting one. Because it means that even in the darkest of times, there's always hope. We just have to look a little deeper to find it.
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PS Number TWO on Explore on September 28th., 2024.
Tags: Lago Pehoé lake reflection water Pehoé Lake Landscape Landscapes Chile Torres del Paine National Park Parque Nacional Torres del Paine national park Patagonia The Cordillera del Paine End of the World Route Ruta del Fin del Mundo Chilean Patagonia Towers of Paine the Paine mountain range the Paine Massif World Biosphere Reserve UNESCO hike hiker paths Multi-day treks treks the W route the W Circuit the W trail the W Trek trail the 8th Wonder of the World boat trips fall cielo sky nature photography light photographer travel vacation holiday tour autumn mountain photography lakescape photography landscape photography blue mountain mountains iPhone XV Las Torres Beach wanderlust explore travel photography dawn nature night B&W black & white mono preto e branco mono shot monochromes blanco y negro mood Black and White Photography on Explore in Explore #2 Number Two outdoor countryside
I stood on the shore of Lake Pehoé, my heart as still as the water before me. The mountains, usually so imposing, were mirrored perfectly in the glassy surface. Anchored and forgotten, a transport ship cast a solitary white shadow on the serene waters. It was the sixth day of my trek through Torres del Paine, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the lake, I felt a profound sense of peace.
Yet, as I gazed upon this tranquil scene, a stark contrast emerged. The world outside this pristine wilderness was in turmoil. Political divisions had grown deeper than ever before. The concept of truth seemed to be relative, and empathy had become a lost art. It reminded me of the lyrics to R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion": "That's me in the corner, without a voice."
I thought about the yin and yang, the ancient Chinese symbol representing the interconnectedness of all things. Light cannot exist without darkness; joy cannot exist without sorrow. In this moment, as I stood on the shore of Lake Pehoé, I was acutely aware of the duality of human experience. The beauty of nature and the ugliness of human conflict.
I couldn't help but wonder: Is this what it means to be alive in the 21st century? To be constantly bombarded with information, yet feel more disconnected than ever? To be surrounded by people who believe they are absolutely right, and everyone else is absolutely wrong?
As I turned to leave, I glanced back one last time at the lake. The mountains still stood tall, their reflections unwavering. Perhaps, in this moment of stillness, I had found a small piece of the peace I was searching for.
Tags: lake reflection water Pehoé Lake Landscape Landscapes Chile Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region Torres del Paine National Park Parque Nacional Torres del Paine national park Patagonia The Cordillera del Paine End of the World Route Ruta del Fin del Mundo Chilean Patagonia Towers of Paine the Paine mountain range the Paine Massif World Biosphere Reserve UNESCO hike hiker paths mountain hut Multi-day treks treks the W route the W Circuit the W trail the W Trek trail the 8th Wonder of the World boat trips fall cielo sky day nature photography light outside photographer travel vacation holiday tour autumn mountain photography lakescape photography landscape photography blue mountain mountains iPhone XV Las Torres panoramic panorama pano Beach wanderlust Lago Pehoé explore adventure tranquility travel photography transport colours cold dawn countryside pier harbour nature night