of Pomerania-Stettin erected the castle within Szczecin's walls against the will of the burghers in 1346. An older Pomeranian burgh had been leveled in 1249. In 1490 the castle was partially reconstructed for Bogusław X's wedding with Anna Jagiellonka. Between 1573−1582 the castle was rebuilt again, this time in the mannerist style for duke John Frederick by Italian stonemasons according to design by Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus. Two new wings were added to close the courtyard before the medieval southern and eastern wings. The main gate was adorned with ducal crest, the eastern wing was enhanced and the northern wing was intended for chapel. In 1648, due to the tenets of the Peace of Westphalia, the castle become a seat of Swedish governor. Before 1705 another reconstruction occurred to prepare the castle for Queen of Poland - Catherine Opalińska, who lived here with her daughters Anna and Marie Leszczyńska and a small court between 1705-1711. In 1711 king Stanisław I Leszczyński, who sought refuge before chasing him Saxon and Russian forces, joined his wife and daughters at the castle. After the Great Northern War, in 1720, the city ofSzczecin become a Prussian property and the castle was allocated to the garrison commander Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, whose daughter Sophie Friederike Auguste was born here in 1729 and was raised in the castle. Under Prussian rule in the 19th century many renaissance elements in the castle were devastated. Eventually about 60% of the castle was destroyed during World War II. Shortly after the war between 1958–1980, it was rebuilt with some modifications. The castle was restored to its original 16th-century appearance according to 1653 engraving by Matthäus Merian.
Gallery
File:Zamek Ksiazat Pomorskich w Szczecinie.jpg|View from one of the towers File:Szczecin 05-2017 img08 Castle.jpg|Side view with one of the towers File:65429 Szczecin zamek ksiazat pomorskich 11.JPG|Inner courtyard File:Schloss-Stettin-160402-091.JPG|Former castle chapel File:2009-05-30-polska-by-RalfR-48.jpg|One of the chambers File:2009-05-30-polska-by-RalfR-36.jpg|Gate
