Siedlisko

Siedlisko is a historic village located on the Oder River in Nowa Sól County within the Lubusz Voivodeship of western Poland. First mentioned in a 1298 deed when Duke Henry III of Głogów acquired the estate, the site has served as an administrative seat for centuries. The area originally belonged to the Piast-ruled Duchy of Głogów before passing through Bohemian and Prussian hands. In 1561, the lordship was acquired by the Schoenaich family, who elevated the estate's status significantly. Georg von Schoenaich constructed a prominent Renaissance castle here and received a baronial title from Emperor Rudolf II, later leading to the family being raised to princely status under Emperor Leopold I in the late 17th century.

The architectural legacy of Siedlisko reflects its turbulent history through various European eras. While the main Renaissance castle built by the Schoenaichs was destroyed by fire following the Red Army's occupation at the end of World War II, significant structures remain standing today. Visitors can still view a preserved Renaissance gate building that once served as the castle entrance. Additionally, the site features a notable mausoleum designed by the renowned architect Hans Poelzig in 1912, which stands as a testament to the artistic heritage of the former German nobility who once ruled the region.

Currently, Siedlisko functions as the seat of its own administrative district known as a gmina and maintains a population of approximately 1,800 residents. Beyond its historical significance, the village has developed a reputation for its local culinary traditions, specifically in dairy production. It is officially recognized for producing various traditional cheeses and quarks, including a distinctive goat cheese named "Ser kozi zamkowy" or goat's castle cheese, which directly references the village's storied fortification. This blend of agricultural tradition and preserved architectural fragments defines the modern character of this riverside community.