Historic ruins

Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction. Natural disaster, war and depopulation are the most common root causes, with many structures becoming progressively derelict over time due to long-term weathering and scavenging.

There are famous ruins all over the world, from ancient sites in China, the Indus valley and Judea to Zimbabwe in Africa, ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman sites in the Mediterranean basin, and Incan and Mayan sites in the Americas. Ruins are of great importance to historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, whether they were once individual fortifications, places of worship, houses and utility buildings, or entire villages, towns and cities. Many ruins have become UNESCO World Heritage Sites in recent years, to identify and preserve them as areas of outstanding value to humanity.

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    Castle (Ruins), Aksmanice

    A spectacular castle was founded in Aksmanice by Mikolaj Wolski, the Grand Crown Marshall, the owner of the Aksmanice estates from 1617. It was probably devastated in the late 17th century during Tartar's invasions.

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    Castle (Ruins), Chelm

    Castle Ruins in Chelm. Chelm is a city in eastern Poland and located to the south-east of Lublin, north of Zamosc and south of Biala Podlaska, some 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the border with Ukraine.

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    Castle (Ruins), Fredropol

    Castle Ruins in Fredropol village in Przemysl County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine.

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    Castle (Ruins), Krynice

    Castle Ruins (XVIII) in Krynice village in Tomaszow Lubelski County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland.

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    Castle (Ruins), Mielnik

    Castle Ruins in Mielnik village in Siemiatycze County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus.

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    Castle (Ruins), Mykulyntsi

    Castle Ruins in Mykulyntsi in the Terebovlia District of Ternopil Oblast' (province) in western Ukraine.

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    Castle (Ruins), Narol

    Castle Ruins in Narol town in Podkarpacie Voivodeship, in Lubaczow County, Poland.

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    Castle (Ruins), Niemirow

    Castle Ruins XI-XII century in Niemirow village in the administrative district of Gmina Mielnik, within Siemiatycze County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus.

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    Castle (Ruins), Orlow Murowany

    Castle Ruins in Orlow Murowany village in the administrative district of Gmina Izbica, within Krasnystaw County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland.

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    Castle (Ruins), Ostromeczyn

    Castle (Ruins), Ostromeczyn. Castle - from the south, east and west are preserved remains of the fortifications surrounding the now non-existent castle in the form of shafts and the remains of bastions and moats.

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    Castle (Ruins), Skierbieszow

    Castle Ruins (Castle was built in the fourteenth century) in Skierbieszow village in Zamosc County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland.

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    Castle (Ruins), Sutkivtsi

    Castle Ruins (XV century) in Sutkivtsi village, Khmelnytsky oblast, Ukraine. Castle today - is the only surviving defense tower.

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    Castle (Ruins), Swierze

    Castle Ruins in Swierze village in the administrative district of Gmina Dorohusk, within Chelm County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine.

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    Castle (Ruins), Szarvasko

    Ruins of the old castle, Szarvasko. The origin of Szarvasko's name is linked to 'Castle Hill', the outcrop above the village on which the ruins of the fortification can still be seen today.

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    Castle (Ruins), Szczebrzeszyn

    Castle Ruins in Szczebrzeszyn city in southeastern Poland in Lublin Voivodeship, in Zamosc County, about 20 km west of Zamosc.

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    Castle (Ruins), Toki

    Castle Ruins in Toki village in Ternopil region. Castle was built in 16th century.

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    Castle (Ruins), Wegierka

    Castle Ruins in Wegierka village in the administrative district of Gmina Rozwienica, within Jaroslaw County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.

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    Castle (Ruins), Wielkie Oczy

    Castle Ruins in Wielkie Oczy village (town until 1935) in Lubaczow County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland, close to the border with Ukraine.

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    Castle (Ruins), Zawieprzyce

    Castle Ruins in Zawieprzyce village in the administrative district of Gmina Spiczyn, within Leczna County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. Built in the fourteenth century, has since been rebuilt several times and burned in 1838.