Defensive manor complex in Rzemień as one of the unique objects of cultural landscape of the Podkarpacie region

University of Life Scences in Lublin, Department of Ornamenatal Plants, Dendrology and Ladscape Architecture, 20612 Lublin, Głęboka Str. 28, Poland

^* Corresponding author: kpudelsk@autograf.pl

Abstract

Cultural landscape is „the space historically shaped as a result of human activity, including products of human civilization and elements of nature” [1]. The valuable areas of particular historical, artistic and scientific values, which are a sign of the previous epochs, can be found in the present Podkarpacie region, which is the ethnic, political and religious border region. One of the objects of defensive landscape of the Podkarpackie voivodeship is a manor complex in Rzemień. This 15th century knight-fortified tower built among the marshes and wetlands of the Wisłoka River represents a bastion system of the so called Dutch school and it is the oldest preserved part in this historical building. Next to it there is the 19th century manor and park complex of the Szaszkiewicz family. Over the centuries the area and the layout of the whole historical complex has undergone many changes. Currently, it covers the area of 16 ha and since 1971 it has been inscribed in the list of historical monuments of the Podkarpackie voivodeship. Both in the closest surrounding of the oldest castle as well as in the park one can find a valuable tree stand and the remains of historical plants. These are monument trees of over 400 years old (eg. Quercus robur L.). Nowadays, the area of the defensive manor together with soil fortifications is private property. It serves as an example of good protection activities of defensive landscape. This has been confirmed by a distinction which residential-fortified tower with bastion fortifications received in 2014 in „Zabytek Zadbany” competition. The rest of the complex is a garden, which plays an educational role and it belongs to Agriculture School. The aim of the study is to present the preserved cultural and natural values of a defensive manor complex in Rzemień.