Poland; voivodeship West Pomerania; city of Szczecin (German: Stettin): Astronomical clock in the courtyard of Szczecin Castle (Ducal Castle); former seat of the dukes of Pomerania-Stettin of the House of Pomerania; the Griffins; The Griffins ruled the Duchy of Pomerania from 1121 to 1637. The older Pomeranian burgh had been levelled at the Castle Square; in 1249. Duke Barnim I gave the area of the square to the citizens of Szczecin. In 1345; Duke Barnim III (Barnim the Great) of Pomerania-Stettin erected the castle against severe protests of the locals. In 1428; new fortifications were added. In 1490; the castle was new built and reconstructed due to the wedding of Boguslaw X with princess Anna Jagiellonka; daughter of Polish king Casimir IV Jagiellon. In 1538; the Eastern wing of the castle was erected under Duke Barnim IX. From 1573 to1582; the castle was rebuilt in mannerist style for Duke John Frederick by Italian stonemasons according to design by Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus. The castle church was built until 1577. Last Griffin Duke Bogislaw XIV died during the Thirty Years` War (1618 - 1648). In 1648; the Peace of Westphalia made the castle seat of the Swedish governor. Around 1705; further reconstructions took place to serve the Queen of Poland; Catherine Opalinska; who lived here since 1709 with her daughters Anna and Marie Leszczynska (future Queen of France); until 1711. In 1711; also Polish king Stanislaw I Leszczynski stayed here. In 1720; at the end of the Great Northern War; Szczecin become property of Prussia; the castle was taken over by garrison commander Christian August; Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst. His daughter Sophie Friederike Auguste; the future Catherine II of Russia (Catherine the Great) was born here; in 1729; and was raised in the castle. Prussian kings frequently changed the architecture of the castle; which became also seat of the crown princes of Prussia; mainly the later King Frederick William IV. From 1872 to 1874; the Southern wing w