The Castle of the Teutonic Order, Gniew, Poland

The Gniew Castle is the most powerful fortress of the Teutonic Order on the left bank of the Vistula, built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries as the seat of the convent and the commander. During the times of the Order, it was the main political and economic centre of the commandery. During the times of the Polish state (1466–1772), the castle was the seat of the starosts. The starosty of Gniew belonged to the Radziwiłłs, Zamojskis and Lubomirskis. From 1667, the starost of Gniew was the future king of Poland, Jan III Sobieski, and after him the castle was managed by his wife, Maria Kazimiera.

As a result of the First Partition of Poland in 1772, Gniew, together with Gdańsk Pomerania, found itself within the borders of the Prussian state. The Prussian government began a large-scale demolition or, at best, a thorough reconstruction of most of the former Teutonic castles. The Gniew Castle also shared this fate. Initially intended as barracks, but completely unsuited to this function, it found a new use as a granary at the beginning of the 19th century. The castle underwent another reconstruction in the 1850s. At that time, it was adapted to serve as a harsh Prussian prison for recidivists. In 1921, a large fire broke out in the castle in unexplained circumstances, completely destroying three of its wings. The reconstruction took place in two stages. The first, in the years 1968–1974, and the second, from 1992, lasting to this day.

Since 2010, the Castle Hill in Gniew has been in private hands. Today, it is a modern hotel, restaurant and conference complex, offering its guests royal accommodation, exquisite cuisine and an extraordinary business space.

#gniew #zamek #castle #polska #poland #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #gothic #landscape #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #wieza #tower #towers

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork, Poland

The best guarded part of the Malbork stronghold was the High Castle. Surrounded by two lines of walls and a moat, it was connected to the Middle Castle by a drawbridge. The High Castle was closed during the day. It was home to about 50 Teutonic brothers. The castle’s central point was a courtyard surrounded by cloisters with a well in the middle. The ground floor of the castle contained a kitchen, utility rooms and a cell for the most important prisoners. The first floor housed the monks’ rooms, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the chapter house and the treasury. The convent chamber was located even higher. Grain supplies were hidden in the attics, which were supposed to last two years of a potential siege. A 66-meter watchtower, which was also the church’s bell tower, towered over everything.

#malbork #zamek #castle #polska #poland #historia #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #gothic #widok #landscape #krajobraz #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #wieza #tower #towers

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork, Poland

In addition to the Great Refectory, the Middle Castle also contained the Grand Master’s Palace, the Grand Commander’s chambers, the Armoury, rooms for visitors and an infirmary.

#malbork #zamek #castle #polska #poland #historia #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #gothic #widok #landscape #krajobraz #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #defensivewalls #birdseyeview

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork, Poland

The most representative place of the entire complex was the Great Refectory, a huge hall located in the western wing of the Middle Castle. It was in this hall that the Teutonic Knights organized feasts and banquets. The hall, measuring 30m x 15m, was the largest room of its kind in the whole of Central Europe. It could accommodate 400 people. Its magnificent, palm vault is still supported by three slender pillars to this day. The interior design of the room was complemented by windows with colorful stained glass and frescoes, headed by the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the Teutonic Order, located above the main entrance.

#malbork #zamek #castle #polska #poland #historia #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #gothic #widok #landscape #krajobraz #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #defensivewalls

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork, Poland

In what areas is the castle in Malbork record-breaking?

1) The largest brick castle in the world - a fortress so fortified that it was never conquered militarily, the inhabitants could survive 3 years without any supplies, and the monastery part was accessed by 4 bridges thrown over the water.

2) The largest kitchen hood in the world - the most exquisite food of the Middle Ages came out of the kitchen, this was confirmed by important heads of Europe at that time, it was also tasted by King Casimir the Great.

3) The largest sculpture of medieval Europe - the Malbork Madonna is over 8 meters high, it was recreated by modern conservators, covered with a mosaic containing real gold. It can be seen on the castle walls of the chapel, from under the ticket office building. Interestingly, the glass cubes were brought from Venice, and the gold elements from Gdańsk.

4) The largest number of latrines in a stronghold in the Middle Ages - even cooks had their own toilet, and cabbage leaves were often used as toilet paper, which also had medicinal properties, e.g. anti-inflammatory.

5) The largest number of wells in a castle in the Middle Ages. Interestingly, the fortress also had access to running water.

6) The oldest underfloor heating in these lands - large stones in the basement were heated in fireplaces and acted as storage furnaces. The heat escaped into the rooms through special holes in the floors.

#malbork #zamek #castle #polska #poland #historia #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #gothic #widok #landscape #krajobraz #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #defensivewalls #tower #wieza

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork, Poland

Malbork Castle is full of legends and mysteries. One of the most famous is the story of Maria of Brzozowa, who was supposedly bricked up alive in one of the castle’s chambers. According to another legend, there was supposed to be a place under the castle that conceals the treasures of the Teutonic Order. Of course, there is no confirmation that these stories are true, but they are what make Malbork an even more mysterious and intriguing place.

#malbork #zamek #castle #polska #poland #historia #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #gothic #widok #landscape #krajobraz #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #defensivewalls

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork, Poland

The Low Castle was a complex of utility and storage buildings. Inside the Low Castle there were, among other things, granaries and warehouses, stables and barns, craft workshops, a forge, a bell foundry, a brewery, a bakery, and even a river port and the church of St. Lawrence.

#malbork #zamek #castle #polska #poland #historia #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #gothic #widok #landscape #krajobraz #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #defensivewalls

Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork, Poland

The building has an impressive volume of 250 thousand cubic meters, 30 million bricks were used to complete the entire complex, of which 4.5 million are in the high castle. This makes it the largest brick structure in the world.

#malbork #zamek #castle #polska #poland #historia #history #architecture #architektura #gothicarchitecture #widok #landscape #krajobraz #krzyzacy #zakon #teutonicorder #teutonicknights #knights #rycerze #walls #wall #mury #mur #defensivetower #defensivewall #defensivewalls