The route of Gothic Castles in Pomorskie Voivodship

Malbork Castle

In the Pomorskie Voivodeship there are 7 buildings on the Route of Gothic Castles, but it is worth mentioning that the continuation of the Route is located in the area of Warmia-Mazury and Kujawy-Pomorskie voivodeships. Crossing the whole Trail we will be able to visit as many as 16 strongholds.

A visit to Pomorskie castles, including Malbork Castle, considered to be the largest medieval castle complex in the world, as well as the largest brick building created by human hands, will certainly encourage you to learn more about the history of gothic castles in Poland.

Castle in Gniew

The castle was built in the XIVth century by the Teutonic Knights on the left bank of the Vistula River. Damaged during the Thirteen Years’ War and the Swedish Wars, it was renovated in the XVIIth century by the mayor of Gniew, Jan Sobieski, who later became the Polish king. It burned down in 1921 in unexplained circumstances, the fire consumed the roof and three wings of the stronghold. In the 1990s, the process of rebuilding the facility began, initiated by the castle’s castellan, Jarosław Struczynski. Currently, the entire building has been restored and transformed into a center of culture, tourism and historical education.

The castle is located on Castle Hill. The complex, in addition to the castle, also includes the “Marysienka Palace” hotel, which offers luxurious relaxation in stylish chambers, and the Rycerski Hotel, which was built in former barracks.

The castle is famous for its rich cultural and tourist offer. This is where knights’ tournaments, battle reenactments and historical shows take place. Event lovers should definitely visit the castle during Vivat Vasa and the John III Sobieski Tournament. Organized Holidays with Ghosts or night tours of the castle are just some of the attractions that attract crowds of tourists.

There is also a museum on site – a branch of the Archaeological Museum in Gdansk. It is in Gniew that we can visit a multimedia exhibition about the Battle of Grunwald and an exhibition presenting “Everyday life in a medieval castle”.

Castle in Bytow

The castle is located in the city center. It is one of the last strongholds built by the Teutonic Knights, the castle was completed in 1405. Rebuilt in the XVIIth century, destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War and the Polish-Swedish wars. It is currently rebuilt and open to the public. It is worth visiting the so-called the Monastic House, the West Kashuby Museum, which presents the cultural heritage of the Bytow Kashubians and the history of Bytow. The Mill Tower, which had as many as 6 floors in the times of the Teutonic Knights, and its lowest level once served as a prison, is also open to visitors, as are the defensive walls.

The Bytow castle was one of the first to be defended with firearms, and each of the towers had an entrance to the defensive walls, which made it possible to circumvent the entire construction.

Castle in Kwidzyn

The castle and cathedral complex, which is the seat of the bishops of the Pomezan Chapter, was built at the turn of the XVIIIth and XIVth centuries and is the greatest tourist attraction of Powisle. It was built of stones and bricks in the form of a four-wing building on a square plan with sides of 44 m. There was a tower in each corner, and in the courtyard there were two-story cloisters that served as corridors. Most of the works were completed by 1350, only the characteristic Danzig was built only in the 1480s. It attracts fascinated tourists.

Originally, the castle was an independent structure, but only at a later stage was it connected with the cathedral built next to it. The meeting point of both buildings was the south-east tower, transformed into a bell tower. Over the years, the castle was destroyed several times as a result of warfare, and at the beginning of the XVIth century, the bishop’s castle was completely destroyed. Since 1950, it has hosted the Castle Museum, which presents the material culture of Lower Powisle through its exhibitions.

Castle in Sztum

It is located in the city center, by the lake. It was the summer residence of the Grand Master. Some of the buildings and walls have survived to this day. Currently, the castle is the seat of the Museum – a branch of the Malbork Castle Museum.

Castle in Czluchow

The castle we see today is only its fragments, part of the defensive walls and a 46-meter tower. The Czluchow stronghold was built in the XIVth century by the Teutonic Order, but the exact date of completion of construction is unknown, it is conventionally assumed to be 1365. In the years 2009–2012, the castle was restored with EU funds. New levels have been created in the tower, where objects related to the history of the castle are presented. Its northern wing of the castle was adapted into a multimedia, exhibition and exhibition and concert hall. Since May 2013, the Regional Museum has been located here.

Castle in Lebork

The favourable location on the main communication route of Pomorskie from Szczecin to Gdansk and the proximity of the Baltic Sea created favourable conditions for establishing a settlement. On January 1, 1341, a document was issued, under which Lebork received city rights from the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Dietrich von Altenburg.

Immediately after the location, the Order began to build the city, starting with the fortifications and the castle, which was the center of the military and economic administration of the mayor’s office. The oldest monuments include the remains of the city defensive walls (currently revitalized) with partially preserved shell towers from the XIVth century, the Ivy Tower from the XIVth century, and the Teutonic castle from the second half of the XIXth century. XIVth century, church of Saint James the Apostle from the turn of the XIVth and XVth centuries.

The castle is the seat of the district court.