The castle was promoted to the status of being the capital of one of the most powerful states on the . With free WiFi, this 1-bedroom apartment has a satellite flat-screen TV, a washing machine and a kitchen with a fridge and oven. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Thanks for the update about the train station. The biggest medieval festival in Poland continues! Half the fun is actually just running through the hundreds of empty corridors, imagining that there's a battle going on, but for the kids there are some cool wooden weapons available for purchase. Required fields are marked *. Adults: 70 PLN ($15.80 USD) Children under 7: Free. From the opposite bank, the castle fills your entire view and without so much as a telephone pole in the picture, you're transported to the fourteenth century. The immense castle took shape in stages. Tours of Malbork Castle are available in English, German, and Russian but it takes a good 4 hours to see most of what's inside, unless you're hunting for some ghosts, in which case you'll need more time to set up your equipment. Yes, Gdansk is very easy to get around. While the painted vaulted ceiling of the Low Vestibule is quite pretty, the uncontested highlight of this section and maybe the entire castle is the vast white Summer Refectory. Hop on at the main station, Gdansk Glowny, and youll make it there in as quick as half an hour if you take the direct EIC trains. There are also a great many amber exhibits, as well as entire rooms devoted to the Teutonic way of life. It was named after Mary, patron saint of the religious Order and it was called Marienburg. The Great Refectory is a massive 450-square-foot hall with under-floor heating, a magnificent vaulted ceiling, and high Gothic windows. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A high tower and two-stories of cloistered brick buildings surround a courtyard with a reconstructed well with a bronze pelican and her chicks on the top. The castles construction became more important in 1308 after the conquest of Gdansk and Pomerania. All rights reserved 2002-2023 Lifeboat Ltd. Malbork Castle - An Enchanting Medieval Marvel. The cavernous and ornately designed hall is supported by a single column, making its architecture even more impressive. World Heritage List UNESCO. That was not the case in our situation. Click here to learn more. After World War II, the castle once again became part of Poland. Gotta get paid somehow, you know? The Night Tour 7:30pm - 9pm Photo: Shutterstock Opening hours The castle is open to the public Monday - Sunday all year round. Typically, I miss out on the history of the sites by not doing the audio tour. This site was very informative, and everything is actually true. Anyways, the Polish monarchy kept Malbork in decent shape for the next few centuries. Possibly due to Covid, we saw no sign that the Tower is open. From Gdansk Glowny, the main train station in Gdansk, it can take between 28 and 55 minutes to get to Malbork Castle, depending upon the type of train you choose. There is a small, sheltered courtyard located near the rooms of the Grand Masters Palace. The Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world measured by land Royal persons would rest their weary feet in its awesome rooms and vaulted hallways while travelling to and from Gdansk. Excellent location! Is it easy to get around without a guide? Despite the 60km distance, Malbork is very easy to get to from here and there's no need to spend extra money on an organized tour when you can save your pretty . This saves you from potentially waiting in a very long ticket line at Malbork Castle. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. View from the Tower (Wiezna Glowna). 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Fortunately, there are several options for food at the castle and more back in the town of Malbork. The high castle is the oldest part of Malbork Castle. We think more could be done to enliven the experience with some empathetic commentary: what it is like to be a Teutonic knight, what the Grand Master did, for example. Malbork Castle is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. and tends to get busiest just before lunch and through the early afternoon when tour groups visit. Malbork Castle, Poland - Exploring World's Largest Castle Peek into the Grand Master's private loo before heading to the other side of the courtyard where there's a collection of period weapons and armour on display and an excellent Amber Museum the latter would be a major place of interest in its own right, were it anywhere else. For regular visits, the best time to visit Malbork Castle is during spring or autumn. I visited Malbork Castle in June 2012, while my stay in Gdansk. The Teutonic Order built this castle to strengthen their own control of the area and to protect Poland against the attacks of the pagan Prussians of the Baltic tribes. Rock on! The journey from Gdansk Glowny to Malbork takes about 30-45 minutes, depending on which train you get. Most audio tours tend to be too difficult to enjoy while having to corral the kids, but the Malbork GPS-guided audio tour made it easy to change the tour to fit our needs., Admiring beautiful door knobs at Malbork Castle. Public interest in Malbork Castle was the only thing that saved it, with centuries of restoration resulting in the impressive landmark it is today. In 2018, the Castle Museum in Malbork initiated the international, interdisciplinary project "Beautiful style in the Czech editorial office in Prussia - stone sculpture from 1380-1400", which, thanks to the use of modern techniques, allows us to take a fresh look at unique monuments from the Middle Ages. Which approach you take depends on how you like to travel, how much money youre willing to spend, and what else you have planned while youre in Poland. One can tell that the review was written by a person with an American perception of the world-mixing cinema and children's fantasy (narnia) and shoppping (capitilism and entertainment) with historical reality. We enjoyed the day out. This post may contain affiliate links, which Globe Guide receives compensation for with each click or purchase at no additional cost to you. There are also family tickets and reduced tickets for students and seniors, while children under seven years old enter free. The castles most striking feature St. Marys Church can be accessed through a Gothic doorway. The entrance to the complex is from the northern side, through what used to be the only way in. Malbork Castle - An Enchanting Medieval Marvel. The construction began in 1275 and since 1309 it has been the capital of The Teutonic Order of Holy Mary in Jerusalem. With all the essential details provided for planning a trip to Malbork, its time to look at what to do once you arrive. Based in Vienna, they are no longer an all-male order and engage in charity work. How to Visit Malbork Castle: The Best Day Trip From Gdansk, Poland After the First Partition in 1772, the Prussians turned it into barracks, destroying much of the decoration and dismantling sections of no military use. The Poles are tough and wonderful. We were hoping that taxis would be lined up in front of the castle to take people back to the train station. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Allow at least three hours to do the place justice. This makes it one of the most popular day trips from Gdansk, and some people travel from as far as Warsaw to see this spectacle. Optimally situated on the bank of a navigable river, the knights controlled the lucrative amber trade, imposing hefty tolls on all passing ships and barges. The church sustained severe damage during the war and visitors get a glimpse at the restoration (different colored bricks) and the bare brick ravaged by time and heavy fire. Malbork Castle | Gdask & Pomerania, Poland - Lonely Planet From the lower castle, you will pass through a series of bridges and gates to enter the middle castle. During the Prussian period, it was severely under utilized as warehouse space despite its enviable location on the banks of the Nogat River, marking the beginning of its demise. Unfortunately, even a compound as fortified as Malbork Castle couldnt escape the horrors of World War II, and in 1945 it was badly damaged to the point it was reduced to little more than ruins. Despite sustaining damage during WWII, almost the entire complex has been preserved, and the castle today looks much as it did six centuries ago, dominating the town and the surrounding countryside. UNESCO bestowed the fortified monastery world heritage status in 1997 for its historical significance and universal value. Image Source You can visit Malbork Castle at any time of the year as it remains open for the full year. The Malbork castle located in the town of Malbork in Poland is considered to be the largest brick fortress in the world measured by land area. Theres even a night tour, where the medieval walls are illuminated and a guide dressed as a Teutonic Knight will lead you through the interiors. At the heart of the High Castle lies Malborks most iconic courtyard, which is lined with brick arcades and features a well topped with a symbol of the Order. The easiest way to get to Malbork Castle from Gdansk is by train. The Teutonic Knights dominated the area around Malbork and Gdansk (called Danzig at the time) until 1457, when King Jagiellon and Polish forces captured the castle. Malbork Castle is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. and tends to get busiest just before lunch and through the early afternoon when tour groups visit. Unveiling the Magnificence of Malbork Castle: A Must-Visit Historical This is easily missed because it is not mentioned on the audio guide. The headquarters, the multimillion-euro Maritime Cultural, The most atmospheric of all Gdask's streets and one of Polands most photogenic lanes is this length of cobbles between the waterfront St Marys Gate and, Dominating Dugi Targ, Gdask's impressive Gothic-Renaissance town hall boasts the city's highest tower at 81.5m. This palace is one of the grandest sections of the castle. It is really too long. The stronghold began to be built around 1280, although preparations in the form of forest clearing and building materials storage, began two years earlier. In the first year, it collected only specimens of porcelain from 19th-century Volhynia manufactories, and a year later it started to buy utility ceramics from Polish and European workshops and faience factories. It is home to the Historical Museum of, With time to kill, walk south along the line of the river, past remnants of the old city walls, to this scrappy park behind Hotel Stary Malbork. Today it is also recognized as the worlds largest castle by land area, firmly placing this Polish prize in the history books. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. So, how many rooms does a functioning castle have? On the Western Wing of the Middle Castle, youll find a particularly special section the Grand Masters Palace. The refectory is the largest hall in the castle and its ceiling features an elaborate vaulted design that youll see throughout the castle. The castle was seized by the Polish army in 1457, during the Thirteen Years War, when the military power of the knights had started to erode. You can view the timetable and book your tickets in advance on the PKP Intercity website. Without going into a ton of detail about the tour (since you will get this with the audio guide) here are the highlights of a visit to Malbork Castle. This apartment is 22 miles from Lake Druno. Formed in the 13th century by German military monks who protected Christians in the Holy Land and the Baltics, and crusaded against pagans, the all-male Teutonic Order was at its height of power when stationed at Malbork. Around the courtyard youll find rooms such as the Convent Kitchen, the Witold Cell, and the Corner Room, which hosts an exhibition of stained-glass windows. In the Summer, the castle is open from 9:00 until 20:00. These rare statues are one of the few remaining material witnesses to Old Prussian culture. I just looked at the website and it must have gotten a big makeover since the last time I looked at it (just 2 months ago). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. All the rooms, the details of architecture, passages, and corners you will find inside are so beautiful they will impress you for sure. Hofburg Palace in Austria has 18 wings, 19 courtyards, and 2,600 rooms. However, the interiors of several of the castle rooms are not open so you will only be allowed to walk the grounds of the castle and visit select rooms. Gothic hall in Malbork castle, Poland. Hello Chris. It suffered near destruction during World War II and has since been meticulously restored. There isnt much in the way of luxury accommodation in Malbork, but Hotel Centrum Malbork is one of the towns more stylish establishments. History buffs will also want to pay particular attention to the collections of artifacts curated by what is now the Malbork Castle Museum, which include coins, sculptures, and products made from amber, a gem still revered in the area to this day. In one of the Grand Masters private rooms, one can admire a ceiling painted with a delicate grapevine motif. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Chapter Room. Malbork Castle, formal name Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, massive brick fortress enclosing three fortified castles that was built in the 13th century by Teutonic Knights in Malbork, Poland. How Many Rooms Does A Castle Have? (Solved) - Castle Tourist It's also known as the largest brick structure ever . The castle eventually spread over 20 hectares, making it the largest fortress built anywhere in the Middle Ages. Hello Kat. At least thats the case for a few fortresses scattered throughout Europe which are in the running for the title of worlds largest castle, including Malbork Castle in northern Poland. But maybe you will be luckier than us! It is a 20-minute, 1.7 km walk to get to Malbork Castle. Be prepared to walk back to the train station at the end of your visit. The Malbork Castle Museum was opened on January 1, 1961. This type of train makes several stops before arriving in Malbork and the journey takes 39 to 55 minutes. Not only is it located near the citys main attractions, its rooms are bright and modern. This was the monastical part of the castle where monks would sit in session in the Chapter House before heading for their meat and mead in the striking refectory. In the 19th century the Marienburg was one of the first historic buildings taken under government protection, becoming a symbol of medieval German glory. Learn how your comment data is processed. Visitors can walk through the hundreds of empty corridors and there are wooden weapons for the youngest that can be purchased at the gift shops. For the best view over the castle, climb the tower. And when the castle was completed in the 15th-Century, it was not only the largest castle in the world but the largest brick building in the world too. I recommend getting here before noon or making a reservation in advance. We are thinking about finding a private guide to take us to the castle and do the city tour.We are on the June 16 th Baltic cruise out of London. Visits are by self-guided tour with audio guide. The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork is an architecturally influential brick castle complex built by the Teutonic Knights. UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, Northern Poland beckons with its fascinating history and remarkable architecture. Topped with a gorgeous fan vault, the Great Refectory the largest hall for dining in the castle is also located in the Middle Castle, along with an infirmary. Around the castle there is a lot of uneven cobbled ground, while inside the castle there are stairways and passages that may restrict the movement of visitors in wheelchairs or with mobility impairments. The ticket office has left-luggage lockers, toilets and refreshments. The Teutonic Knights dominated the area around Malbork and Gdansk (called Danzig at the time) until 1457, when King Jagiellon and Polish forces captured the castle. The tour then continues to St Anne's Chapel where 12 Grand Masters were buried. History The castle complex in Malbork (Marienburg) was created by way of gradual extension, and its fortifications were modernized for a very long time. A midrange option that provides comfort and great value for money is the Stay Inn Hotel in the Old Town. The 'Siege of the Malbork Castle' is the biggest event of the summer, but there are a number of smaller fairs and festivals throughout the year. It's worth to visit and feel the atomospher of Wielko Polski! Sprawled over 51 acres, the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (better known as Malbork Castle) was built by knights of the Teutonic Order. But theres much more to this attraction than just its size, as those who decide to travel to Malbork Castle in Poland will no doubt find out. Here's how to do it! Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Designed in an iconic Gothic castle style, Malbork Castle has a fascinating history and is an incredible place to visit. Its exquisite brick walls, relics of Medieval times, and beautiful ornaments impressed me very much. In the Grand Masters palace and other areas hosting guests, youll notice an interesting system where heat emanates from a hypocaust, an under-the-floor space used to send hot air up the vents. Visiting hours can change if it is a public holiday so I suggest clicking here to get the updated museum hours for the day you plan to visit. Knights from the Teutonic Order began construction on this immense stronghold in the 13th century, but it would take centuries and several expansions for it to be completed. Where exactly is it? 99 reviews 66 helpful votes How long for visit to the castle 6 years ago Save I understand that the guided tours are 3 hours long. Lived in Poland for 2 years. Boats must transform into railroad cars to navigate this Polish canal. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. I tend to get lost a lot but not afraid to ask for help. The Gothic restaurant in the complex is atmospheric though busy! A medieval well sits in the middle of the courtyard, a source of water in times of a siege. I want emails from Road Affair with travel updates and marketing. But I cant find any info on the website about the restaurant so I dont know to make a reservation in advance. A massive Gothic brick structure, the original church was gutted and now, The northern entrance to the Old Town was once through the Market Gate, the only surviving gate from the medieval fortifications. Nine rooms form the basis of a castle's living quarters. What you may save in travelling time taking Inter City train you will gain in walking time by taking a slow train (the faster ones dont stop here). A merchant court dedicated to the fictitious King Arthur is heavily adorned with bizarre Renaissance art. Located just a short distance from Gdansk and easily accessible by train, Malbork Castle is one of the best day trips to take from Gdansk. After that, the castle has been reconstructed several times. They first came to the Baltic region as. Staying in Gdansk is also popular among travelers, as you can easily get from this coastal city to the castle on a day trip. The majestic architecture inspired Hitler so much that his Third Reich's castles' architecture resembled Malbork Castle. Using the train to get to Malbork Castle is also relatively straightforward, however, if you are worried about taking the train, you could take a tour from Gdansk, if that would make the visit more enjoyable for you. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. In the top right corner, if you click PL there will be a drop down and you can change it to English. It was 52 acres in size which is four times bigger than the area of Windsor Castle. In Canada, youll, Its canola season! Malbork Castle today. It will generally depend on how you plan on getting there, but it is best to set aside a full day when visiting from Gdansk as this will allow you plenty of time to see everything and not feel rushed. Cheers, Julie. But well worth the ride! After Palestine was lost to Islam, these zealots needed a new base of operations. It's on the River Dee and not far from the Lochnagar Mountain. The Viking Homelands Cruise visits ports along the Baltic Coast, including Polands Gdask, where guests can take a coach to the countryside for a tour of Malbork Castle with a local guide. The best view is from the opposite side of the river (you can get there via the footbridge), especially in the late afternoon when the brick turns an intense red-brown in the setting sun. Regardless of whether or not grandeur Malbork Castle goes down in the record books as the worlds largest castle, theres no denying the impressive feat of human engineering and endurance makes itdeserving of the title. Malbork Castle: Easy Day Trip from Gdask to World's Largest Castle I agree, the audio tour could be jazzed up a little bit (I honestly think that we skipped through some of it). Cheers, Julie. Once you arrive there, it gives you the next bit of information. Malbork Castle - Malbork, Poland - Atlas Obscura Mar 22, 2021, 9:13 AM PDT Malbork Castle in Poland. Today, the castle has been renovated and reconstructed, as faithfully as was possible. Because there is just so much to see inside and outside the castle, we wont go into every room and stop along the castle tour.
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