Malbork Castle travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

In 1309, the Grand Master Sigfried von Feuchtwangen moved the capital of the Teutonoic Order from Venice to a monastery at Malbork. The fortified monastery, constructed in the preceding three decades, was due for redevelopment. The subsequent periods of construction only truly finished with the purchase of the castle by the Polish king in 1457, by which time the fortress had become the most powerful in Europe. Photo by: roj czech

It is divided into three main sections, the High, Middle, and low Castles. The High Castle is an extraordinary fortress defended by multiple circuits of moats and curtain walling dotted with numerous towers. The Middle Castle consist of the former bailey converted into residential quarters, the Infirmary, the fan-vaulted Great Refectory, and the Great Masters’ Residence. The caste underwent a further program of improvements that took another century to complete, involving enlargement of the Low Castle area, which included St. Lawrence’s Church, workshops, an armory, stables, and other buildings. Photo by: LeszekZadlo

The complex is beautifully executed in brick with figurative friezes, fine windows traceries, and sculpted portals, all built in an imposing scale. Malbork Castle is one of the largest brick structures ever built, and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Location: Malbork, Poland. Photo by: LeszekZadlo