Malbork Castle in Poland – visit the world's largest brick castle

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Malbork Castle in Poland is an enormous medieval castle built by the Teutonic Knights and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Behind the red brick walls, courtyards, halls, chapels, defensive works and exhibitions await you, telling the story of several hundred years of dramatic European history. We spent several hours in Malbork with an audio guide – and were impressed by both the size and all the details.

Malbork Castle in Poland

Malbork Castle in Poland is an impressive medieval fortress. The magnificent castle was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, and it is not difficult to understand why this castle should be preserved and protected. We visited the castle with our friends Lennart and Beata, and strolled around the grounds for a few hours with an audio guide.

It's fascinating to think back to all the events that took place here, and it's also cool to look at all the creative solutions used to achieve comfort inside the castle.

Malbork was built by the Teutonic Order

The Teutonic Knights began building Malbork Castle, then called Marienburg, in the latter part of the 13th century. In 1309, the Grand Master of the Order moved his seat here and the castle developed into the center of the Teutonic Knights' powerful state in Prussia.

Over the following centuries, the site was expanded in several stages. The result was a huge fortified complex with, among other things, residences, chapels, halls, defenses and outbuildings. Its strategic location on the Nogat River provided good opportunities for controlling trade and transport.

From Polish royal residence to World War II

During the Thirteen Years' War in the 15th century, the Teutonic Order lost control of Malbork. In 1457, the castle came into the hands of the Polish king, and after the Peace of Toruń in 1466, the area became part of Royal Prussia under the Polish crown. Malbork then served, among other things, as a royal residence.

The castle also has a Swedish connection. Swedish forces occupied Malbork during the 17th-century wars between Sweden and Poland, including during the reigns of Gustav II Adolf and Charles X Gustav.

After the first partition of Poland in 1772, Malbork came under Prussian rule. The castle was used for military purposes, among other things, and had fallen into serious disrepair by this time. Extensive restoration work began in the 19th century.

During the final stages of World War II, the castle was severely damaged in the fighting in 1945. After the war, Malbork became part of Poland again and a long restoration began. Today, the historic castle serves as a museum.

Visiting Malbork Castle

Just seeing Malbork from the outside is impressive, but it is only when you start moving through the complex that you understand how enormous it is. We explored the castle with an audio guide and spent several hours among the courtyards, halls, corridors and defensive works.

The moats, walls, bridges and many gates already give a sense of how well fortified Malbork once was. Inside the walls, one environment after another awaits, and there is much to discover.

See courtyards, halls and chapels

It is truly fascinating to walk around the castle grounds, and even more interesting to see the castle from the inside. The enormous castle complex consists of several parts, including the High Castle, the Middle Castle and the Precincts. The different parts had different functions – from the monastic life of the friars and the residence of the Grand Master to storerooms, workshops and other practical activities.

Discover the smart solutions of the Middle Ages

Something we were drawn to were all the practical solutions that made life within the walls a little more comfortable. For example, the large halls could be heated with an advanced system where hot air was led up from ovens under the floors – a kind of medieval underfloor heating.

We also got to see kitchens with huge fireplaces and other details from everyday life in the castle. These are the things that make Malbork more than just impressive walls and beautiful halls.

Nice end to the day

After several hours in the castle, we ended the day at a restaurant by the Nogat River, with a view of Malbork. There we had a truly Polish dinner with żurek, bread, homemade liver pâté and pickled cucumbers – a nice end to a busy day.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Starting from Malbork Castle, it is not that far to visit the three beautiful cities in the tri-city region: Gdynia, Gdansk and Sopot. Here you will find tips about these cities and other things to see and experience in the area:

• Gdansk
• Gdynia
• Sopot
• Torun
• Krynica Morska
• The Masurian Lakes