Teutonic stronghold in Ostróda, Poland


Ostróda is a town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Poland. It lies in the west of the historic Masuria region on the River Drwęca, and on the banks of Lake Drwęckie (read more: Drwęca Lake in Ostróda). The first Teutonic Order stronghold in the area comes from 1270. This was a wooden structure, located on a small island in between the waters of the Lake Drwęckie and the River Drwęca. The castle was hit by a fire during a Lithuanian raid in 1381. It had a rectangular ground plan, a court in its middle and a moat surrounding the monument. Its front wing containing the gateway was, just like two other side wings, the commander's domicile. 


Soon afterwards a new brick castle was built. During the wars of the Teutonic Order, this was a strategic site. The access point from the east of the castle was by a bridge, which led to a granite gate. The castle was surrounded by the village where served means for keeping storage, brewery and a forge. Getting ready for the new war with the Kingdom of Poland, the castle was surrounded by a moat filled with water. The castle was taken by the Poles after the Battle of Grunwald - July 14, 1410. For two months, Ostróda castle remained in the hands of Duke of Masovia, Janusz Mazowiecki (read article Castle of the Dukes of Mazovia in Ciechanów) but in September 1410 the castle returned to the Teutonic Knights. 


The castle became greatly diminished in the next centuries. In the great fire of Ostróda in 1788, the great explosion of gunpowder damaged the castle. The castle was rebuilt, but it did not regain its previous shape. 


From 21st February to 1st April 1807 the castle hosted the French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. There are a number of art objects documenting the event, e.g. the painting by the Marie Nicolas Ponce-Camus 'Napoleon promises his grace to Ostróda burgers. March 1807' and silver medal "Napoleon a Osterode", made by the French graver Bertrand Andrieu. 


The castle was restored in the 19th century and was a seat for the local administration office and court of justice. During World War II the castle was burned down by the Soviet Army and remained in the state of preserved ruin for nearly thirty years. The reconstruction of the castle was commenced in 1974 and continued until the 1990s. Currently, the castle houses a gallery, library and a museum.


You might also like other articles about most beautiful Polish castles, palaces and fortresses (click to read)
Click to see most beautiful castles nad palaces in Poland

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Location: Teutonic castle in Ostróda, Poland

Comments

  1. Jane @ www.raincitylibrarian.ca10/4/17 8:40 pm

    WOW! Funnily enough we just got a new picturebook at my library that's all about how bricks are made, and immediately thought about it when I saw your photos - that is a lot of red bricks!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Claire Hall - Tin Box Traveller10/4/17 9:11 pm

    I wonder what the castle would have originally looked like? It is quite striking today with its red brickwork but it looks less like a castle and more like a large farm building. What a fascinating history. Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes

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  3. The Artful Diva10/4/17 10:05 pm

    This old building certainly has an interesting past!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bill 10/4/17 11:33 pm

    Very impressive structure. I really enjoy your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Photo Cache11/4/17 12:20 am

    What a handsome building. I really like bricks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Furry Gnome11/4/17 3:03 am

    Remarkable building!

    ReplyDelete
  7. betty-NZ11/4/17 6:04 am

    Wow, this one has been through a lot. I'm so glad that it hasn't been ignored or razed, even if it's not the original shape. Thanks for sharing this piece of history with us :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Małgosia i Piotr11/4/17 9:07 am

    Pięknie wygląda i ciekawy ze względu na swoją indywidualność wśród budowli krzyżackich. Pozdrawiamy

    ReplyDelete
  9. rupam sarma11/4/17 2:51 pm

    Truly Awesome. Thanks a lot for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Peabea Scribbles11/4/17 3:42 pm

    Love the colorful photographs of this building, and the history you share. It's been through a lot...oh to be a fly on the wall with all the memories contained there in. :) Enjoyed reading.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Stevenson Q11/4/17 8:48 pm

    Amazing color! I love brick houses and this one is extra special because of it's amazing greenery around it!

    Steve

    ReplyDelete
  12. carol l mckenna11/4/17 11:04 pm

    Gorgeous red brick buildings for Ruby and great photography ~ thanks,

    Wishing you a Happy Week ~ ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ruth12/4/17 2:38 am

    At least, there is something left of this castle. I think it is better that way since it helps to draw visitors and in that way the history of the place and area is shared. Seems more difficult to attract people to an empty area. #WordlessWednesday

    ReplyDelete
  14. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz12/4/17 12:33 pm

    This building looks impenetrable!

    https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/04/annie-shares-flower.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. DrillerAA12/4/17 2:43 pm

    What a marvelous old structure.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Light and Voices12/4/17 5:38 pm

    Too bad the building was damaged by fire in 1788 and needed to be rebuilt. What a marvelous red looking building.

    ReplyDelete
  17. EmCi @ Prêt-a-Vivre13/4/17 12:55 am

    Great post on an impressive looking historic building. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sarah13/4/17 4:13 am

    That red brick is gorgeous! And what a story for it as well.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sharon13/4/17 5:37 am

    Those dates (1400s) are just mind-boggling. I love the red color, and just think of all the history that's taken place in this castle through hundreds of years.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Tammy13/4/17 5:43 am

    looks enormous

    ReplyDelete
  21. Rajesh13/4/17 6:17 am

    Magnificent structure.

    ReplyDelete
  22. magiceye13/4/17 5:10 pm

    Wonderful structure, beautifully captured!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Barbara G13/4/17 5:56 pm

    Nigdy nie byłam.., ciekawie wygląda, pozdrawiam

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dr Alfred Prunesquallor13/4/17 5:56 pm

    Impressive brickwork, dwarfing the doors.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yogi♪♪♪13/4/17 7:45 pm

    That castle has a marvelous history, both ancient and recent.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous13/4/17 8:14 pm

    A solid-looking structure!

    janet

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous13/4/17 8:37 pm

    Napolean - I forgot that he spent time in Poland:) Love your next-to-last capture with all the arches! A noteworthy subject! Hope to see you back in a few days for "All Seasons!"

    ReplyDelete
  28. Indah Nuria Savitri13/4/17 9:21 pm

    Red bricks! Look so fascinating and indeed grab people's attention!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Amy14/4/17 12:06 am

    It looks like a very formidable building!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Jim14/4/17 2:21 am

    Interesting structure

    ReplyDelete
  31. Spare Parts and Pics14/4/17 2:42 am

    I love the history of this beautiful building!! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Kenneth Cole Schneider14/4/17 3:51 am

    A very imposing structure, but has seen even better days!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Unknown14/4/17 10:09 am

    Wonderful picture! Have to visit it once :) Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Rhonda Albom14/4/17 11:47 am

    The castle looks formidable yet rather plain. I wonder what it looked like originally before all the damage and reconstructions.

    ReplyDelete
  35. likeschocolate14/4/17 3:51 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Some day when I return to Poland I am going to have a long list of places to visit!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Al14/4/17 6:29 pm

    That's an imposing building - very impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  37. An Aussie in San Francisco14/4/17 7:57 pm

    But there was a moat! And it's a pretty solid looking building, how did the Polish take it in 1410? I can't even imagine that time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Photo(Geo)grapher15/4/17 6:08 pm

      In 1410 there was a war between Kingdom of Poland and Teutonic State. The biggest event during this war was the Battle of Grunwald on 15 July 1410. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, decisively defeated the German–Prussian Teutonic Knights. The battle was one of the largest in Medieval Europe and is regarded as the most important victory in the histories of Poland, Belarus and Lithuania.

      Delete
  38. California Globetrotter14/4/17 9:59 pm

    Oh that red brick is beautiful! Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard! (www.caliglobetrotter.com)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Breathing In Grace15/4/17 3:31 am

    Such gorgeous old buildings! Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a blessed Easter SONday!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Jim15/4/17 1:44 pm

    It does look imposing, and what a history. Thanks for linking up this week! #wkendtravelinspiration

    ReplyDelete
  41. Dookola Swiata15/4/17 2:20 pm

    Bardzo lubie taka architekture. Ceglane budynki maja niepowtarzalny klimat :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Indah Nuria Savitri16/4/17 2:11 pm

    Lovely structures in red! Great to see it's holding on well up until now..

    ReplyDelete
  43. Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)16/4/17 5:14 pm

    The castle really underscores the uncertain future a castle faces. Built, burnt, built again - what a history. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous16/4/17 5:46 pm

    excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Lauren on Location16/4/17 11:49 pm

    Your pictures of this building are magnificent! What an interesting story!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Jo19/4/17 9:06 pm

    Fantastic photos of a beautiful red brick building. It's great that they have repurposed it so people can continue to enjoy it! #Wkendtravelinspiration

    ReplyDelete

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