The Malbork Castle in northern Poland wears two feathers in its cap.
Malbork castle in Pomerania region, Poland.
The river forms a natural boundary to the elongated 52-acre-site where the castle stands.
The other two sides are protected by marshlands, leaving only the south-facing side of the castle to defend.
This side is fortified most formidably by walls and towers.
Within this enclosure are three self-contained defensive structures joined together by an intricate online grid of fortification.
The Outer Castle held the offices, service staff, and necessary workshops to support this militant order.
The Middle Castle was the administrative center, and it also held the guest quarters.
The castle was built with bricks because quality building stones was lacking in the region.
However, a solid foundation was necessary to make the castle stand up to invaders.
Bricks were made and baked on site in the outer yard using mud from the river banks.
Later, brick construction was shifted to the opposite bank of the river.
Stone was used sparingly, but only for decorative elements, particularly in the church and chapter house entrances.
It is estimated that between seven to thirty million bricks were used in its construction.
These engravings led the Prussian public to rediscover the castle and the history of the Teutonic Knights.
Soon after, restoration of the castle began, which continued in stages for more than a hundred years.
During the Nazi regime, the castle was turned into a site of pilgrimage.
The Teutonic Castle served as a blueprint for many Order Castles that Hitler built.
Nearly half of the castle was devastated.
Over the next seventy years, the castle was slowly brought back to shape.
The work concluded just over four years ago (2016).
Malbork Castles destruction during World War 2.
Photo:Daniel.widawski/Wikimedia Commons
Birds eye view of Malbork Castle.
Photo:konradkerker/Shutterstock.com
Brick Gothic details of the castle.
Photo:Diego Delso/Wikimedia Commons
Malbork Castle inner yard.
