Malbork Castle
One of Europe's greatest castles ever constructed it sometimes is referred to as Malbork Zamek. Let's examine 10 most fascinating facts about the Malbork Castle.
1. It's situated in the heart of northern Poland. Malbork Castle sits in the center of a town sharing the same name.
The rather small town with less than 40,000 people, is filled with a rich past, particularly on account of the huge castle standing within its boundaries.
2. German crusaders, belonging to the Teutonic Order, built it. But becoming eventually a Catholic religious order, the Teutonic knights received the task to assist pilgrims on their travels to the Holy Land.
3. The complex comprises 3 castles erected in a large enclosed area. The castle's original version was finished about 1300.
It was built in a strategic site on the River Nogat's east bank and the Teutonic Order finally established their headquarters in the castle. The whole area in which this castle was erected covers 52 acres. The complex includes 3 castles and an enormous castle wall that surrounds the whole perimeter.
4. The central castle boasts a superb record after completion. At the time, its buildings were finished about 1406, the structure being Europe's biggest fortified Gothic building in the early fifteen-century. In addition, it was the largest brick structure in the world.
5. It was home to Polish kings for 3+ centuries. After the Teutonic Order finally abandoned the castle owing to money problems and a potential invasion in 1454, both the town and castle fell officially under control of Poland's kingdom. It then became the Polish king's official residence until Prussia took it over in the First Partition of Poland in 1772.
6. After the Prussian army used the castle, it suffered ruins. The battered and crumbling castle served as a barracks for Prussia's army. Then it served in the capacity of a hospital and even weapons arsenal throughout the Napoleonic era.
Though Napoleon himself dropped by twice between 1807 and 1812, this didn't stop the medieval castle from worsening.
7. The initial restoration period lasted almost 100 years. After Napoleon's final defeat, the first serious restoration period occurred from 1816 until the beginning of WWl.
8. Its architecture became Hitler's blueprint for indoctrination centers. After the Germans took it by force, the castle grew quite popular throughout the Nazi regime, even serving Hitler Youth as well as League of German Girls related propaganda events.
The castle assumed a dark version as it transformed into a fine model structure for other future structures called fondly National Socialist Order Castles. Next, there was mass construction of Nazi propaganda indoctrination centers being built across Germany.
9. The castle underwent destruction again as WWll ended. Due to the Nazis using it as they did, continuous onslaughts in the surrounding area flattened half of the castle.
Though the other structures in the castle complex were damaged severely, the castle's outer walls remained intact.
10. It was at last fully restored and UNESCO listed. Following WWll, Malbork Castle returned to Poland's control and was then restored completely to its previous glory. The restoration began in 1962 after a fire leveled more structures in 1959.
On account of its many centuries of history and superb medieval architecture, UNESCO awarded it its World Heritage Site badge in 1997.
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