As the largest castle in the world by land area and the largest brick castle by size, Malbork Castle has witnessed significant historical events, including the Crusades and the Thirteen Years' War.
You may not have heard of it before, but Malbork Castle is the world’s largest, boasting a jaw-dropping red brick Gothic design. Located in Malbork in Poland, the Zamek w Malborku castle is twice the size of Buckingham Palace and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. This massive fortress spans 52 acres and features three fortified castles, hundreds of houses, granaries, and various other buildings.
Malbork Castle was built in the 13th century by the Teutonic Order, a German Catholic military order. The castle comprises three main sections: the High Castle, Middle Castle, and Lower Castle, separated by defensive walls, dry moats, and towers with thousands of rooms, endless corridors, chambers, and halls.
What makes Malbork Castle truly special is not just its sheer size, but also its architectural beauty.
Malbork Castle was built over 132 years using 30 million bricks, the fortress is an outstanding example of Gothic architecture with distinct features such as the Grand Masters' Palace, Great Refectory, and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
The fortress stands majestically on the banks of the Nogat River with its iconic red brick and pointed spires.
The castle boasts massive iron doors, vaulted ceilings, multiple chapels with beautiful stained glass windows, all of which reflect its medieval grandeur.
As the largest castle in the world by land area and the largest brick castle by size, Malbork Castle has witnessed significant historical events, including the Crusades and the Thirteen Years' War.
Covering four times the enclosed area of Windsor Castle, Malbork Castle was expanded multiple times and once was home to over 3,000 soldiers of the Teutonic Order.
In 1457, following the defeat of the Teutonic Order in the Thirteen Years' War, the castle was transferred to the Polish crown and became a royal residence under Polish rule.
Over the next few centuries, the castle was affected by wars, particularly during the Prussian control after the partitions of Poland in 1772 and was then abandoned and left in a state of disrepair.
It was meticulously restored after suffering further damage during World War II.
Nowadays, the fortress is a museum attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and stands as a key symbol of Poland's history and the broader historical heritage of Central Europe, telling many tales of centuries past.
