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Reszel Castle today

Poland · Restored

Reszel Castle

Zamek w Reszlu

Reszel Castle is a red-brick Ordensburg fortress on the bank of the river Sajna in Reszel, built by the Teutonic Order in the late 14th century. Constructed between 1350 and 1401, the complex features a large round tower, a tall gatehouse and curtain walls; today it has been restored and contains a museum, hotel and restaurant.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1373

Its prime

1401

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1401

What Reszel Castle looked like in its prime.

Large red-brick fortress on a raised stone base beside a river and town, dominated by a massive cylindrical keep with a conical red-tile roof and a tall rectangular gate-tower with a high pointed arched entrance. Thick curtain walls of coursed red brick link the towers and show rows of small embrasures and blind arches; roofs are steep and covered with orange-red tiles. A slender, taller tower with a pointed spire rises from the adjacent domestic range. At prime the whole complex reads as a complete fortified Ordensburg.

Its story

The story of Reszel Castle.

Reszel Castle is a red-brick fortress on the bank of the river Sajna, in the south-east of the town, raised between 1350 and 1401. Built for the Bishop of Warmia, Jan of Miśnia, its first occupiers were the Teutonic Knights, and the Ordensburg was frequently looted, besieged and taken by Polish and Teutonic forces in turn.

The complex features a large round tower, a tall gatehouse and curtain walls. In the nineteenth century the castle was adapted into a prison; fully renovated after the Second World War, it now houses a branch of the Museum of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Olsztyn, together with a hotel and a restaurant.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1401.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Reszel Castle, including 3 interiors: gatehouse passage through the main gate-tower, inner courtyard enclosed by the ranges, chapel / principal hall space inside the domestic range. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Main approach from the town/parkingView from the bank of the river SajnaBase of the cylindrical keep (round tower)Gatehouse passage through the main gate-towerTop of the curtain wall / battlementsInner courtyard enclosed by the rangesChapel / principal hall space inside the domestic rangeExterior façade and entrance of the domestic range

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Questions about Reszel Castle

What is the history of Reszel Castle?

Reszel Castle’s history begins in the 14th century, when it was built as a bishop’s fortress between 1350 and 1401. Its first occupiers were the Teutonic Knights, and Polish and Teutonic forces repeatedly looted, besieged and captured it. In the 19th century it became a prison, while fires in 1806 and 1807 devastated the medieval complex before later restoration.

What is inside Reszel Castle?

Inside Reszel Castle are a gatehouse passage, an inner courtyard and a chapel or principal hall in the domestic range. The historic residential buildings included the bishop’s rooms, a refectory, kitchens, food stores and an armoury. The chapel had a star vault, while other rooms probably had star and cross-ribbed vaults.

Why was Reszel Castle built, and what was it used for?

Reszel Castle was built as a fortified bishop’s residence and defensive stronghold. Its walls protected the south-eastern corner of the town, while the domestic ranges provided rooms for the bishop and burgrave, stores, kitchens and an armoury. Its military purpose later declined, and it was adapted first into a residence and then into a prison.

Where is Reszel Castle?

Reszel Castle is in Reszel, beside the river Sajna in the south-east of the town. It is in Poland. The castle occupies the south-eastern corner of the town and stands on the river bank.

When was Reszel Castle built?

Reszel Castle was built in the late 14th century, in phases between 1350 and 1401. Its first raised date is 1373, and the complex reached its prime around 1401. The work was carried out by the Teutonic Order for the Bishop of Warmia, Jan of Miśnia.

Was Reszel Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Yes, Reszel Castle was repeatedly attacked and besieged. Polish forces took it in 1410 and 1414, apparently without significant resistance, while Teutonic troops captured it in August 1455 and held it until 1462. Bishop Tungen unsuccessfully besieged the castle in 1472, and in 1519–1521 the bishop handed it to Polish forces without a fight.

What did Reszel Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Reszel Castle was a large red-brick fortress on a raised stone base beside the Sajna. A massive cylindrical keep with a conical red-tile roof dominated the complex, alongside a tall gatehouse, curtain walls, small embrasures and blind arches. Steep orange-red tiled roofs and a slender tower with a pointed spire completed the silhouette.

Is Reszel Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Reszel Castle is still standing and has been restored. It was fully renovated after the Second World War, although fires in 1806 and 1807 caused severe damage and the castle underwent reconstruction and later restoration. The complex now contains a branch of the Museum of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, a hotel and a restaurant.

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