Largest castle in the world. Castles stand as impressive architectural wonders, adorned with towering structures, fortified walls, and storied gates. Rich with myths and legends, they are repositories of history. Yet, determining the largest castle globally proves challenging. The size of a castle can be measured by its floor area, total building area, or wall length. For instance, Burghausen Castle in Bavaria boasts the title of the world’s longest castle, stretching over 1,051 meters. However, when it comes to area, the largest castle in the world is found near Gdańsk, Poland.
The former monastery in Poland is the largest castle in the world
The Teutonic Castle in Malbork, a former monastery and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Poland, holds the title of the largest castle globally. It is often mistaken for the Marienburg Palace near Hanover. Malbork Castle boasts a vast total area of around 21 hectares, with a usable area of 14.3 hectares. Surpassing even Prague Castle, which occupies seven hectares, Malbork Castle stands as a testament to medieval grandeur and architectural prowess.
What is the history of Malbork Castle?
If you’re planning a trip to Gdańsk, don’t miss out on visiting Malbork Castle. It is a stunning Gothic brick fortress located less than 55 kilometers southeast of the city in the town of Malbork (also known as Marienburg), situated directly on the Nogat River.
The castle was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Malbork Castle is hailed as „the most complete and refined example of a Gothic brick castle complex in the characteristic and unique style of the Teutonic Order.” Originally constructed as a fortified monastery in the 13th century, it served as the official headquarters of the Teutonic Order for centuries during the Middle Ages. The order, established over 800 years ago, was dedicated to conducting crusades against the pagan Prussians and Lithuanians along the southern Baltic coast and the Christian Kingdom of Poland. Though the order’s seat was relocated to Mergentheim in Baden-Württemberg in the 16th century, Malbork Castle remains a symbol of their influential legacy.
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Visit the Teutonic Castle in Malbork
- St. Mary’s Castle in Poland is open from Monday to Sunday, with operating hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibitions are available from Tuesday to Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m.
- Ticket prices vary based on the tour package. Visitors can opt for a guided tour of the entire castle in English or Polish, or choose an audio guide. The audio guide offers narration in Polish, English, German, Russian, Hungarian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Czech, French, Italian, Spanish, and Polish Sign Language. The „historical route” tour lasts approximately 3 and a half hours, with a regular ticket priced at about 16 euros (PLN 70) and a reduced ticket at 11 euros (PLN 50).
- For a shorter visit, the „Green Route” tour lasts about an hour and a half, with ticket prices around 7 euros or 4.50 euros. This tour includes guided commentary in Polish or English and covers parts of the outer bailey, gates, courtyards of the middle and upper bailey, the chapel of St. Anna, terraces with the Garden of the Grand Masters, a moat, and a kennel. However, access to chambers and exhibitions is not included in this tour.