Malbork (malbork)

Malbork (malbork) – City in Northern Poland, in Pomeranian Voivodeship, 80 kilometers from the border with the Kaliningrad region of Russia. Founded in 1276 as the Order Castle Malbork. Today the castle restored almost completely and turned into a major tourist center. As the travel center is widely known due to the nearby Mienenburg medieval castle, the world’s largest castle complex area of ​​more than 20 hectares. Population of 39 thousand. human.

Poles called Marienburg Castle By the name of the city – Malbork, so it is denoted in all the avenues and on the websites of tour operators. In 1274, the monks of the Teutonic Order began in the mouth of the Vistula, on the river the construction of the residence of his Grand Master, who previously led by the Order from Venice. The construction lasted for a long time, officially opened the residence in 1309 and called Marienburg, in honor of the patroness of the Order of the Holy Virgin Mary.

Castle – the construction is primarily defensive. For several centuries, the monks and novices of the Teutonic Order fenced to the residence with four rows of walls and deep moat, building on a huge territory, depending on the purpose, administrative and residential complexes on three levels – a high castle ("Capitulia", for higher hierarchs of the Order), Middle Castle (Actually the residence of the Grand Master, as well as the premises for knights and monks) and the bottom castle, for economic service. Marienburg Castle – The world’s largest brick construction, medieval builders used 4.5 million clay bricks for its construction.

In the Middle Ages, Malbork was known throughout Europe as one of the main databases for crusaders in Poland, Lithuania and the Novgorod Principality. There were multi-day religious celebrations and tournaments that collected knights and others to know from different countries of Catholic Europe. On the territory of the "Capital of Crusaders" was also built Temple in honor of the Virgin Mary, One of the largest Catholic temples in Northern Europe, and the Chapel of St. Anne, the burial place of the Grand Master of the Order.

After the Grunwald battle of 1410, the Teutonic Order lost its influence, and Marienburg Castle was sold to a great master to pay mercenaries, and became the property of the Polish kings, turning into Malbork. During the centuries, the castle many times, due to wars and redistribute territories, destroyed and restored. The most large-scale destruction fell for the period of World War II, restoration work was carried out by several post-war decades.

Malbork’s castle complex was listed on UNESCO as an object of world cultural property, this is one of the most famous attractions of modern Poland. Every year hundreds of thousands of Polish and foreign tourists attend him. Manages the castle complex Museum of the Castle in the city of Malbork.

The museum provides tourists to the attention of several dozen unique collections of works of art, artisans, architectural monuments and history. Tourists in Malbork can familiarize themselves with the unique assembly of amber decorations, a collection of antique weapons and military equipment. In the art gallery of the castle collected genuine masterpieces of painting of talented artists from all over Europe.

City of Malbork well known among lovers of historical reconstructions. Every year in the middle of summer, a theatrical presentation is held here, the stage of "Osad Malbork", telling about the events of 1410, the Grunwald "Battle of Peoples" and the defeat of the Crusaders by the troops of the Polish-Lithuanian-Russian coalition. The event usually lasts a few days and collects hundreds of tourists, except historical battle reconstructions, tournaments are held, concerts of old music, medieval dances.

One of the attractions of Malbork – Dinosaur Park (Dino Park), With moving and voiced layouts of prehistoric reptiles. The park also has a mini-zoo with live representatives of world fauna, children’s 5D cinema, playgrounds and attractions.

The city is located 70 kilometers of South Gdansk and 80 kilometers of the west of the Russian-Polish border (Kaliningrad region). Tourists from Kaliningrad on excursion buses usually get to Malbork in two or three hours, including time on the passage of border control. From Gdansk by rail and car you can take about an hour.