One of our most recent day-trips was to Malbrok Castle. This is just down the road from us a nice 2 hour drive.
Now if you read one report it will say that Malbrok is the world’s largest castle because they looked at one big brick building. But then I read another one and they figured garden space as well so the title went a castle in France. Yet another one said the title belonged to a castle (I am not sure I would classify it as a castle) in China because they used square footage of all the buildings on the complex.
Malbrok is on my top 5 list of castle’s in Europe that I have been to. We spent about 3 hours walking through the castle. If it was just my husband I, we would have spent a bit more time in there reading a bit more in some of the exhibits especially the Amber stone.
We paid 98 zloty for a family pass for 3 of us to get in. Our littlest one was free as 6 and under are free. By Polish standards this is pricey but when you figure that we each got an audio guide that was included in the price it is not a bad deal. Most castle’s the audio guide is an additional charge.
Now the parking that is a different story! Be prepared to pay for parking and I am not talking 10 zlotys either. We had to pay 25 zlotys upfront and that got us 4 hours and each additional hour as an additional 5 zlotys. Ok, I know we parked at the closest parking lot to the castle and that should have given us a heads up but the sticker price got us here! So when you go on the other side of the bridge there is another parking lot, I would park there they can’t be anymore expensive!
Malbrok Castle is an example of a medieval fortress. It was completed in 1406, UNESCO designated the “Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork” and its Museum as the World Heritage Site in 1997. It is one of two World Heritage Sites in the region with origins in the Teutonic Order. The other is the medieval town of Toruń.
This castle is AMAZING! There were lots of different rooms and hallways to explore. With the audio guide and map we got and everything was nicely marker so I don’t think we missed anything! The restoration work that they have done from the WWII bombing is great. There is one chapel that has not been redone and to be honest I hope they don’t so people can remember a time in history that should be repeated.
There are lots of souvenir shops both inside and outside of the castle all with good prices. There are also at least 3 restaurants inside the castle and several more outside of the castle if you get hungry. Right before you leave the castle there is a cute little one with items cooked over an open grill or smoked. The prices were great, cheaper than if we ate at McDonald’s.
Now if you make it to the Gdnask, Bydgoszcz or Torun area make sure you take an afternoon and explore this AMAZING castle!
Here are just few of the way to many pictures I took that afternoon!
- Our first view of the castle!
- We are getting closer!
- Our overpriced parking lot! OUCH!!!
- The outer walls.
- Map of the castle grounds.
- Yes they have English tours along with several other languages.
- The bridge to get into the castle.
- One of the many gates to get in the castle.
- The kids thought this was the kids door into the castle.
- One of the courtyards.
- 4 of the main knights.
- The bridge to get into the castle.
- A man trying to lift up the weights for one of the gates with no such luck!
- The hubby thinking if he should lift one of those up!
- Water well.
- The littlest one showing off her new coin necklace that a guy made for her!
- The main kitchen area.
- Stained glass exhibit.
- And up we go!
- Love the paintings!
- The heating system for the castle. Hot air was blown through out in floor vents.
- Yet another hallway.
- One of the bedrooms.
- A view from the top.
- A wood sculpture from the 1500′s.
- More statues from the castle throughout the years.
- After WWII this is what this piece of art looked like.
- Before WWII this is what this piece of art looked like.
- Entry way into the chapel.
- Another view of the chapel.
- One of the chapels inside the castle that has not been redone from war damage.
- What the castle looked like after the WWII.
- A dining hall.
- What a doorway! And yes that is a cute kid too!
- The flour mill.
- I love pictures like this.
- Amber stone with a bug inside.
- LOVE this!!! Made from all Amber stone.
- Yes, this is for the horse!
- The girls loved this room!
- Yes, there are a few souvenir shops inside the castle.
- Love that tapestry.
- Another one of the halls. Notice the kings chairs at the end.
- She played AMAZINGLY!!
- The summer hall.
- Letter from the 1400′s with original seal.
- The chambers.
- What a view!
- Lunch time!! Where we at lunch at.
- Activities for the kids (and adults)!
- Our lunch, Bigos!!!
- My girls are turning Polish, one is eating pickles and the other soup!
- The city train that will take you around the whole city of Malbrok that you can hop on and hop off of.
- Lots of souvenir stands around the outside of the castle.
- This is building where you buy your tickets and tour guides wait here as well.
- What a view!
What is your favorite castle to visit?

Living in the United States I have only been to one in Slovenia. I really enjoyed the pictures of the this castle. I have done research in Graveensteen castle in Belgium. This on tops anyone I have read about.
One of my favorite places in the world is Krak des Chevaliers in Syria. It’s a crusader castle set way up in the hills of the countryside. It’s basically in ruins, but it’s such a peaceful place.
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This might sound weird, but I really like the hallway pictures with all the arches. I must just like that style architecture.
I don’t know how a zloty compares to a US dollar, but I get sticker shock when I park at Walt Disney World. After paying the price of a ticket, $14 per day just seems a bit ridiculous. However, Chicago is the absolute worst I’ve ever paid for parking.
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Wonderful photo essay of your tour! I have never visited a castle but would love to one day! Stopping by from That Friday Blog Hop. New follower here. Have a great weekend.
Michele @ http://lovejoyjunction.blogspot.com/
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My husband loved the castle and we had our wedding photo session there
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