Teutonic Castle Ruins, Toruń

The ruins of the Teutonic Castle in Toruń are the remains of one of the oldest strongholds of the Teutonic Order in the Chełmno Land, set between the Old and New Towns right by the Vistula River. No foreign army ever captured the castle: in 1454 Toruń's own citizens seized and demolished it, sparking the Thirteen Years' War. Today its walls, cellars and remarkable latrine tower make for one of the most atmospheric walks in this UNESCO-listed city.

Where it is and how to get there

Toruń is in north-central Poland, a little over two hours from Warsaw by Intercity train and about 180 km from Gdańsk via the A1 motorway. The ruins sit on the eastern edge of the Old Town, about a 10-minute walk from the Old Town Square along Przedzamcze Street, close to the riverside boulevard.

History: a castle destroyed by its own town

The Teutonic Knights, a German crusading order that ruled this region in the Middle Ages, probably began building here after 1236, when Toruń moved to its present site. They reused the earthworks of an earlier stronghold, which explains the unusual horseshoe-shaped plan, older than the Order's later rectangular castles. A first stone wall went up between 1236 and 1260, a chapel is recorded in 1263, and an octagonal main tower was added in the early 14th century. The castle kept growing until the mid-15th century.

In 1410, after the Battle of Grunwald, Polish troops took the castle and King Władysław II Jagiełło stayed here; they held it until the First Peace of Thorn in February 1411. The turning point came in February 1454: the burghers of the Old Town, members of the Prussian Confederation that had renounced the Order, besieged the castle. The garrison surrendered on February 8, and the townspeople then dismantled the fortress almost entirely. The main tower was blown up and the courtyard became the town's rubbish dump for centuries. The ruins were fully uncovered only in the 1960s and conserved between 2006 and 2011.

What to see

• the outer walls, which still trace the castle's layout,
• remnants of the main tower at the entrance and in the middle of the courtyard,
• remains of the residential wing facing the river, with cellars once used for storing food,
• the Gdanisko, the best-preserved part: an early 14th-century latrine tower linked to the castle by an arcaded passage, later used as a gunpowder store,
• the Teutonic mill on the Toruń stream, first recorded in 1262 and rebuilt in the 19th century with Gothic fragments.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are interested in the clash between the Teutonic Knights and the Polish crown. Allow 45 to 60 minutes. The site has uneven paving, stairs down to the cellars and grassy areas, so wear comfortable shoes; parts of the route may be hard with a stroller. Children usually love the open space and the underground rooms. The operator also hosts separately ticketed events on the grounds.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Address: ul. Przedzamcze 3, 87-100 Toruń; run by Toruńska Agenda Kulturalna, the city's cultural agency.
• Hours: October 1 to March 31, Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; April 1 to September 30, daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Tickets (PLN): adult 22, student 12, child 12.
• Closed: New Year's Day, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Monday, November 1, December 24–26 and December 31.

Parking and nearby sights

The Old Town is a paid parking zone (Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.); the city recommends its Park&Ride car parks on Olimpijska and Dziewulskiego streets, linked to the center by tram and bus.

From the castle, walk down to the river and follow the medieval city walls past the Bridge Gate, with its historic flood markers, to the Leaning Tower. In the other direction, the New Town leads to St. James' Church, while the Old Town Hall is a short walk west.