Drahim Castle

Drahim Castle (Zamek Drahim) in Stare Drawsko is a 14th-century Gothic stronghold built by the Knights Hospitaller on a narrow strip of land between two lakes in northwestern Poland. Today it is a picturesque ruin with a re-created medieval courtyard, a small museum and regular historical fencing shows. If you are looking for things to do in the Drawsko Lakeland, this is one of the most atmospheric castles in the area.

Where it is and how to say it

Stare Drawsko (STAH-reh DRAHV-sko) lies in West Pomerania, in the Drawsko Lakeland, close to the town of Czaplinek. As the crow flies it is roughly 110 km east of Szczecin, the nearest big city; there is no rail link to the castle, so you will want a car. Poland's currency is the zloty (PLN). The castle's own website says that the staff speak English.

A short history

A Slavic stronghold of the Drawians stood here first and burned down around the mid-12th century. In 1286 Duke Przemysl II gave the surrounding lands to the Knights Templar. After the order was dissolved in 1312 the estate changed hands, and the Hospitallers (Knights of St John) took full control in 1345.

The stone castle went up between 1360 and 1366: a rough square of granite and brick, about 41 by 46.5 m, with no tower, protected by lakes on two sides and moats on the others. In 1407 troops of King Wladyslaw Jagiello captured it and it became a Polish royal castle. A fire in 1758 started its decline, and in 1784 some of the walls were taken down to provide building material for a nearby church. The ruin has been a listed monument since 1959, and archaeologists confirmed in the 1960s that the castle stands on the site of the earlier Slavic stronghold.

What you will see

• The curtain walls, with a stone base and brick above, impressive from the road and the lakeshore.
• A courtyard with timber-and-thatch buildings: workshops, a forge, a bread oven and feasting tables.
• A museum on site, with its own schedule.
• Lake views on both sides of the narrow isthmus.

The castle hosts historical fencing demonstrations and workshops; in 2026 these included 2 May and 20-21 July. Check the news page before you travel.

How long to allow and who it suits

Plan on one to two hours for the walls and the courtyard, longer if you catch a show or eat at the castle. Ground is uneven (grass, cobbles, earthworks), which makes strollers awkward. The website does not mention dogs or accessibility, so ask by phone.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• 2026 season: daily 10:00-17:00 until 7 September 2026.
• Outside that date, visits are possible by arrangement: +48 665 334 448.
• Tickets: 25 PLN standard, 20 PLN reduced.

Hours for 2027 had not been published when we checked, so call or look at drahim.pl. The castle belongs to a private museum company, so conditions can change.

Getting there

The village is in the Czaplinek municipality (postal code 78-552), on Lake Drawsko. Driving is the realistic option. The castle's website gives no parking details, so ask when you call. Is it worth visiting? Yes, if you like ruins with a living-history feel and want to combine the visit with a lake day.

Nearby

Czaplinek, once a Templar centre, is close by, and the whole Drawsko Lakeland offers cycling routes, beaches and campsites.