Castles

Bezławki Castle

In the village of Bezławki on the Dajna river, a dozen or so kilometres from Kętrzyn, stands a Gothic stronghold that turned into a church. The castle of the Teutonic procurator was built in the second half of the 14th century, and from the 16th century it served as a Protestant church; today it is the Catholic filial church of St. John the Baptist, belonging to the parish in Wilkowo.

The tower, the ladders and the excavations

The greatest challenge is the massive tower added to the castle: you climb it on steep ladders, passing above the ceiling of the former castle, and from the top awaits a panorama of the village with the crosses of the old cemetery. Downstairs you will see an exhibition of skeletons and photographs of the excavations conducted here by the team of Dr. Arkadiusz Koperkiewicz of the University of Gdańsk. A legend of the Holy Grail is attached to the place.

In practice

The doors are sometimes locked — the phone number 519 764 101 is posted on them, and you can call to arrange a visit; the fee is “a donation” to the box. The building stands in Bezławki 1, about 11 km from Reszel. For a Warmia itinerary, consider the sanctuary in Święta Lipka (3.4 km), the Gothic castles in Reszel and Kętrzyn, and the Wolf’s Lair (17 km).