Kwidzyn Castle

Kwidzyn Castle (say "KVEE-dzin") is a 14th-century Gothic stronghold of the Pomesanian cathedral chapter in northern Poland, built by the same brick-Gothic tradition as the Teutonic Knights' famous Malbork Castle. Together with the adjoining cathedral, it forms one of the finest medieval ensembles in the region, crowned by a spectacular latrine tower on a long arcaded bridge. Important: since September 2026 the castle museum has been closed for a major restoration, with reopening planned for 2030. The exterior and the cathedral can still be visited.

Closed until 2030: what is happening

The castle is a branch of the Malbork Castle Museum, which is carrying out a restoration project worth more than PLN 64 million, mostly funded by the European Union. The museum stayed open until the end of August 2026; its farewell day on August 30 drew more than 2,500 visitors. The works cover every floor, the walls, vaults, wall paintings, roof and utilities, and will improve accessibility between floors. They are due to finish by the end of 2029, with a grand reopening and new permanent exhibitions planned for 2030. A new exhibition about the town, "Taki oto Kwidzyn", is planned to open in 2028 at ul. Kruka 1.

History of the castle

The castle was built in the first half of the 14th century; it is first recorded on October 28, 1334 as castrum Merginwerder, and most of the work was complete by about 1345. Four wings once enclosed an arcaded courtyard, and the tallest tower reaches 59 m (194 ft). In the 1380s the builders added the gdanisko – a latrine and defensive tower linked to the castle by a long gallery carried on tall arches. It is considered the largest such tower in the former Teutonic state, and its gallery the longest of its kind anywhere.

Polish troops took Kwidzyn in 1478. In the 16th century the bishops turned Protestant and the castle passed to the officials of Duke Albert of Prussia. Tsar Peter the Great stayed here in 1709. In 1798 the Prussian authorities demolished the east and south wings to reuse the bricks for a courthouse, leaving the castle's open shape. It served as a court and prison until 1935 and as a Hitler Youth school from 1936 to 1945. Since 2018 the cathedral-and-castle complex has been a Historic Monument of Poland.

What you can see now

• The gdanisko and its arcaded gallery from outside – best viewed from the Liwa river valley and ul. Katedralna. The arches are impressive even without going inside.
• The co-cathedral, still an active church and physically connected to the castle. Since 2010 visitors can look through a glass floor in the chancel into the crypt of three Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order – Werner von Orseln, Ludolf König and Heinrich von Plauen – discovered in 2007. Check visiting times outside services with the parish.
• The skyline from the west, where castle, cathedral and gdanisko merge into one silhouette above the valley.

About an hour is enough for a walk around the complex and a visit to the cathedral.

Fun facts

• In the 14th century the anchoress Dorothea of Montau, later venerated as patron saint of Prussia, lived walled into a cell at the cathedral.
• Inside the Grand Masters' crypt, mannequins in replicas of their burial robes lie in three modern coffins modeled on medieval ones.

Practical information (as of October 2026)

• Castle museum: closed from September 2026 until the restoration is finished (reopening planned for 2030). The castle website currently lists opening hours and exhibitions as "closed".
• The grounds around the complex and the views of the gdanisko remain freely accessible.
• Castle tourist information: +48 55 646 37 80. Watch zamek.kwidzyn.pl for news on the town exhibition and the reopening date.

How to get to Kwidzyn

Kwidzyn lies in the Powiśle region, about 40 km south of Malbork and roughly 80 km from Gdańsk, whose airport is the nearest international gateway. The easiest way is by car on national road 55 via Sztum, or from Grudziądz. The castle and cathedral stand on an escarpment in the town center on ul. Katedralna.

Is it worth visiting now?

If you are touring Teutonic castles, yes – the exterior and the Grand Masters' crypt justify a short stop on the way between Malbork and Grudziądz. For the full castle experience, come back after 2030.