Castles

Castle of Warmian Bishops in Lidzbark Warmiński

One of Poland's most precious and best-preserved Gothic defensive residences and the main seat of the Warmian bishops until 1795. Built between 1350 and 1401 at the confluence of the Łyna and Symsarna rivers, it has been a Historic Monument since 2018.

The bishops' Gothic residence

Construction began a year after the diocesan capital moved from Orneta to Lidzbark. The quadrangle, with sides of 48.5 m, followed the model of Teutonic convent houses; after the fire of 1442 the corners gained turrets on corbels, and the north-eastern corner a tall tower. The courtyard with its two-storey cloisters is often compared to the Wawel.

Capital of Warmia and Copernicus's home

After the Second Peace of Toruń the castle remained the bishops' seat until 1795 and a centre of learning: Marcin Kromer worked here, and Bishop Ignacy Krasicki created the famous gardens. Around 1500, as a canon, Nicolaus Copernicus lived here under the patronage of Bishop Łukasz Watzenrode. In 1673 a baroque palace was added, torn down by the Prussian authorities in 1839–1840.

Saved from demolition

In 1838 the governor of East Prussia dismissed the castle as a superfluous, neglected building fit for sale or demolition. Restoration in the second half of the 19th century, led by conservator Ferdinand von Quast, saved it. Today most rooms can be visited as part of the Warmian Museum.

Inside the castle

The Great Refectory impresses most — a hall measuring 27 by 9 m with a portal from 1612, a frieze of bishops' coats of arms and wall paintings from the late 14th century. Allow 1–1.5 hours. A curious footnote: the maker of the chapel organs was only confirmed by an inscription discovered during conservation in 2022–2023.