Malbork Castle

Malbork is the largest castle in the world by land area and the largest brick building in Europe, a vast fortress-monastery built by the Teutonic Knights on the Nogat river from the thirteenth century as the seat of their crusading state. A UNESCO Gothic colossus of red brick, towers and courtyards, it is one of the great medieval buildings of Europe.

What you actually see

• The great brick fortress - the vast Gothic castle of red brick on the river.
• The three castles - the High, Middle and Lower castles within the walls.
• The Grand Masters' Palace - the ornate residence of the Teutonic leaders.
• The amber collection - the treasures displayed within.

When to go

The warm months for the full castle and the riverside setting; it is a popular day trip from Gdansk. A guided or audio tour helps navigate the vast complex.

Honest expectations

It is enormous, so a visit involves a lot of walking, and an audio or guided tour helps make sense of it. Much of what you see is twentieth-century reconstruction rather than original fabric. It is a day trip from Gdansk, in northern Poland.

Nearby

Gdansk and the Baltic coast are to the north; the Nogat river runs beside the castle.