The Gothic castle is the oldest and most impressive monument of the capital of Warmia and Mazury. Over the centuries the castle was the heart of the city, which developed in its shadow. Once the home of Nicolaus Copernicus, now the seat of the Museum of Warmia and Mazury. Its rooms and a courtyard are open for the visitors.

The Warmia Chapter  started the construction of the building in about 1348. This brick structure was built in the place of soil-wooden watchtower, founded in the bend of Łyna River in 1334. Originally the castle consisted of only one, the north wing, which was completed in the second half of the 14th century. The south part, with a massive 30-meter-high round tower, was built in the mid-15th century.


Medieval heyday
Olsztyn’s fortress was the seat of the administrator of demesne of Warmia Chapter. From the beginning it served defensive functions, but also housed the treasury of the Chapter. The effectiveness of the military was tested already in 1356, when the Lithuanians tried to conquer the castle, unsuccessfully. The military custody of Warmia Chapter, up to 1454, was held by the Teutonic Knights. Due to this fact, Olsztyn’s castle was often found in the center of the turmoil of war.

After the Battle of Grunwald, without even fighting, Polish army besieged the fortress for two months. In 1414 the Poles conquered it for the next few months after a few days of the siege. During the thirteen years’ war, it passed from hand to hand and was occupied by the Teutonic Knights. But eventually it fell to Poland, along with Warmia region under the Second Peace of Thorn in 1466. The monastic army approached the castle again in 1521. However, they withdrew from the siege at the sight of a well-prepared defense organized by Nicolaus Copernicus, who in the years 1516-1521 was twice Olsztyn’s administrator of Warmia Chapter. Here one can find some of his memorabilia such as a unique astronomical table located on the wall of the cloister.

The structure’s new life
Over the centuries the castle lost its defensive importance. In the years 1756 to 1758, an eastern, residential wing, plastered in the late Baroque style was added to it. After the First Partition of Poland in 1772, the fortress came under the rule of the Kingdom of Prussia.
It underwent a major renovation and regothisation in the second half of the 19th century. It was rebuilt at the beginning of the last century and happily survived two world wars.

Today, the building consists of two Gothic wings connected, from the Łyna River side, with the defensive walls and the late Baroque part, through which an entrance to the courtyard runs. Here we can find: a stone statue called Prussian Woman (Baba Pruska) imported from the village of Barciany, a border stone of Versailles from 1919, and a defunct well. Next to the latter, until 2006, grew a famous 120-year-old linden tree, which unfortunately was finally overcome
by a strong storm. A “Let’s sing poetry” festival has been held in the castle’s courtyard since 1974.
A dam, leading towards the entrance, divides a former ditch into two parts. The Czesław Niemen Amphitheatre occupies the left part, and on the right there is a park with the remains of
a cylindrical tower. At the entry to the dam, one can sit on the Copernicus bench. On the south side, in-between the walls, there is a 17th century building, of the former castle crew, which is called the Salt Warehouse.

Warmia Chapter Castle

The Gothic castle is the oldest and most impressive monument of the capital of Warmia and Mazury. Over the centuries the castle was the heart of the city, which developed in its shadow. Once the home of Nicolaus Copernicus, now the seat of the Museum of Warmia and Mazury. Its rooms and a courtyard are open for the visitors.

The Warmia Chapter  started the construction of the building in about 1348. This brick structure was built in the place of soil-wooden watchtower, founded in the bend of Łyna River in 1334. Originally the castle consisted of only one, the north wing, which was completed in the second half of the 14th century. The south part, with a massive 30-meter-high round tower, was built in the mid-15th century.

Medieval heyday

Olsztyn’s fortress was the seat of the administrator of demesne of Warmia Chapter. From the beginning it served defensive functions, but also housed the treasury of the Chapter. The effectiveness of the military was tested already in 1356, when the Lithuanians tried to conquer the castle, unsuccessfully. The military custody of Warmia Chapter, up to 1454, was held by the Teutonic Knights. Due to this fact, Olsztyn’s castle was often found in the center of the turmoil of war.

After the Battle of Grunwald, without even fighting, Polish army besieged the fortress for two months. In 1414 the Poles conquered it for the next few months after a few days of the siege. During the thirteen years’ war, it passed from hand to hand and was occupied by the Teutonic Knights. But eventually it fell to Poland, along with Warmia region under the Second Peace of Thorn in 1466. The monastic army approached the castle again in 1521. However, they withdrew from the siege at the sight of a well-prepared defense organized by Nicolaus Copernicus, who in the years 1516-1521 was twice Olsztyn’s administrator of Warmia Chapter. Here one can find some of his memorabilia such as a unique astronomical table located on the wall of the cloister.

The structure’s new life

Over the centuries the castle lost its defensive importance. In the years 1756 to 1758, an eastern, residential wing, plastered in the late Baroque style was added to it. After the First Partition of Poland in 1772, the fortress came under the rule of the Kingdom of Prussia.

It underwent a major renovation and regothisation in the second half of the 19th century. It was rebuilt at the beginning of the last century and happily survived two world wars.

Today, the building consists of two Gothic wings connected, from the Łyna River side, with the defensive walls and the late Baroque part, through which an entrance to the courtyard runs. Here we can find: a stone statue called Prussian Woman (Baba Pruska) imported from the village of Barciany, a border stone of Versailles from 1919, and a defunct well. Next to the latter, until 2006, grew a famous 120-year-old linden tree, which unfortunately was finally overcome
by a strong storm. A “Let’s sing poetry” festival has been held in the castle’s courtyard since 1974.
A dam, leading towards the entrance, divides a former ditch into two parts. The Czesław Niemen Amphitheatre occupies the left part, and on the right there is a park with the remains of
a cylindrical tower. At the entry to the dam, one can sit on the Copernicus bench. On the south side, in-between the walls, there is a 17th century building, of the former castle crew, which is called the Salt Warehouse.