Castle in Bratian

ratian Castle was built in the years 1343-1359. It was built at the fork of the Drwęca and Wel rivers, taking advantage of the natural defensive advantages of the surrounding marshes and backwaters of both rivers. The Teutonic Knights designated this building as the seat of the mayor, who was directly subordinate to the Grand Master in Malbork. He moved here from Nowe Miasto Lubawskie as early as 1343.

The plan from the years 1826-1828 shows the castle as a two-part structure. The castle proper was built on a square plan surrounding the inner courtyard, with four cylindrical towers at the corners. The outer bailey was surrounded by a wall reinforced with towers.

Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen, who was visiting 

Surviving fragment of the wall of the east wing, photo: JAPCOK, April 2004

the castles on the Drwęca before the Battle of Grunwald, came to Bratian in the first days of July 1410. In order to make it easier for the Teutonic army to cross the river, 12 bridges were built at that time. Shortly after the battle, the castle was occupied by Polish troops, but after the Peace of Toruń, like many other castles, it was given to the Teutonic Knights. During the Hunger War, it was besieged by Polish-Lithuanian troops, but after a short attack, further attempts to capture it were abandoned. The Thirteen Years' War and Second Peace of Toruń gave the Bratislava estates to Poland in 1466. The castle became the seat of the royal starost, which it remained until the first partition of Poland in 1772. The Prussian authorities ordered it to be partially demolished as early as 1785. The private owner, who bought the remaining part of the castle, completely destroyed it, building a water mill in its place. Today, only the remains of the castle walls are visible, although their condition indicates that they will soon cease to exist altogether.

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