he first stronghold was built in this place on the Drwęca in the 12th century. Brodnica is located on the border of the Chełmno and Michałów lands, this stronghold was an advanced guardhouse of the Mazovian princes. After the Teutonic Knights were brought to Poland, they forged the documents granting the lands, as a result of which at the beginning of the 14th century they also occupied Brodnica.
The brick castle was built in the first half of the 14th century, according to some in the years 1312-1330, according to others - 1305-1317. The castle was definitely completed in 1337, because between 1335 and 1337
View from the south-west, photo by ZeroJeden, IV 2009
a Teutonic commandment was established in Brodnica.
The stronghold was built on a square plan with a side of 45 meters, in which a small internal courtyard was closed by four wings. In the northern corner there was a huge fifty-meter octagonal tower with 10 storeys. At the tower there was a gate defended by a foregate. The whole was surrounded by low peripheral walls creating a parcham about 10 meters wide. On the Drwęca side, in the corner of the peripheral wall there was a quadrangular tower, rebuilt in 1415 according to the design of Mikołaj Fellenstein from Malbork into a round one. Later, a similar one, with embrasures for firearms, was built in the north-eastern corner. The castle's economic base consisted of two forecourts: from the north-east and south, which were also surrounded by walls and a moat fed from the Drwęca. In the 15th century, Polish troops and the Teutonic Knights fought many times in Brodnica. After the Thirteen Years' War in 1466, Brodnica returned to the borders of Poland. From 1479, the castle was the seat of the starosta.
Cross-section of the tower of the castle in Brodnica, 'Die Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler des Kreises Strasburg', 1891
First, until 1604, this office was held by the Działyński family, then the starost was Anna Wazówna, sister of Zygmunt III Waza. In 1550, during the Działyńskis' reign, the castle was destroyed by a great fire, but the then starost Rafał Działyński quickly rebuilt the damaged fortress. In 1616, a palace for Anna Wazówna was built on the eastern bailey, which was expanded in the 17th century. Traces of embrasures are still visible in the palace, which leads to the conclusion that the walls of an earlier building that was part of the bailey were used for its construction. The starosts resided in the castle until the First Partition of Poland. The castle was attacked several times by the Swedes during the Deluge in 1655-1656. In the 18th century, the castle housed the barracks of the Bar Confederation, and in 1772 the castle found itself within the borders of Prussia. Like most such buildings, the Prussians did not respect this one either. In the years 1785-1842, the castle was gradually dismantled, with only the octagonal tower surviving. Research work at the castle in Brodnica was carried out in the interwar period. At the end of World War II in 1945, the castle was burned down. In the years 1953-1957, research was carried out again, at which time the foregate walls were uncovered. Currently, the ruins are open to visitors, along with the underground and the entrance to the tower. One of the round towers has also been partially preserved.
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e first stronghold was built in this place on the Drwęca in the 12th century. Brodnica is located on the border of the Chełmno and Michałów lands, this stronghold was an advanced guardhouse of the Mazovian princes. After the Teutonic Knights were brought to Poland, they forged the documents granting the lands, as a result of which at the beginning of the 14th century they also occupied Brodnica.
