he first mention of Szymbark comes from 1378. However, it is probable that the construction of the castle belonging to the Pomezanian chapter began on Lake Szymbarskie in the first half of the fourteenth century. The second stage was started by bishop Henry of Skarlin in 1386, as evidenced by the inscription on the entrance gate above the portal: Hec porta constructa est anno domini MCCCLXXXVI tempore Fratris Henrici de Skarlin prepositi. The castle was then in the form of a rectangle with a courtyard, at the corners of the defensive wall it had square towers at the bases. In addition to them, there were two more on each side. The entrance led through a wooden drawbridge. In the fifteenth century, the castle was probably rebuilt, it was related to the Polish-Teutonic wars, so it can be assumed that
photo by ZeroJeden, VII 2006
it was damaged during them. The changes introduced mainly concern the entrance. During the Thirteen Years' War the castle was in the hands of the Prussian Confederation and returned to Polish in 1520, which is described in a letter from bishop Tomicki to Jan Boner, which has survived to this day.
In the sixteenth century, the castle passed into the hands of the von Polentz family, who again expanded the castle, adapting it to serve as a residence. At that time, among other things, a wooden bridge was replaced with a brick one supported by four arcades. From 1699 until the end of World War II, the castle belonged to the Finck von Finckenstein family. At the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, representatives of this family added a new residential house.
In the last years of World War II, the castle was burned by the Russians, and in the sixties of the twentieth century, works were carried out to secure the object. Currently, the castle is in private hands and can be visited after consultation with the caretaker of the facility.
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e first mention of Szymbark comes from 1378. However, it is probable that the construction of the castle belonging to the Pomezanian chapter began on Lake Szymbarskie in the first half of the fourteenth century. The second stage was started by bishop Henry of Skarlin in 1386, as evidenced by the inscription on the entrance gate above the portal: Hec porta constructa est anno domini MCCCLXXXVI tempore Fratris Henrici de Skarlin prepositi. The castle was then in the form of a rectangle with a courtyard, at the corners of the defensive wall it had square towers at the bases. In addition to them, there were two more on each side. The entrance led through a wooden drawbridge. In the fifteenth century, the castle was probably rebuilt, it was related to the Polish-Teutonic wars, so it can be assumed that 
