Gniew Castle

Gniew Castle stands at ul. Zamkowa 3 in the small town of Gniew, above the Vistula river in Poland's Pomeranian region. It was built by the Teutonic Order in about 1290-1310 as a commandery, and later served as a residence of the Polish king Jan III Sobieski, who is associated with the Baroque additions to the complex. Today it is one of the best-preserved Teutonic castles in Poland and is used as a museum, a hotel and an events venue. Visitors enter a large brick complex with a courtyard, defensive walls, a tower and a Gothic great hall, and can explore exhibitions on the history of the castle, the Teutonic Order and the Sobieski era, as well as displays of arms and period interiors. The castle is known for its tournaments of knights, which take place in summer, especially at weekends, with horsemen, combat demonstrations and historical camps, and these are the best reason to time a visit for those interested in a lively experience. A tour of the museum and courtyards takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Tickets cost about 30 PLN for adults and about 20 PLN reduced, with extra charges for some events. The castle typically opens from 10AM to 6PM in summer, with shorter hours in winter; check the schedule before travelling. On tournament weekends the castle can be crowded and parking is busy, while on weekdays it is calm. The town is about 50 km from Gdańsk by car, and can be reached by bus or train via Tczew. The best photograph of the castle is from the approach on the town side, which shows its massive brick walls, and from the river bank for an overall view. Visitors who wish to stay can book a room in the castle hotel, an atmospheric way to experience the building after the day visitors leave.