Kwidzyn Castle and Cathedral

Kwidzyn Castle and Cathedral stand together on a hill at ul. Katedralna 1 in Kwidzyn, in the Pomeranian region of Poland near the Vistula. Construction began in the 14th century, after the Pomesanian Chapter established its seat here in 1285 and a castle was built from about 1300. The chapter was a body of canons linked to the Teutonic Order, and the complex combined the chapter's castle with its cathedral. The brick Gothic castle has a rectangular plan with a courtyard, a cloister and a tall defensive tower. A distinctive feature is the Dansker, a long covered corridor on arches that links the castle to a latrine tower and is among the largest toilets of its kind in medieval Europe. The cathedral of St John the Evangelist is a brick Gothic basilica, with tombs of Grand Masters and a famous 14th century fresco of St Christopher. Fires and wars damaged the buildings, and the complex was reconstructed in the 19th century and again after the Second World War, with major restoration undertaken since the 1960s. Visitors today see the castle courtyard and the exhibitions of the Kwidzyn Castle Museum, which show medieval and later arts and handicrafts. The exhibition rooms hold weapons, sacral art and archaeological finds. The covered corridor, the remnants of the chapter's wall paintings and the tower views are among the main attractions. The cathedral, still an active church, can be visited outside services. The ensemble is a notable example of the Teutonic chapter castles in Pomesania and of Gothic architecture in the former Prussian lands.