Malbork Castle

Malbork stands on the Nogat river about 60 kilometres south-east of Gdansk. It is the largest castle in the world by land area and the largest brick castle anywhere, a vast red-brick fortress built by the Teutonic Knights. The order began work in the thirteenth century and made Malbork the capital of its monastic state, expanding it into three linked castles behind a ring of walls and moats.

It is the standout day trip from Gdansk and one of the most complete medieval fortresses in Europe. The scale is the point: courtyards, gates, defensive walls and grand ceremonial rooms follow one after another. An included audio guide leads a route that takes the best part of an afternoon.

The complex divides into three parts:

• The High Castle, the oldest core, arranged around a cloistered courtyard with the main church and chapter house.
• The Middle Castle, with the Grand Refectory, a great hall roofed by slender palm vaulting.
• The Grand Masters' Palace, among the finest secular Gothic interiors of its time.

Between them run courtyards, cellars and long stretches of wall and moat.

The Teutonic Knights, a crusading military order, built Malbork from the late thirteenth century. In 1309 the Grand Master moved his seat here from Venice, and the castle became the headquarters of the order's Baltic state. It later passed to Poland and served various rulers, and was badly damaged in the Second World War before a long restoration. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.

Allow three to four hours for the castle itself with the audio guide, and a full day including travel from Gdansk. There is a great deal of ground to cover, much of it on foot over uneven surfaces.

Late spring to early autumn gives the longest opening hours and the best light on the brick. Summer is the busiest, so start early. The view of the whole fortress from across the Nogat is the one to photograph, best in the afternoon when the light is on the western walls.

Frequent trains link Gdansk to Malbork in under an hour, and the castle is a short walk from the station. Drivers will find car parks near the river. For planning the trip, see the Gdansk guide.

The castle is large and mostly floored with cobbles, stairs and thresholds, which makes parts of it hard going for wheelchairs and limited mobility. Some areas are step-free, so check the castle's access information before visiting to plan a route.

Malbork works as a day trip from Gdansk, where the main sights sit close together:

• The Long Market and Royal Route through the Main Town.
• The medieval Crane (Zuraw) on the Motlawa waterfront.
• The Museum of the Second World War.

Yes, by land area. It is also the largest brick castle in the world, built by the Teutonic Knights on the Nogat river.

Frequent trains run from Gdansk to Malbork in under an hour, and the castle is a short walk from the station.

Around three to four hours for the castle with the audio guide, or a full day with travel from Gdansk.