The Polish town with the crackjaw name of Lidzbark Warminski owes its medieval fairy-tale-like atmosphere and the main attractions to the brave Teutonic Knights. They came to these lands in the mid-13th century. The first thing the order built was an austere wooden church. Only a century later, the large-scale construction of the stone Castle of Heilsberg began. Surrounded by tall defensive walls and a deep moat, it was the historical residence of the Warmian bishops. Its construction took half a century. Several generations of bishops lived in the castle until the end of the 18th century, when it was abandoned and began to decline. Only at the end of the 19th century, the mighty medieval citadel was saved thanks to the German archaeologist and architect Ferdinand von Quast. You can often hear locals expressing their gratitude to the savior of the outstanding landmark of Polish architecture.

Even though during the hostilities of the Second World War the original altar paintings of the castle chapel were lost, the interiors of the ancient Castle of Heilsberg still amaze visitors with their splendor. Since 1961, the Gothic castle has become a permanent home to the collections of the Museum of Warmia. There, you can get acquainted with the history and culture of Warmia and East Prussia and see the weapons and armor of the Teutonic Knights. The first-floor halls exhibit collections of Gothic art, portraits of Warmian bishops, and gifts from patrons. The gallery on the second floor displays paintings by prominent Polish artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, including the works of the renowned water-colorist Julian Falat and the stained glass by artist Jozef Mehoffer. You can enjoy a collection of old icons and contemporary artists’ canvases on the third floor and study temporary exhibitions in the basement. The tombstone of Bishop von Legendorf, dated 1494, the work of the talented Nuremberg sculptor Peter Vischer, is installed in the former castle refectory, while portraits of Ignacy Krasicki’s family decorate the summer refectory.