Warmia Bishops Castle

The Gothic seat of the bishops of Warmia is located in the crotch of the river Łyna and Symsarna, among moraine hills with forest. It is situatd on the east side of Lidzbark. For many years it served as the residence of bishops and the watchtower of eastern boundary of Warmia.
The impressive castle in Lidzbark is one of the most valuable monuments of Gothic architecture, not only in Poland. Already in 1958 it was on list of the first-class relics. The great artistic and historical worldwide value of the castle caused, that it was considered as a monument of history in the highest class. This magnificent example of medieval military architecture is often called the "Wawel of North" because of the beautiful arcaded courtyard, which confusingly reminds courtyard of the Royal Wawel Castle. It is a kind of introduction to the main floor, its doors open spaces Lidzbark representation of the castle.
The block of the castle in the northeast corner is adorned by massive, high tower, which is called “Stołp”.
The castle has basement, which served as food warehouses, prisons. There were heating furnaces to get hot air in the castle. Today in the basement of the east wing there are exhibition halls. We can find the elements of garden architecture and cannons from the coats of arms of bishops there.
Currently, most of the rooms of the castle are designed for tourists. You can see the collection of gothic art, portraits, documents relating to famous people and elements of the former equipment of the castle. The top floor in the castle is presented in Polish painting of the nineteenth and twentieth century and a collection of icons, coming from Wojnowo.

The rental of historical works from, inter alia, from the movie "Copernicus” is open for people, they are interested in an attempt to incarnation in the inhabitants of the castle. This is a remarkable attraction to wear dresses, gowns, chasuble and miter of bishop. It is open daily except Mondays from 9.00 till 16.00 (for use on the spot). Ticket price for the dress is 3,00 zł.

Bishops Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński

is a building of the fourteenth century. The proper castle, built on a square was built around 100 years, since the mid-fourteenth to mid-fifteenth century.
The castle comes from the place, which was called Lecbarg. It belonged to a Prussian tribe of Pogezans. Around the year 1350, when the Orneta Lidzbarka moved to the head office of bishops of Warmia, construction of a new defense team was began by John I of Meissen (1350 to 1355). The work was continued by his successor John II Strypok in the years 1355 – 1373.
Then in 1373 - 1401 the complex was surrounded by walls and from the south, east and north by a moat with water from Symsarna. In such a figure, the band was existing for the next 400 years and was the center of the government and the secular establishment in the Warmia and the church in the diocese.
In the fifteenth century building was damaged by many fires. at Its shape was changed during the reconstruction of the castle. Three corner towers, a chapel and a hall for audiences were added.
The end of the sixteenth century was a period, when the fashion of the Renaissance and Baroque was very important. Then the castle gradually missed its defensive function and began the transformation into a princely court, lavishly equipped and decorated with impressive paintings.
During the Napoleonic wars and in the thirties of the nineteenth century interiors of the castle were adapted to a military hospital, bakery and barracks. The entire building was devastated. And a part of the castle was demolished several years later.
In 1857, Ambrosius Geritz, who was the bishop of Warmia (1842 to 1867) set up hospital and orphanage Foundation St. Joseph in the castle.
70 years later the castle began a comprehensive restoration project and it was established a regional museum here. During World War II, the lower basement floor was allocated to a prison for Russian prisoners. The object was not affected directly by war, but the former collections have been devastated and stolen. The rest of exhibit were secured by the Masurian Museum in Olsztyn in 1945.

During the season the museum is open daily except Mondays till 18.00, but visitors must come about an hour earlier.

Visiting hours:

- 1 September - 19 May: Tuesday-Sunday: 9.00-16.00

- 20 May - 30 June: Tuesday-Sunday: 9.00-17.00

- July 1 - August 31: Tuesday-Sunday: 9.00-18.00

Admission to the museum is charge of:
- Normal rate - 8 zł
- Reduced rate- 5 zł
- Family rate (2 +2) - 18 zł
- Courtyard and cellars of the castle - 2 zł
- Family rate [2 +2, 2 +3, 1 +3] - 22zl
- Courtyard and cellars of the castle - 3zł
- A guide in Polish language - 50 PLN (on non-working days x 2)
- A guide in English and German language - 100 PLN (on holidays x 2)