Category Travel in the Middle Ages

The Barbican is one of the remaining portions of the medieval walls that once surrounded the Polish city of Krakow. Built around 1498, the Barbican protects one of the main gateways into the city. With walls that are almost three meters thick, seven high turrets and over one hundred and thirty windows or loopholes ideal for shooting, the Barbican would have been a formidable obstacle for any invading army.

It is the largest brick church in the world. Until 1945 it was the biggest Evangelical Lutheran church in the world and has enough room for 25,000 people. The foundation stone was placed on the feast of the Annunciation on March 25, 1343. In 1577 , the church (until this point, Catholic) was taken over by Protestants.

Muzeum Zamkowe w MalborkuThe castle was built by the Teutonic Order, they named it Marienburg, “Mary’s Castle”. The town which grew around it was also named Marienburg, and since 1945 it is known as Malbork. The castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress. It is one of two World Heritage Sites in the region with origins in the Teutonic Order.