Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: diamond vault

Kętrzyn (Rastenburg) was established in 1329 in the State of the Teutonic Knights and was granted town rights in 1357. After the Battle of Grunwald (Battle of Tannenberg) in 1410, the mayor surrendered the town to Poland, however, it fell back to the Teutonic Knights in 1411. In 1440, the town joined the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation. King Casimir IV Jagiellon incorporated town to the Kingdom of Poland in 1454. After the Thirteen Years’ War (1454–1466) the town was part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Order's state and, from 1525 to 1701, it was part of the Duchy of Prussia. During WWII Hitler's wartime military headquarters, the "Wolfsschanze" (Wolf's Lair), was east of Rastenburg. In 1945, the area suffered devastation from both the retreating Germans and advancing Soviets. Some ruins of the Wolfsschanze remain. The Bazylika kolegiacka św. Jerzego (Collegiate Basilica of St. George) is the best-preserved fortified church in Masuria. Originally it was a single-nave hall in the southwestern corner of the town. It was part of the town´s defensive structure. The tower was crowned with battlements. In the 15th century, a second tower was built, and at the end of the century, the building was rebuilt into a three-aisled pseudo-basilica. Until WWII it was called the "German Church" - in contrast to the "Polish Church" next to it. Note the diamond vault.

A settlement was located here, that was destructed in 1325 by the Lithuanians. It was rebuilt and it was granted town privileges in 1364 by order of the Bishop of Warmia. The town was built with a central square and the parish church of St. Anne. North of the church was the bishop's castle in which the burgrave resided. It joined the Prussian Confederation in 1440 and in 1466 the town was confirmed as part of Kingdom of Poland. It was the place of fights of the Polish–Teutonic War of 1519–1521. In 1521 the Teutonic Knights launched artillery fire on the town but had to withdraw. Kościół św. Anny (St. Anne church) was made of red fired bricks in gothic style in 1386.

From 1230 to 1283 the Teutonic Order conquered the entire territory of the Slavic Prussians. In 1243 the bishop of Warmia received 1/3 of the territory of his diocese for his maintenance. The town was founded in 1353 under the name of Allensteyn by the chapter of the cathedral of Warmia on its territory. At that time, the castle was already under construction. In 1454 the town joined the Prussian Confederation against the Teutonic Order. The townspeople captured the castle and recognized the sovereignty of the Polish king, but a year later the town was reconquered by the Teutonic Order. During the war the town was in flames several times. By the peace treaty in 1466, Olsztyn and the entire Duchy of Warmia came under Polish sovereignty. For centuries the city was an important centre of trade, crafts, science and administration in the Warmia region. The "Zamek Kapituły Warmińskiej" ("Castle of Warmian Cathedral Chapter") was erected between 1346 and 1353. The south-east wing of the castle was built in the 15th century. The 40-meter tower dating back to the 14th century was placed in the eastern corner of the courtyard. In the 16th century the castle's fortifications were raised to 12 meters in height. This made the castle a major bastion located on the borders of Olsztyn. The castle belonged to the chapter of Diocese of Warmia, which until 1454 was protected by the Teutonic Order. In the years of 1516 to 1521, the administrator of the castle was Nicolaus Copernicus. Over time, the castle's importance diminished. In 1758, a direct entrance from Olsztyn was built, and a palace wing was built; the expansion meant that many of the fortifications were deconstructed. The refectory has a diamond vault built around 1520.