Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Zamek krzyżacki

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 the town into 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 brick castle of the Teutonic Order in Kętrzyn is a Gothic building from the second half of the 14th century. In 1945 it had been burnt down and rebuilt after more than 15 years according to original gothic conventions. The very last knight is waiting for tourists at the entrance gate.