Castle in Barciany

Barten Castle (present name: Zamek w Barcianach) belongs to the so-called Ordensburgen in northern Poland (Warmia-Masuria Voivodeship). These castles were usually built as four-winged complexes with an enclosed courtyard and, while possessing an overall fortified appearance, had primarily the function of a monastery. Thus, most of the religious castles had a chapel and a chapter. The chapter is a large hall of extraordinary height for the assembly of the religious community and was one of the most representative areas of the castle: typically, these hall-like rooms were equipped with stone columns and massive vaulted ceilings.

The core of the order castle in Barciany dates from the end of the 14th century and is located on a slight hill, which was originally surrounded by a moat. The builder was the Order of the Teutonic Knights led by the Grand Master Winrich of Kniprode. The representative area of the castle with the chapel and chapter is located in the east wing of the complex, although the interior architecture has been preserved in parts.

After the Second World War, the castle complex served as an administrative building of the state agricultural enterprise and was partially reconstructed for these purposes.

Barten Castle, like several other castles in northern Poland, was auctioned off many years ago and is now privately owned. So far, it has not been possible to put the abandoned castle to a planned tourist use. A new investor is being sought. The site has been secured in terms of construction. For the implementation of the originally planned hotel use, the cost of redevelopment is in the tens of millions.

The representative wing of the castle in Barciany in 2016