Malbork.

This is coolbert:

1410! 1457! 1945!

Yet one more tourist destination with a military dimension and well worth visiting. If in the vicinity of Dansk Polank this is a must see!

Malbork Castle! Known to the Prussians as Marienburg!

LARGEST BRICK CASTLE IN THE WORLD HAVING BEEN RESTORED WITH AN AMAZING EXACTNESS AND DEVOTION TO DETAIL

Malbork/Marienburg during A PERIOD OF OVER FIVE-HUNDRED YEARS THE SCENE OF REPEATED SIEGE AND BATTLE!

1410: "In the summer of 1410, the castle was besieged following the Order's defeat by the armies of Władysław II Jagiełło and Vytautas the Great . . . at the Battle of Grunwald. Heinrich von Plauen successfully led the defense in the Siege of Marienburg (1410), during which the city outside was razed."

1457: "The Siege of Marienburg took place between September 28, 1457 - August 5, 1460, during the Thirteen Years' War. The Teutonic Knights tried to regain the fortress of Marienburg, which had been the capital of their state, but was captured by the Kingdom of Poland in June 1457. The Knights, commanded by Bernard Szumborski, failed to do so, and Marienburg remained in Polish hands, .

1945: "Near the end of World War II, the city was declared a festung [fortress] and most of the civilian population fled or were evacuated, with some 4,000 people opting to remain. In early 1945, Marienburg was the scene of fierce battles by the Nazis with the Red Army and was almost completely destroyed. The battle lasted until March 9, 1945".

From below take two virtual tours of Malbork Castle. Outstanding.

http://www.panodesign.co.uk/Malbork2008/

http://www.lovelypoland.com/malbork-castle-virtual-tour.html

These virtual tours I recommend highly, without qualification or reservation!

coolbert.