HISTORY
The Order of St Mary of the Germans in Jerusalem undertook every effort to finally take possession of the Gniew Land in 1283, their first property on the left bank of the Vistula river. The town located on the Chełmno law in 1297 A.D. stood next to the Teutonic castle built to the pattern of convent castles. The monumental silhouette of the castle next the St Nicolas Church is still a characteristic dominant of the southern panorama of Gniew.
The Gniew castle was the most powerful fortress of the Teutonic Order on the left bank of the Visula. Built at the turn of the 13th and 14th century, it was home to Commanders of the Order, and in the times when the town belonged to Poland, it housed the offices of local administrators. Rebuilt several times in the 19th century (a granary, a prison), the castle was ravaged by the Great Fire in 1921.
In the years 1968-1974, the FAMA Ship Machinery Works in Gniew undertook the first stage of the reconstruction of the castle, completed by laying the ceiling over the top storey, roofing the building and covering the roof with ceramic tiles.
In 1992, the Council of the Town and Commune of Gniew began the second stage of renovation inculding the construction of the ceiling in the west and east wings, adaptation of the interior and reconstruction of the chapel as well as adaptation of the Castle Hill to serve tourism purposes. Today the Gniew castle houses the following institutions: ‘Zamek w Gniewie’ Ltd, the Town Council, the Hunters’ centre, the Branch Museum of the Archeological Museum in Gdańsk, the St Adalbert Brotherhood, the brotherhood of Knights of the Gniew Castle, the Battle of Grunwald Association, the Schola Cantorum Gymevensis Choir, the Lecture Hall of the Higher School in Warsaw.
Since 1992, the castle has been used as a venue for spectacles, historical shows and chivalric tournaments. Today it is recognised as one of the major centres for promoting and maintaining the medieval tradition and heritage in Poland. There are conferences, conventions, scientific symposia, banquets and historical feats held at the castle all year round. Apart from that, the castle arranges one-day or longer stays from organised groups of teenagers with ‘live history lessons’, a bonfire and a visit by the Ghost of the Gniew Castle.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The Gniew castle, 3 Zamkowa St. tel. 058 535 25 37, www.zamek-gniew.pl
"Live court" (crafts workshops, a shooting gallery, a torture chamber, an inn) - open from May to September
The Archeological Museum in Gdańsk - Branch Museum in Gniew, 3 Zamkowa St., tel. 058 535 35 29 (open daily except Mondays from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., out of the season by telephone booking)
Exhibitions:
1. "History of Artistic Smithery" - a blacksmith gallery,
2. "History of Gniew and the Gniew Land" - an archeological exhibition,
3. the Castle Chapel,
4. a hunting exhibition,
5. "The Battle of Grunwald" - a light and sound animated exhibition.

EVENTS
July - the International Show of Artistic Smithing
July - the Chivalric Tournament for the King John III Sobieski’s Sword
August - Vivat Vasa - Polish and Swedish Confrontations and historical feasts and shows by booking.

CULTURE
The Town and Commune centre of Culture in Gniew, 16/17 Grunwaldzki Ave. tel. 058 535 25 62

ACCOMMODATION
"Dormitorium" the Gniew Castle, 3 Zamkowa St.
The "Pałac Marysieńka" Hotel, 3 Zamkowa St.

Information and reservation, Tourist Service Office, 3 Zamkowa St.
tel./fax 058 535 21 62, e-mail: bort@zamek-gniew.pl

Nicponia - summer house, Nicponia 63, tel. 606 460 680,
e-mail: dczerwinska@poczta.onet.pl

RESTAURANTS
"Husarska", 3 Zamkowa St.
"Piwnica Rycerska", 3 Zamkowa St.
Information and reservation, Tourist Service Office, 3 Zamkowa St.
tel./fax 058 535 21 62, e-mail: bort@zamek-gniew.pl

"Marysieńka", 10 Piłsudskiego St. tel. 058 535 23 24
"Na wzgórzu", 10 Krasickiego St. tel. 058 535 24 45

The Town and Commune Office
1 Grunwaldzki Ave., phone: 058 535 22 55
www.gniew.pl