HISTORY
The town of Malbork was founded by the knights of the Order of the Teutonic Hospitalier Brothers of the Holy Virgin in Jerusalem (such was the official name of the Teutonic Knights), who in the 13th century began constructing a massive fortress on the right bank of the Nogat river. Soon to the south of the castle grew a settlement, which subsequently was granted urban rights. The town flourished and in the mid 15th century it had 174 houses enclosed with the town walls. Eighty-five of those houses stood along the central long market, the outline of which is still discernible in the Old Town's street plan. World War Two rampaged the town: about 60% of the buildings fell to ruin and the castle suffered severe damage. Ever since 1961, when the Castle Museum was set up, the fortress has been meticulously restored to its former grandeur. Today the castle of Malbork is an unparalleled tourist attraction in this part of Poland. Its immense value was acknowledged in 1997, when this gigantic construction was inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. The picturesque location of the town of Malbork on the banks of the Nogat river is also very convenient. The town lies at the intersection of road and rail routes linking Gdansk with Elbląg, Warsaw and Toruń as well as Berlin with Kaliningrad. The town's environs comprise fens around the Vistula estuary, known as Wielkie and Małe Żuławy Malborskie. Although predominantly agricultural in character, Żuławy is not an unlikely tourist destination for those wish to admire its unusual landscapes and some scattered historic sights. Malbork has several industries, including a sugar plant, a large pasta producer "Malma", the clothes manufacturer 'Delta', the Malbork Fans Works 'Manwent', Chemical Works 'Organika' and 'M.Leier', in important manufacturer of construction materials, roof frameworks and tiles. The town's authorities hope to transform Malbork into a large tourist centre, with good accommodation and catering facilities, complemented by a network of banking and shopping services. Near the castle a tourist information centre has been opened. Visitors to Malbork will find new car parks and petrol stations. Potential investors are offered communal grounds to be developed for tourist business.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

INFORMATION
Malbork Welcome Center - Center of Tourism in Malbork, 54 Kościuszki St.
tel. 055 647 47 47, e-mail: biuro@mwc.malbork.pl, sekretariat@mwc.malbork.pl, www.visitmalbork.pl

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The Castle Museum
5 Starościńska St.
Tickets resevations: tel. 055 647 09 78, fax. 647 09 76, 647 09 77,
kasa@zamek.malbork.pl, www.zamek.malbork.pl

The museum - open daily except Mondays from 9.00 a.m. to 7 p.m. and outside the season from 9.00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitions:
1. The Middle Castle - porcelain and faience earthenware, sashes worn by Polish noblemen, antique weaponry; the Grand Refectory's medieval heating system; the Blessed Mary of Marienburg - a painting from the Chapel; residential and official chambers of the Palace of the Grand Masters.
2. The High Castle - the Covenant's kitchen, the 19th century Marienburg stained glass windows, the Chapter's Chamber, an exhibition of amber in the Treasurer's chambers; exhibitions On Sacral and Feast Tables, Medieval Wooden and Stone Sacral Sculpture.
3. The Outer Ward,
4. The Grand Refectory,
5. The Palace of the Grand Masters.
EVENTS - during the summer season: 1. A cruise on the Nogat river, 2. An outdoor light and sound show, 3. The siege of Marienburg castle, 4. Malbork's Days; all year: nocturnal visit to the castle accompanied by a monk and a guide.

CULTURE
The Town Community Centre, 18 Słowiański Ave. tel. 055 272 38 52

ACCOMODATION
The "Zamek" Hotel, 14 Starościńska St. tel. 055 272 33 67
The "Stary Malbork" Hotel, 26-27 17 Marca St. tel. 055 647 24 00
The "Dedal" Hotel, 5 Gen. De Gaulle St. tel. 055 272 68 50
The "Parkowy" Hotel, 3 Portowa St. tel. 055 272 24 13
The "Zbyszko" Hotel, 43 T. Kościuszki St. tel. 055 272 26 40
The "U Błażeja " Guest - house, 4 Saperów St. tel. 055 272 30 81
Camping 1st class, Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji, 3 Parkowa St. tel. 055 272 24 13
Camping "Zamczysko" (in the front of the castle), tel. 055 647 73 90
Guest House "Saturn", 75 Słowackiego St. tel. 055 273 29 50
The Youth Hostel, 45 Żeromskiego St. tel. 055 272 24 08
Guest House "Na Skarpie", 4b Na Skarpie St. tel. 055 2709373

RESTAURANTS
"Zamkowa", 14 Starościńska St. tel. 055 272 33 67
"Piwniczka", 1 Starościńska St. tel. 055 273 36 68
"Swojskie klimaty", 5 Gen. de Gaulle’a St. tel. 055 272 31 37
"Stary Malbork", 26-27 17 Marca St. tel. 055 647 24 00
"Panorama" - C.H. Jagiełło , 5 Kościuszki St. tel. 055 647 21 12
"Aliem", 48 Sienkiewicza St. tel. 601 073 234
"Andalousia", 7 Kościuszki St. tel. 055 272 25 25
"Pekin", 15 Sienkiewicza St. tel. 055 273 39 09
"Quattro", 22 17 Marca St. tel. 055 641 48 49
"Dedal", 5 Gen. de Gaulle St. tel. 055 272 31 37
"Nad Nogatem", 5 Słowiański Ave. tel. 055 272 31 31
"Staropolska", 9 Ceglana St. tel. 055 272 20 60
"Zbyszko", 43 T. Kościuszki St. tel. 055 272 26 40
"Malaga", 113 Głowackiego St. tel. 055 272 34 45

The Town Office
5 Słowiański Ave., phone: 055 647 99 00
www.malbork.pl