HISTORY
Built in 1326-1331, the castle in Sztum safeguarded
the Malbork (Marienburg) fortress from the south. Its
other function was to give residence to the Grand Master
of the Teutonic Order. The Sztum castle remained in
the hands of Teutonic Knights until 1468, when by the
power of the Torun Treaty the town was incorporated
into the Royal Prussia and for the many years to follow
the edifice was a seat of high-ranking Polish military
and administrative officials. West of the castle, enclosed
in a ring of fortified walls, a town began to grow.
Fifty plots were laid out. The town was governed by
a council, chaired by the mayor. Twice a year (22nd
June and 11th November) a large fair was held, with
a smaller market open every Friday. The burghers busied
themselves farming fields and brewing beer. It was in
Sztum that the District Court for the Malbork province
was seated. From the 16th century the town also held
sessions of the gentry's local parliament.
Today, Sztum is a town located on the isthmus between
Lake Barlewickie and Lake Zajezierskie (which in the
past were joined and created one water reservoir known
as Lake Białe). Of the castle's medieval construction,
following its partial demolition in the 19th century,
the main south wing, part of the east wing, the gatehouse,
the well and part of two towers and fortified walls
have luckily remained. These days, the Sztum Knights'
Brotherhood evokes the wealth of the town's history.
Such events as chivalric tournaments, plein air painting
workshops and the Days of the Sztum Land take place
at the castle.
Sztum lies amid natural forests, abundant in wild game
and rich vegetation. The town's environs contain 4 nature
reserves with exciting specimens of flora and fauna.
With its lake district landscape and location in the
valley of the Vistula, the commune of Sztum is an attractive
destination for holiday makers.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The XIV th castle
St Anna's parish church (the neo-Gothic interior with
elements of the Baroque furnishing)
The former Lutheran church (a neo-Classical building)
- 19th century Manor houses in Waplewo Wielkie, Zajezierze,
Barlewice
CULTURE
The Culture Centre of Sztum, 3 Galla Anonima St. tel.
055 640 63, 277 23 06
The Society and brotherhood of Knights of the Sztum
Land, 19 Zacisze St. tel. 055 277 34 41,
www.rycerzesztum.prv.pl,
e-mail: hermanad@wp.pl
One of the principal activities of
the Sztum Centre of Culture is to manage the International
Centre of Youth Exchange, which is housed in the south
wing of the castle. The adaptation of the southern part
of the castle received financial support from the Foundation
for German and Polish Cooperation, with the funds supplied
by the German Federal Republic. This part of the castle
has been made available for the International Youth
Exchange Centre, which was established in the mid 2002
and is managed today by the Sztum Centre of Cultre.
The structure of the Centre comprises the Educational
Department, which provides means for artistic activity.
We have the Brass Band, other musical bands and stage
sets. We have a large number of castle rooms which can
serve a variety of functions depending on the need.
The rooms are situated on two storeys (the total area
of about 900 m2). One of these floors is used for historical
and ethnographic exhibitions as well as displays of
collections. The exhibitions will mainly promote the
history of the Sztum Land and the local region. We expect
that the exhibitions will be arranged in collaboration
with museums, centres of culture and scientific institutions,
both Polish and foreign. We hope to involve in our work
young people with a variety of interests in the history
of our town and environs, who will organise events on
a regional, nationwide and international scale. The
rooms at the castle can be used for meetings, scientific,
economic and political conferences, both Polish and
international. We have the capacity to organise banquets,
ballroom dances, as well as smaller, more private social
gatherings. We have a sound and light engineering system.
There is also a computer room with a direct access to
the Internet. The other floor contains rooms adapted
to serve as art galleries and display rooms. About 400
m2 can be used to present contemporary art, painting,
graphic art, drawing, sculpture, posters and other forms
of visual art. Here we can also organise concerts for
about 150-200 people. Both classical and contemporary
music can be performed owing to the excellent acoustics.
It is also possible to arrange meetings with popular
artists, politicians, journalists, scientists, etc.,
with the participation of as many as 200-250 people
in the audience maintaining good direct contact with
the invited guests. It is possible to hold one event
on both the first and the second floor, for example
we can organise an exhibition and a scientific conference,
or a concert and an art exhibition. We have substantial
experience in organising public events. We have had
exhibitions, concerts, art shows, scientific conferences,
meetings of different groups of young people, businessmen,
veterans, etc., held at our centre. Bringing to life
the idea of the International Youth Exchange Centre,
we take it as our aim to organise events which will
facilitate meetings of young people from Poland and
from other countries. We are preparing our programme
of activities, remaining open to all possible suggestions
which will help attain the integration of the European
Union. It is mainly to this aim that we would like to
devote both the castle's rooms and the know-how and
energy of the centre's employees.
ACCOMODATION
The "Baster" Hotel, 20 Mickiewicza, St. tel.
055 277 22 84
The "Goraj" Hotel, Go¶ciszewo, near Sztum,
tel. 055 277 11 55
Hotel "Jonatan", Czernin, near Sztum, 2 Sadowa
St. tel. 055 640 20 10
The Youth Hostel in Piekło (on the way Sztum - Biała
Góra), tel. 055 277 16 78, e-mail: sppieklo@wp.pl
RESTAURANTS
Restaurant "Zantyr", 34 Mickiewicza St. tel.
055 277 70 77
Restaurant "Centrum", 19/21 Wolno¶ci Ale.
tel. 055 277 22 77
Bar "Smakosz", 5 Osińskiego St. tel. 055 277
22 50
Pizzeria "Roma", 2 Galla Anonima St. tel.
055 277 55 55
EVENTS - in the summer season:
July: the International Jamboree of the Volkswagen
Beetle Fans
The Polish Presentation of Prisoners' Works of Art
August: Plein Air Painting Workshop in Sztum-Barlewice
September: Festival of the Sztum Land, the Powi¶le
Fair
The Town and Commune Office
39 Mickiewicza St.
phone: 055 640 63 03
www.sztum.pl
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