#198 Nidzica Castle
aka Neidenburg Castle
Nidzica, Poland
1370 plus
This is NOT an official Lego site

A few words about the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, more commonly known as the Teutonic Order.  The fraternity was formed in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem, in 1191, as the Third Crusade ended in a more-or-less stalemate between the armies of Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. The hospital knights sought to aid Christian pilgrims and establish hospitals in the Holy Land.  With the crusades' final demise in 1291, the Order moved briefly to Venice, but soon established their headquarters in Marienburg, Prussia [later Malbork, Poland].  In 1370 the Order's Grand Master, Winryk von Kniprode, began construction of a fine fortress in Neidenburg, about 100 miles SE (by current highway) from Marienburg, in the area that bordered the Prussian tribes of Sasna and Galindia (see below).
By 1381 Winryk had granted a town charter to Neidenburg, and by 1409, the Teutonic Prosecutor [prosecuting attorney] was residing in the castle. The 15th century was a violent one for the fortress.  During the Famine War of 1414, the castle was captured in an eight day siege by Polish knights, who held the castle for 40 years.  In 1454 the castle was taken over by the Prussian Association, and soon handed over to Czech mercenary forces under command of Jan Kolda.  An attempt to retake the castle by the Teutonic knights was repulsed.  The outer bailey was extended and strengthened in 1517.
All was quiet until 1784 when a fire consumed much of the outer bailey.  Much more damage occurred during the intermittent occupation by Napoleon's forces from 1806 to 1812.  The castle was rebuilt by Ferdinand T. Gregorovius from 1828 to 1830, but in 1945 the castle was bombed by the Russians, with extensive damage.  Reconstruction took place slowly, from 1949 through 1965, but the result is spectacular, housing the Nidzica cultural and business center; a museum; a city library; plus hotel and restaurant.  A 19th century park surrounds the restored castle.
West (outer) wall of the
Hall Block.		 Detail of a stair
to the upper level.
 Close-up of the gatehouse
tunnel into the Inner Ward.		 Old postcard of Neidenburg.
General Ground Floor Plan Plans of the Inner Castle Cross-section of the Hall Block 1883 Drawing of the Castle Map of original Prussian tribes
with Nidzica and Malbork.

 

Photos of the Lego Model
Under Construction July - August, 2025
On July 4 the castle is laid
out on my building table.		 The model, with its modest "top of the hill"
landscaping, will be 91 inches long.
 The Hall is at the far
end of the castle.
>
Three days later,... ...landscaping has begun in earnest, and the dirt...
 ..inner courtyard is in place.
By July 11 the outer gate-
house block has been built.
 The castle walls have begun to rise, and
the poles that will support the inner...
 ...courtyard balcony have
set in place.
 Here is the inside of the
outer gatehouse range.
By July 17 the castle has
risen above the ground level.
 The second story is mostly residential, with
bedrooms for our Teutonic knights.
 The Hall block has very tall
windows to let in the sun.
 And late in the day
the balcony...
 ...is also in place,
with poles to support
its roof.
And on the 18th, the
second story...
 ...is more complete,
as roof supports.		 And the band of Teutonic
knights have arrived to
protect the castle.
And time flies: On August
8 the castle has risen
another story.
 The courtyard balconies are completely
roofed...		 ...and the covered parapets
are beginning to take shape.
 Soon the pride of the Teutonic Order
will be complete.  See below!!


 

Photos of the Lego Model
Built July - August, 2025
 I would have loved to model this castle as "red brick", but the
best red brick Lego color is "sand red", and it's only been sold
by Lego Group in five bricks and three plates, and is quite rare.
Here is the completed castle -
view from the front [east].		 From the southeast. From the south, the pair of square towers which
flank the entrance lack their modern tile roofs.		 From the southwest.
The west "Great Hall" view. From the northwest. From the north. And finally, the view from
the northeast.
Here's the outer gate, with
its low protective tower.		 And the outer courtyard
from the northwest...		 ...and the southwest. And a closer view of the
main entrance gate.
The inner courtyard from
the SSE...		 ...and the SSW. And from the NNE. And the northwest.

 

Build Your Own
As usual, plans are elevations are incomplete.
Unfortunately I cannot include the full Lego plan.
Too large for me to scan.
Top down plan of the Outer Gatehouse Range Elevation of the inner face of the Gatehouse Range.
Elevation of the front of the Inner Castle. Cross-section of the Inner Castle. Elevation of the back of
the Inner Castle.

Other Nidzica Castle pages:
https://zamek-nidzica.pl/en/castle-history//
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamek_w_Nidzicy
https://medievalheritage.eu/en/main-page/heritage/poland/nidzica-teutonic-castle/
https://zamkigotyckie.org.pl/archiwalne/szlak/nidzica-ang.htm

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Castles created by Robert Carney
Page designed by Robert Carney & Anne Sullivan
Page maintained by Robert Carney