Sunset over impresive ruins of a castle in northern Poland.

Derlisz · Dec 10, 2019

The castle was built by the Teutonic Order as a summer residence of one of the four bishops of Prussia, the Bishop of Pomesania. A Latin inscription above the main gate (Hec Porta Constructa Est Anno Domini MCCCLXXXVI Tempore Fratris Henrici De Skarlin Prepoziti) dates back to 1386 and mentions brother Henry of Skarlin as constructor. Sometimes he is described as the founder of the castle. The castle became property of the last Catholic and first Lutheran Bishop of Pomesania, Georg von Polentz, after the secularization of the Order. In 1699 it was bought by Ernst Graf Finck von Finckenstein and remained property of the Finckenstein family until 1945.

In April 1945, about three month after the conquest by the Soviet Union, and again in 1947 the castle was set on fire and completely destroyed. The ruins were used for the 1996 movie The Ogre by Volker Schlöndorff with John Malkovich in the title role.

Music by Scott Buckley.

PointJoe · Dec 11, 2019

Interesting subject matter. By "completely destroyed" you mean it was damaged beyond its usefulness as a residence? The ruins reveal an intriguing way of life. Nice flying and photography.

Derlisz · Dec 11, 2019

PointJoe said:
Interesting subject matter. By "completely destroyed" you mean it was damaged beyond its usefulness as a residence? The ruins reveal an intriguing way of life. Nice flying and photography.

I admit this is a quotation but my understanding would be that something that renders a habitable castle into castle ruins could be called a destruction. I didn't really consider it before tbh. Thanks a lot for watching and you kind comment.