Zamek Krzyżacki w Lipienku

Poland, Poland

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Zamek Krzyżacki w Lipienku is a ruined 14th-century Teutonic conventual castle near Toruń in northern Poland's Chełmno Land, first mentioned in 1277 when Prussians under Skomand besieged its initial wooden-earth stronghold.

Likely built in brick and stone between 1300-1330 as the main seat of the Chełmno Land commander, it transitioned after 1335-1337 to a vogt's residence following the commandery's relocation to Brodnica, featuring a compact regular upper castle (35 x 38.5/39.7 meters) with four wings around a courtyard, a northeastern bergfried tower guarding the gate, a vaulted dungeon, spiral stairs, outer murus, and a międzymurze (outer ward) with a 16th-century bathhouse.

Strategically placed on a high peninsula by a lake fed by streams atop an early medieval stronghold's ramparts, it endured sieges like the Polish-Teutonic Thirteen Years' War but fell into ruin post-1454 incorporation into Royal Prussia, with remnants including the main tower's base, walls, and gate passage visible today.