Took today off . . . your lucky day. Had to post these three pictures though. Flash back to October and November. Toured Malbork Castle in October, took pictures from the train on our way to Toruń (similar to below) in November and passed Malbork again today. : )

UNESCO designated the “Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork” and the Malbork Castle Museum a World Heritage Site in December 1997. It is one of two World Heritage Sites in the region (north-central Poland), together with the “Medieval Town of Toruń “, which was founded in 1231

Malbork Castle is located in the north of Poland, on the east bank of the River Nogat. It is the most complete and elaborate example of a Gothic brick-built castle complex in the characteristic and unique style of the Teutonic Order. The style exemplified here evolved independently from those which prevailed in contemporary castles in western Europe and the Near East. This spectacular fortress bears witness to the phenomenon of the Teutonic Order state in Prussia. The state was founded in the 13th century by German communities of military monks who carried out crusades against the pagan Prussians and Lithuanians living on the south Baltic coast, as well as against the Christian Kingdom of Poland. It reached its greatest influence in the 14th century. The castle-convent embodies the drama of late medieval Christianity, straining between extremes of sanctity and violence. Following severe damage in the Second World War it was once again restored, using the detailed documentation prepared by earlier conservator.

Tomorrow we get ready to go Ireland. See you in Ireland.