Castle Church of Blessed Virgin Mary

The castle chapel existed from the first phase of construction of the castle at the end of the 13th century. Due to the change of function and increasing the importance of the stronghold after the capital of the state was transferred to Malbork in 1309, the chapel occupying only half of the northern wing was enlarged – from the east a chancel with a polygonal closing. The date of completion of the construction of a more magnificent chapel – 1344 – has been inscribed with a consecration inscription inside.

The Rule of the Order of the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the German House in Jerusalem states in article 9: “Religious brothers and laymen should go together day and night to the office of God and for the hours, and the clergy should sing and read masses according to the breviary and the books that are written for the order; lay brothers, if present or wherever they are, should say for Matins 13 Our Father and for other canonical hours seven Our Fathers, in addition to Vespers, when they should say nine […] ”.

The most important element of the external decoration was a huge statue of Mary with Child (over 8 meters high), cast with segments from the so-called artificial stone in the eastern recess of the presbytery. The figure was made around 1340 and richly polychrome; several dozen years later it was additionally covered with a colorful mosaic by Venetian masters.

The best preserved example of architectural art is the Golden Gate, made at the end of the 13th century as the main entrance to the castle church. The gate of the temple – a symbol of entering Heaven and a promise of justice – was decorated with bas-relief figural and floral motifs, expressing the idea of ​​the Last Judgment with the parable of the Prudent and Foolish Virgins. The content was enriched by the apocalyptic theme expressed by numerous fantastic creatures woven into the rich floral decoration of the capitals and archivolts.

The castle chapel existed from the first phase of construction of the castle at the end of the 13th century. Due to the change of function and increasing the importance of the stronghold after the capital of the state was transferred to Malbork in 1309, the chapel occupying only half of the northern wing was enlarged – from the east a chancel with a polygonal closing. The date of completion of the construction of a more magnificent chapel – 1344 – has been inscribed with a consecration inscription inside.

The Rule of the Order of the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the German House in Jerusalem states in article 9: “Religious brothers and laymen should go together day and night to the office of God and for the hours, and the clergy should sing and read masses according to the breviary and the books that are written for the order; lay brothers, if present or wherever they are, should say for Matins 13 Our Father and for other canonical hours seven Our Fathers, in addition to Vespers, when they should say nine […] ”.

The most important element of the external decoration was a huge statue of Mary with Child (over 8 meters high), cast with segments from the so-called artificial stone in the eastern recess of the presbytery. The figure was made around 1340 and richly polychrome; several dozen years later it was additionally covered with a colorful mosaic by Venetian masters.

The best preserved example of architectural art is the Golden Gate, made at the end of the 13th century as the main entrance to the castle church. The gate of the temple – a symbol of entering Heaven and a promise of justice – was decorated with bas-relief figural and floral motifs, expressing the idea of ​​the Last Judgment with the parable of the Prudent and Foolish Virgins. The content was enriched by the apocalyptic theme expressed by numerous fantastic creatures woven into the rich floral decoration of the capitals and archivolts.