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Architecture of the Castle in Toruń

The division of construction into stages was dictated by practical reasons. The greatest importance was attached to defense, which is why the first perimeter wall was built, into which the remains of earlier buildings were incorporated.

The first brick perimeter walls probably come from the 50’s of the 13th century. At that time, the construction of the southern wing of the castle from the side of the Vistula River began. The chapel – the most important room of every conventual castle was built the earliest. Until the construction of the dormitory and refectory, monastic life probably concentrated in temporarily built wooden rooms – as was the case in many Teutonic castles during their construction. Probably after the southern wing was raised, but before the construction of the eastern wing began, an octagonal tower was built in the courtyard.

This order was also determined by defense considerations. Then it was the turn of the eastern wing with the chapter house, which was the most representative secular hall of the castle with special comforts in the form of heating. At that time, a dansker was built, meeting the high standards of the commander’s castle, located near the chapter house. Then a chamber and another chamber were created, considered to be the commander’s private rooms, and then the cloisters on the first floor based on the ground floor arcades, which improved communication in the castle on the first floor and served as a decorative element.

12Chapel
Refectory and dormitory14