Barciany Castle (), is a 14th-century Teutonic Castle in
Barciany
Barciany () is a village in Kętrzyn County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland, close to the border with the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Barciany. It lies approxi ...
village in
Kętrzyn County
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Kętrzyn County () is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, northern Poland, on the border with Russia. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local ...
Barciany Castle was first mentioned in 1325 as a wooden structure. In the late 14th century the
Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
The grand master of the Teutonic Order (; ) is the supreme head of the Teutonic Order. It is equivalent to the Grand master (order), grand master of other Military order (religious society), military orders and the superior general in non-milit ...
Winrich von Kniprode
Winrich von Kniprode was the 22nd Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. He was the longest serving Grand Master, holding the position for 31 years (1351–1382). His winning personality and his sense of tact and tone won the Order many friends wit ...
decided to place the seat of a
Komtur
Commander (; ; ; ; ), or Knight Commander, is a title of honor prevalent in chivalric orders and fraternal orders.
The title of Commander occurred in the medieval military orders, such as the Knights Hospitaller, for a member senior to a Knight. ...
. The construction of a brick castle started in 1377, ending around 1400, with later additions in the 15th century.
The castle remained under the rule of the Order until the moment of its secularization, when it became the seat of the steward of a local estate. The castle was a private property from the 19th century until 1945. After
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
it was turned into the offices and storerooms of a local PGR (State Agricultural Farm).