Muzeum Pogranicza w Działdowie

About the museum

The Museum of the Borderland (Muzeum Pogranicza) is housed in the Gothic wing of the Teutonic Order Castle in Działdowo, at ul. Zamkowa 12. The Teutonic Order erected the first fortification here in 1306, and in the 14th century, in parallel with the founding of the town in 1344, began to build a brick castle on the hill above the valley of the Nida. In 1383 the castle was raised to the rank of a bailiwick (wójtostwo). The stronghold changed hands many times during the Polish–Teutonic wars, and in 1410 it was captured by the troops of Władysław Jagiełło; in the following centuries it was the seat of the starosta (district administrator) and a ducal residence.

The permanent exhibition “Działdowo – miasto i ludzie dawnego pogranicza” (“Działdowo – the town and people of the former borderland”) occupies three storeys of the castle, with a total area of nearly 500 m². The chronological display runs from antiquity to the mid-20th century, and a considerable part of it consists of original museum objects and archival materials; where objects are not available, copies and facsimiles of documents are shown. The descriptions are in Polish and English, and visitors also have access to the cloisters and to two representative castle rooms: the chapel and the refectory.

In other parts of the exhibition you can see, among other things, a film on the beginnings of Działdowo, a model of the castle’s Gothic wing, a collection of Teutonic and later coins, a replica of a bombard and of the armour of Polish and Teutonic knights, a reconstruction of a trench from the battle of Tannenberg, and 20th-century exhibits, including artefacts linked to the German Nazi Soldau camp. Działdowo was the only Masurian town joined to the reborn Poland after the First World War without a plebiscite, which the museum presents in detail.

Highlights

• Gothic wing of the Teutonic Order castle from the 14th century
• Permanent exhibition on the history of the borderland town across three floors
• Chapel, refectory and cloisters open to visitors
• Collection of Teutonic coins and a model of medieval Działdowo
• Reconstruction of a trench from the battle of Tannenberg
• Exhibition descriptions in Polish and English

Permanent exhibition

• Działdowo – miasto i ludzie dawnego pogranicza – Chronological exhibition on the history of Działdowo from antiquity to the mid-20th century, across three floors of the castle, with descriptions in Polish and English.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: not available
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A lift for people with disabilities leads from ul. Zamkowa to the castle courtyard, and the main entrance is adapted. The lift gives access to all floors, including for wheelchair users; toilets for people with disabilities are on the ground floor, the first floor and the third floor. Parking spaces: one in the courtyard at the entrance and two in the car park at the corner of ul. Zamkowa and ul. Męczenników. Visitors may enter with an assistance dog or a guide dog. There are no induction loops, Braille signs or sign-language interpreter.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum runs museum lessons for primary and secondary schools; persons under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

The museum lies by the voivodeship roads DW542, DW544 and DW545.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum runs a shop selling publications.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit