Zamek Biskupi w Lidzbarku Warmińskim – Muzeum Warmińskie

About the museum

The castle of the Warmian bishops in Lidzbark Warmiński was built in 1350–1401, after the bishops moved their seat from Orneta to Lidzbark. It was erected on a quadrangular plan measuring about 48.5 × 48.5 m, following the pattern of the Teutonic Order’s convent houses, and the courtyard was surrounded by a two-storey cloister. The castle is one of the most valuable and best-preserved monuments of Gothic defensive architecture in Poland, and in 2018 it was recognised as a historical monument (pomnik historii).

Over the centuries the castle was the residence of the Warmian bishops, among them Bishop Ignacy Krasicki. Three wings surround the outer bailey (przedzamcze), and their character changed over time; the eastern wing was founded by Bishop Grabowski. Today most of the castle rooms serve visitors and form the Muzeum Warmińskie (Warmian Museum), a branch of the Museum of Warmia and Masuria in Olsztyn.

Visitors can see the cellars of the former prison and brewery, the apartments of the bishops, the Sala Obrad (Council Chamber) and the Sala Sądowa (Court Chamber, the Great Refectory) with its star vault, and the chapel of St Catherine of Alexandria. The exhibitions include Gothic art from the museum’s collection, the cabinet of Ignacy Krasicki, an armoury, religious painting and a gallery of Polish painting from the first half of the 20th century. It is also possible to climb the castle tower and visit the gardens.

Highlights

• Gothic castle of the Warmian bishops, a historical monument
• Cloisters and the Great Refectory with a star vault
• Chapel of St Catherine of Alexandria
• Cabinet of Ignacy Krasicki and the bishops’ apartments
• Gothic art, armoury and Polish painting
• Castle tower, gardens and hire of historic costumes

Permanent exhibitions

• Zamek lidzbarski – apartamenty biskupów i Wielki Refektarz – Guided visits to the representative interiors of the former residence of the Warmian bishops: apartments, the Council Chamber, the Court Chamber, the chapel, cloisters and cellars.
• Sztuka gotycka w zbiorach Muzeum Warmii i Mazur – Exhibition of Gothic art, shown since the 1980s in the space of the Great Refectory.
• Galeria Malarstwa Polskiego 1. połowy XX wieku – Gallery of Polish painting in the attic of the north wing of the castle.

Operated by

Muzeum Warmii i Mazur w Olsztynie

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Tuesdays – free admission to the permanent exhibitions.

Museum lesson: tickets for participants plus a flat fee of PLN 50 per class or group (not less than PLN 150 in total); workshop: flat fee of PLN 60 (not less than PLN 150).

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

For families there are family tickets, museum lessons and workshops, and the hire of historic costumes, including children’s costumes (princesses and princes).

Getting there & parking

The castle is at Plac Zamkowy 1 in Lidzbark Warmiński.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The chapel (PLN 1,500 net) or the Great Refectory (PLN 2,500 net, for a church or civil wedding) can be hired for a wedding; rooms can also be hired for conferences, film productions and photo sessions (PLN 200 net).

Plan your visit