History

At the end of the 14th century, at a place of a wooden stronghold erected by the great hospitaller and komtur of Elbląg - Ortulf von Trier, a four-wing, brick castle on a plan of a square with a 39 m side and with a protruding tower in the south-western corner was built. The foundations of the building were made of field stone and the walls were made of brick. A narrow isthmus between two lakes: Domowe Duże and Domowe Małe, was chosen as a place for the erection of a stronghold. The stronghold was a seat for the prosecutor managing the southern border of the conquered areas and a defense of the border of the Teutonic state.

During the Thirteen Years’ War the castle was under the rule of Polish army for one year and a half. The stronghold reclaimed by the Teutonic Order, after secularisation of Prussia became the seat of a staroste. Due to the vicinity of the forest abundant in wild game, it also had a function of a hunting lodge. In the years 1579-1581 margrave Jerzy Fryderyk from Ansbach ordered to the constructors: Blausius Berwart and Hans Wismar a reconstruction of a Medieval structure into a modern seat. The castle was surrounded with external fortifications flanked by four round corner roundels. Castle grounds were also extended. After the Swedish wars a representational castle complex deteriorated, and at the end of the 17th century it was abandoned. In 1715 a consent was issued for a partial demolition of the castle, in the years 1729-1799 the southern wing, tower and fortified towers and walls of the castle grounds were demolished. After the abolition of starostry, in 1786 it was completely neglected. Eastern wing and upper storeys of the western and southern wings were demolished, a moat from the side of the city was filled and the road was routed through the courtyard. In 1924 first archaeological survey were carried out and owing to them the outline of the castle complex was exposed and partly reconstructed. In the years 1937-1938, within the area of castle grounds, a monumental town hall was erected, which is the function that it has until present times. Its three-wing structure is reminiscent of the tradition of a Medieval castle. In 1939 the walls of the castle ground floor were covered with roof and intended for the seat of the Regional Museum. After 1945 the destruction of the remains of the castle complex took place. Archeological research conducted in 1969 were supposed to support the later reconstruction of a stronghold. Finally, in the years 1990-1992 the idea to reconstruct the castle was abandoned, and the relics of the castle were protected and exposed in a form of a permanent ruin.