Ketrzyn (Rastenburg)


In 1329, the Commandery Balga of the Teutonic Order built this castle on the banks of the Guber.. The name Rastenburg derives from the Prussian word ´rest´ = pole.. It was a border post in a chain of castles between Ragnit and Osterode..
In 1357 Rastenburg received by Henning Schindekopf, Commander of Balga, the city rights.. In 1945, the city was named Ketrzyn after Wojciech Ketrynski, a great Polish friend..

Attractions

Ordensburg , pl.. Zamkowy 1
In 1345 and 1357 the castle was conquered and burned down by the Lithuanians.. The Teutonic Order later built a defensive wall with 13 bastions..
1370, the castle becomes seat of the caretaker of the Commandery Balga..
Today, the town´s museum is at home there..

St. Georgskirche , Zamkowa 2
Next to the castle stands St. George´s Church.. It was built in 1407 and has a 48 m high defense tower.. It is the only gothic brick church in Masuria..
There is little to see in the church such as three walled grave slabs in the south nave and the high altar dating from 1609..

Wolfsschanze
It is located only 6 kilometers from the city.. Adolf Hitler had his headquarters in the bunkers in 1940-44.. German pioneers blew up the bunkers in January 1945. On July 20, 1944, the assassination attempt on Hitler, committed by Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, took place here during a briefing..



~~udre~, 2014-12-31