Dybów Castle

Dybów Castle, located on the left bank of the Vistula River near Toruń, was built between 1424 and 1428 on the initiative of King Władysław Jagiełło. In its immediate vicinity, the settlement of Nieszawa was established, competing with Toruń, which was destroyed by Toruń's forces and the Teutonic Knights in 1431. The castle was quickly rebuilt by the Teutonic Knights and, after returning to Poland in 1454, became the seat of royal starosts. In 1456, King Casimir Jagiellon issued the Statutes of Nieszawa here, and the castle played an important administrative and economic role, including that of a customs chamber. Despite its commercial functions, Nieszawa was soon relocated to limit competition with Toruń. The castle hosted Polish monarchs, but its fate was tragic—during the Swedish-Polish wars, it was destroyed twice, and its last major reconstruction took place in the 18th century when it was owned by the Dębski family. In the 19th century, the castle was used as a distillery, and in 1813, it survived a siege by the Russians before ultimately capitulating along with Toruń. The charm of the castle can be seen in its remaining fragments, such as the impressive perimeter walls, gate tower, and fortifications. The castle's architecture included a rectangular castle house with three floors and cellars, surrounded by defensive walls with round turrets. The building also had a corridor leading to a no-longer-existing latrine tower. In the 18th century, the castle also had a third large tower, traces of which have not survived. Research and conservation work at the castle dates back to the 1930s, and detailed archaeological investigations began in 1998. Dybów Castle, in its current state as a ruin, is an important element of the region's historical heritage, bearing witness to many key events in Polish history. Interestingly, part of the castle ruins was used to defend Toruń during the Swedish siege, demonstrating how deeply it is embedded in the region's military history.