- Type
- Ruin
- Origins
- 1250 · 13th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Northwestern, Russia
- Coordinates
- 54.5525°, 19.9694°
History
In 1239 the Teutonic Knights captured the Prussian fort of Honeda on the Vistula Lagoon and founded the stronghold of Balga on its site, one of the oldest in Prussia. From the mid-13th century the timber castle was replaced in brick, and for two centuries it was the seat of commanders guarding Warmia and Natangia. After the Order was secularised in 1525 Balga passed to the dukes of Prussia, and Georg von Polentz, Bishop of Samland and one of the first bishops to embrace Lutheranism, lived here until his death in 1550. In the 17th and 18th centuries the castle was dismantled and its bricks carted away, among other things for the fortress at Pillau. In March 1945 the Balga peninsula saw the last fighting of encircled German forces.
What to see
The ruins stand on a bluff above the lagoon near the village of Vesyoloye. A stretch of the main castle's walls survives with remains of a tower and cellars, and the ruin of a Gothic church stands nearby. The shore looks across to the Vistula Spit, and paths lead through the former outer bailey and ramparts. The site is open without a ticket but has no visitor facilities.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q512373
Popularity: articles about this site in 18 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).