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 The Gothic castle dates back to the second half of the 14th
century, rebuilt on many occasion(XVI c.,XVII c.XVIII, XXc.)In 1945 the
castle was burnt and was rebuilt in 1962-67.There is a museum(The Wojciech
Kętrzyński Museum) and library. Castle The construction of the Order's
castle in the south-east corner of the city was began after 1357. It is a
three wing structure built on a square plan around a small courtyard.In the
northern wing was the refectory, the Teutonic Order official's
residential room and chapel.The castle was surrounded by walls with three
towers in the corners and a gate from the side of the city. In the castle and
adjacent to it grange was a kitchen, brewery, mill, bakary,granary,
pantry, armoury,powder-magazine, chapel and prison.During the thirteen-year
war in 1454, townsmen captured the castle. They imprisoned Wolfgang Sauer'a-
the then Teutonic's official and sentenced him to death . After 1525
the castle was ducal foremen's seat. The castle was rebuilt many times. On
the courtyard was added round tower with staircase. The upper storey of the
northern wing was pulled down.New window openings were made and some parts of
walls were changed.
The castle was burnt in 1945 by Soviet armies,
and in 1962-67 it was rebuilt.The exterior appearance was reconstructed
according to 19-th century Steibrecht's drawings - the reconstructed Gothic
building.There is a museum and library.In the museum there are temporary and
permanent exhibitions. There can be found an unusual and interesting
collection of Gothic sculpture, the relics of artistic craft and furniture
from XVII-XIX century.The collection features an epitaph and funeral
flag. The unique example throughout Europe is a children's funeral flag
three-year-old Botho zu Eulenburg from 1667.In the museum's library and
archive is a rich book collection about regional subject matter and
collection of documents from former municipal archive.
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  St.George's Church from 14th century , it is an example of
defensive sacral architecture with very interesting interior:crystal vault
from 16th century,the pulpit dating from 1594, New-Gothic altar and the
presbytery is slightly off line relative to the main nave. The unique monument situated in south - western
corner of city is the gothic church surrounded by fragments of defense walls
and towers. It was built during the second half of the 14th century by the
Teutonic orders and extended during the 15th century. It is an example of
defensive sacral architecture.Three nave brick temple with quadrilateral
towers looks similar to a castle.The western tower is over 40 meters high, it
was formerly an observation tower, and 32.5 meters high belfry match
perfectly to the church. In the belfry tower there are bells of different
weight. In the interior it is possible to notice that the presbytery is
slightly off line relative to the main nave, this is a rarity in Poland and
Europe. From the centre of main nave it is possible to observe two of the
three windows of the presbytery. The attraction of church is the crystal
vault made in 1515 by master Matz from Gdańsk. A valuable relic in the style
of Netherlandinc mannerism is the pulpit dating from 1594.An interesting fact
are the cells from 15 th century, joining with defensive function of church,
situated in basement of western tower.
There is an organ from 1721 with three
hand keyboards, 41 voices and bells. In the northern nave there is
formerly New - Gothic main altar with centrally situated painting of
"Crucifixion". Near basilica there is lapidarium in which there are
valuable and interesting relics from ancestral and war cemeteries from
Kętrzyn district.
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The masonic Lodge The
freemasonic lodge under the name "Three gates of temple" was founded
on 9th October 1818 in Kętrzyn.It was subordinated to the Great National
Lodge of Prussian state.The building was laid near to St George's
church and belonged to official Simona Kűssnera and was the first
meeting places for her members. The freemasonic lodge under the name
"Three gates of temple" was founded on 9th October 1818 in
Kętrzyn.It was subordinated to the Great National Lodge of Prussian
state.The building was laid near to St George's church and
belonged to official Simona Kűssnera and was the first meeting places for
her members. After 23 years the seat of lodge was transferred to a building
near present Sikorskiego street. Anton Brillowski was another master of
lodge and he began raising funds for building a new seat of the lodge.In 1860
building began according to a district architect's project and was finished
in 1864.The storeyed small rectangular building is decorated with four
octagonal turrets in corners. Neo - Gothic architectural decor building
elevation and it's lump are inspired from the late English Gothic
style. On the ground floor there was a vestibule and five rooms, and
upstairs there were representative rooms with a banquet hall.
For the sake of building the lodge in place of former municipial moat, redecoration
began after three years from completion of building. Redecoration was
carried out in the following years. A veranda and staircase was added. At
the beginning 20 th century gas-fittings and water - supply system were
installed . In the 70's the flat break in the northern elevation was
pulled down. During the first world war, the activity of
the masonic lodge ceased but resumed in 1918 at which time the
building was redecorated. In 1925 that building was bought by Max
Rudzio.After the Nazis' access to power in the Masonic lodge in
Kętrzyn was dissolved, the property was reclaimed by the town. After the
second world war till the 60's the Community Centre was in building of
lodge with hall projection and cinema. The following years the bulding was
subject to damage. After reconstruction in the 70's the building was used
as the Towns Culture Club.In 1999 the building was restored
thoroughly.There is a seat of the Arno Holz association for the
Polish-German co-operation.
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The Town Hall At
Piłsudskiego square stands the eclectic town hall built in 1885-86 at the initiative
of the then - Mayor Wiewiórowski.It is a three - level red - brick building.
The solemn opening of the new town hall was on 30 th December 1886. In
the town hall except two halls for council and committee meetings there were
offices, box offices, police station and the mayor and doorkeeper's flat. In
1899 as result of fire, part of the town hall was destroyed. In
1920 the loft of building was converted. Untill 1997 it housed the
municipal administration offices. It currently houses: register office,
Ketrzyn Promotion and Tourist Information Centre, Kętrzyn Information Centre.
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St. John's Church -
evangelical church built in 1480 with baroque equipment.
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St.Catherine's church was built in 1895-97 in Neo-Gothic style.The
consecration of church was made by bishop Andrzej Thiel in company of
Warmian chapter on the 5thMay 1897. This church is with ample equipment
dating back to the turn of the country: Neo-Gothic main and side altars and
pulpit.In 1945 St.Catherine's church was damaged and in 1956 was
redecorated.
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