A fortified Teutonic Knights castle sited upon River Nogat started about 1270 to be completed in 1404. In 1309 the castle became the seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights' Order which had its former residence in Venice. The High Castle, the oldest part of the building, was erected in the years 1275-1300; it has a regular quadrangle in plan. Reconstructed and reshaped in the 14th century, the castle became one of the greatest Gothic fortified complexes in Europe. In spite of the last war damages, the fortress preserved magnificent interior decorations including the Great Refectory with its sumptuous starlit vaulting. The castle museum gathered a collection of old weapons, china, faience, and a rare choice of amber ornaments.