Grunwald

Travel Guide

The Teutonic Knights were defeated at the Battle of Grunwald, on July 15th, 1410. Founded in the Holy Land in 1190, the Hospitallers of Saint Mary of the Teutons in Jerusalem, or Order of Teutonic Knights, soon moved to Eastern Europe. With the support of the Holy Roman emperors and the papacy, in the 1230s they set out to conquer Prussia east of the River Vistula and to convert its pagan population to Christianity. The Knights cut Poland off from the Baltic and by 1346 they ruled the Baltic coast from the Vistula to Estonia and the Gulf of Finland, which naturally aroused intense opposition from the Poles and Lithuanians. The Poles were already Roman Catholic and in 1386 the Queen of Poland married the Grand Duke of Lithuania, who as part of the deal also became ruler of Poland and accepted Roman Catholicism for his people, removing the Knights’ main justification for their crusading activities. In July 1410 a Polish-Lithuanian army invaded Prussia and marched towards the Order’s stronghold at Marienburg (now Malbork in Poland). The move took the Knights by surprise and the opposing armies collided near dawn in the fields near the villages of Tannenberg and Grunwald. The Knights were commanded by their Grand Master, Ulrich von Jungingen, the Poles and Lithuanians by their king and their grand duke. Contemporary accounts of what happened are extremely sketchy, though some chroniclers stressed that the Knights were heavily outnumbered. The Polish-Lithuanian army lined up with the Polish heavy cavalry on the left and the Lithuanian light cavalry on the right. Apparently they were joined by Tatar skirmishers commanded by a former Khan of the Golden Horde and Bohemian warriors under the Hussite leader Jan Zizka. After hours of fierce fighting von Jungingen led a force of Knights he had kept in reserve in a charge against the Poles in the hope of killing the Polish king, but he was killed himself, the charge failed and the Order’s army broke. Some Knights fled to nearby woods and marshes, others retreated to the village of Grunwald, where they organised a defence of wagons tied with chains (in anticipation of the Wild West centuries later). The defence was broken and it was said that the village people had joined in the killing and more bodies were found there than anywhere else on the battlefield. The Knights held their stronghold of Marienburg itself, but many Prussian castles surrendered to the Poles and Lithuanians. To make peace in 1411 the Order had to pay a substantial indemnity. The Polish- Lithuanian victory marked the beginning of the Teutonic Knights’ decline as a military power and the battle has been ranked ever since as one of the most important in all Polish history.
The Teutonic Knights were defeated at the Battle of Grunwald, on July 15th, 1410. Founded in the Holy Land in 1190, the Hospitallers of Saint Mary of the Teutons in Jerusalem, or Order of Teutonic Knights, soon moved to Eastern Europe. With the support of the Holy Roman emperors and the papacy, in the 1230s they set out to conquer Prussia east of the River Vistula and to convert its pagan population to Christianity. The Knights cut Poland off from the Baltic and by 1346 they ruled the Baltic coast from the Vistula to Estonia and the Gulf of Finland, which naturally aroused intense opposition from the Poles and Lithuanians. The Poles were already Roman Catholic and in 1386 the Queen of Poland married the Grand Duke of Lithuania, who as part of the deal also became ruler of Poland and accepted Roman Catholicism for his people, removing the Knights’ main justification for their crusading activities. In July 1410 a Polish-Lithuanian army invaded Prussia and marched towards the Order’s stronghold at Marienburg (now Malbork in Poland). The move took the Knights by surprise and the opposing armies collided near dawn in the fields near the villages of Tannenberg and Grunwald. The Knights were commanded by their Grand Master, Ulrich von Jungingen, the Poles and Lithuanians by their king and their grand duke. Contemporary accounts of what happened are extremely sketchy, though some chroniclers stressed that the Knights were heavily outnumbered. The Polish-Lithuanian army lined up with the Polish heavy cavalry on the left and the Lithuanian light cavalry on the right. Apparently they were joined by Tatar skirmishers commanded by a former Khan of the Golden Horde and Bohemian warriors under the Hussite leader Jan Zizka. After hours of fierce fighting von Jungingen led a force of Knights he had kept in reserve in a charge against the Poles in the hope of killing the Polish king, but he was killed himself, the charge failed and the Order’s army broke. Some Knights fled to nearby woods and marshes, others retreated to the village of Grunwald, where they organised a defence of wagons tied with chains (in anticipation of the Wild West centuries later). The defence was broken and it was said that the village people had joined in the killing and more bodies were found there than anywhere else on the battlefield. The Knights held their stronghold of Marienburg itself, but many Prussian castles surrendered to the Poles and Lithuanians. To make peace in 1411 the Order had to pay a substantial indemnity. The Polish- Lithuanian victory marked the beginning of the Teutonic Knights’ decline as a military power and the battle has been ranked ever since as one of the most important in all Polish history.
Przystań Hotel & Restaurants

Przystań Hotel & Restaurants

4 out of 5
Zeglarska 4 Olsztyn warminsko-mazurskie
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Olsztyn. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Castle Park and Museum of Warmia and Mazury ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (156 reviews)
Great

Reviewed on Sep 26, 2025

Get rates
Przystań Hotel & Restaurants
Best Western Plus Hotel Olsztyn Old Town

Best Western Plus Hotel Olsztyn Old Town

3 out of 5
Aleja Warszawska 39 Olsztyn
The price is P5,127 per night from Feb 22 to Feb 23
P5,127
P5,537 total
Feb 22 - Feb 23
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Olsztyn. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Museum of Warmia and Mazury and House of the Olsztyn ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (65 reviews)
Very Nice hotel a few minutes walk from the old town.

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2025

Best Western Plus Hotel Olsztyn Old Town
Radisson Blu Resort & Conference Center, Ostroda Mazury

Radisson Blu Resort & Conference Center, Ostroda Mazury

5 out of 5
Turystyczna 15 Ostróda Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Ostróda. Enjoy 3 indoor pools, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Popular attractions Stadium Ostroda and Ostroda Pier ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (7 reviews)
Wonderful! Their spa/water facility , esp hot tub to rest my tired body & was such a blessing that evening after walking for 5 hrs at the Malbork Castle on the same day. The room was big, airy beautiful with the view of front entrance. The hotel also provided us with bathrobes & slippers. The towels ...

Reviewed on May 10, 2024

Get rates
Radisson Blu Resort & Conference Center, Ostroda Mazury
See all 113 properties in Grunwald
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Apartamenty Olimpijska by Elite4Rent

Apartamenty Olimpijska by Elite4Rent

3.5 out of 5
Olimpijska Olsztyn Województwo warminsko-mazurskie
Stay at this apartment in Olsztyn. Enjoy free WiFi, daily housekeeping, and furnished balconies. Popular attractions Ukiel and Castle Park are located ...
Apartamenty Olimpijska by Elite4Rent
Apartamenty Sun & Snow Nad Zatoką

Apartamenty Sun & Snow Nad Zatoką

3 out of 5
2 Kapitanska Olsztyn Województwo warminsko-mazurskie
Stay at this apartment in Olsztyn. Enjoy free WiFi. Popular attractions Castle Park and Museum of Warmia and Mazury are located nearby.
Apartamenty Sun & Snow Nad Zatoką
Apartamenty Sun & Snow Omega Lake

Apartamenty Sun & Snow Omega Lake

3 out of 5
Kapitańska 1a Olsztyn Województwo warmińsko-mazurskie
Stay at this apartment in Olsztyn. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Castle Park and Museum of Warmia and Mazury are located ...
Apartamenty Sun & Snow Omega Lake
See all properties in Grunwald
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.