The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania presents the exhibition „The word goes forth from Malbork... Treasures of Malbork“, which, for the first time in Lithuania, provides a thorough history of the Teutonic Order and Malbork Castle. For the exhibition in Vilnius, the Malbork Castle Museum has loaned its most precious and valuable exhibits so that Lithuanian visitors can learn about the lives and daily routines of the soldiers of the Teutonic Order – the most dangerous enemy of the Middle Ages – as well as the fate of Malbork Castle after the Order’s collapse and the museum as it stands today. According to Polish museum curators, Malbork Castle is also an important part of the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; therefore, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania has received a collection of weapons, works of art, and household and liturgical items – everything that the soldiers of the Teutonic Order used in the castle in those days.
In the exhibition – more than just the battles of the Teutonic Knights
The exhibition’s title quotes a line from a poem by Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis. In the phrase "The word goes forth from Malbork…,” the national poet of Lithuania used Malbork as a symbol of the threat to Lithuania. The sense of unease that accompanied thoughts of the former capital of the Teutonic Order is combined in the title with the word “treasures,” which evokes the thrill of discovery and allows us to see this place in a new light. Today, Malbork Castle can be rediscovered by exploring the “treasures” of history it holds.
The exhibition traces the entire history of Malbork Castle – from the era of the Teutonic Knights, through the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Prussian period, to the present day, when this UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts countless visitors with its medieval mysteries. Visitors to the exhibition will see sculptures, paintings, architectural details, weapons, everyday household items, and religious artifacts.
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The most valuable exhibit
One of the most important "Treasures of Malbork" is the altar (upper part) from Tenkyta. It was created by order of dignitaries of the Teutonic Order in 1504. The central part of the late medieval work depicts the scene of the Holy Virgin Mary being crowned by God the Father and God the Son, and on the side wings – the figures of St. Barbara and St. James the Elder.
This cultural heritage object is valuable not only as a work of art, but also as a kind of monument to the perseverance and passion of the Malbork Castle museum workers. The cabinet altar was dismantled in parts after World War II and, like many cultural heritage objects, disappeared in the post-war turmoil. In the 1970s, traces of one of the altar sculptures were discovered - thus began the laborious search for other parts of the altar. After one part was recovered, others almost miraculously appeared. Only in 1997 did the Malbork Castle Museum manage to collect the entire Tenkytai Altar Altar Retable. Since then, this medieval masterpiece, which returned to Malbork, has not been taken outside the castle walls.
A shared history
In the 14th century, Poland and Lithuania were united by a common enemy – the Teutonic Order, whose aggressive territorial policy of “baptism”, and in fact – conquest, was carried out at the expense of neighboring states. At that time, Malbork (German: Marienburg), which was the capital of the Order, became a symbol of the fight against the Teutonic Knights, and the castle itself became an eternal monument left by them. Today, Malbork is the largest surviving medieval castle in Europe. It consists of a complex system of buildings and several levels of protective fortifications.
This imposing complex of the Teutonic Order lost its former power following the Battle of Grunwald (1410). In the second half of the 15th century, the castle became one of the residences of the rulers of Poland and Lithuania – for more than three centuries, Malbork, like Vilnius, was visited by the Jagiellonian and Vasa dynasties and subsequent rulers or their representatives. Since 1961, the castle has housed a museum, which is now visited by thousands of people.
The temporary exhibition „The word goes forth from Malbork... Treasures of Malbork“ is like an introduction to what you can experience when visiting the stone fortress on the Nogat River. The Malbork Castle Museum celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. The international exhibition will be open only until November 22.
Funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland under the programme “Inspiring Culture 2026–2027”.
