Prabuty: Architecture, History and Birdwatching

• The market square is one of the oldest parts of the town and dates back to the 14th century.
• The three-tier Roland Fountain is supported by five lions and came to Prabuty from Berlin in 1929.
• The Gothic Kwidzyn Gate is a surviving section of the town wall and is five storeys high.
• The Polish Church was built between 1378 and 1402 as a chapel in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

At the Roland Fountain, its design and the town’s history can be considered separately. The fountain combines elements of ancient, Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Five lions support the three-tier structure and gave it its present name. The year 1929 marks its arrival in Prabuty from Berlin, not the year it was built. Thus, the structure’s architectural design and its relocation to Prabuty represent different aspects of its history.

The market square also helps put the town’s history in context: it is one of the oldest parts of the town and dates back to the 14th century. This is a different point of reference from the fountain’s origins. Looking at both details lets you distinguish the old town centre from the fountain’s later arrival, rather than treating them as a single building history.

The Kwidzyn Gate (Brama Kwidzyńska) is a five-storey surviving section of the town wall. Its Gothic character and its dating to the first half of the 14th century offer two specific features to help place it in context. The St. Adalbert Co-Cathedral is also Gothic; it has a polygonal presbytery and an asymmetrical, 49-metre-high tower. “Polygonal” here describes the presbytery’s many-sided shape, while the stated height gives a clear measure of the tower.

The Polish Church (Kościół Polski) was built between 1378 and 1402 by Bishop Jan I Mnich as a chapel in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Bishop’s Castle, in turn, served as the seat of the bishops of Pomesania until Prussia was secularised in 1525. The dates therefore refer to different things: a construction period for the church and the end of a historical function for the castle. Together with the market square and the gate, they provide several specific points of reference for the town’s history.

The Polish Church houses a small memorial museum. Its collections include old machines, tools, furniture, coins, military items and documents, as well as sculptures by local artists and memorabilia from the plebiscite. The subjects range from everyday objects and documents to art and remembrance.

The Werner Zebrowski Exhibition Room is on the upper floors of the Kwidzyn Gate. Its paintings and graphic works depict Prabuty before the war. If you plan to visit the exhibitions, check visiting arrangements in advance.

Two observation scopes have been installed on the edge of the Jezioro Liwieniec ornithological protected area for adults, children and people with disabilities. Information boards with illustrations accompany them and show birds that can be observed there. The scopes and boards offer different ways to explore the local birdlife. If the scopes are important to your plans, check their current condition before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Licze, Rodowo, Ryjewo, Gardeja, Sadlinki, Grodziec, Rodowo Male and Otoczyn.

Why is it called the Roland Fountain?

Five lions support the fountain and gave it its present name.

What does the Werner Zebrowski Exhibition Room display?

Paintings and graphic works depict Prabuty before the war. The exhibition room is on the upper floors of the Kwidzyn Gate. Check visiting arrangements before planning a specific visit.

What was installed on the edge of the Jezioro Liwieniec protected area?

Two observation scopes were installed there for adults, children and people with disabilities. Information boards show illustrations of birds that can be observed there.

For the broader travel overview: Kwidzyn.