Pieniężno

Poland, Poland

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Pieniężno is a small town in northern Poland's Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Braniewo County, nestled in the Wałsza River valley amid the Górowskie Hills (Wyżyna Stablaku) with steep banks and surrounding forests ideal for early settlement.

Dating to pagan Prus times with a prehistoric cemetery, it was founded by Teutonic Knights in 1302 near Malcekuke as Mehlsack with a brick Ordensburg castle, granted privileges in 1326 on a square grid plan with market square, walls, and gates, later administered by Warmia Chapter where Mikołaj Kopernik stayed in 1518-1519 to manage properties.

Shifting between Teutonic, Polish (post-1466), Prussian, and Swedish control with major destructions in 1414, 1626-1627, and 1945 (80-90% ruined), it lost town status until 1973, preserving castle ruins, Gothic church elements, and rebuilt landmarks amid its resilient history.