Originally existed on the isthmus between the lakes and the Little Big wooden watchtower built by the Teutonic Knights, surrounded by ramparts and a moat. Once burned by the Lithuanians in the fourteenth century in its place the Order proceeded to climb the stone castle. While the castle itself was not too large it had substantial ward where there was a majority of buildings. Przedzamcze also in case of war was to be a refuge for the inhabitants of the settlement.

The assumption was a plan similar to a square of approximately 40 meters in one of the corners of the quadrilateral tower was erected. A whole with the forecastle was surrounded by a defensive wall and a deep moat.

The castle belonged to komturship Elblag and was the seat of prosecutors. During the war, Polish with the Order was occupied by Polish troops and briefly became the king of the Duke of Mazovia passed. In the war that came slightly damaged. Under the Peace of Thorn concluded in 1466 became a part of Prussia and 1525 years subject to komturom pasłęckim. After the secularization of Prussia became the seat of the governor, and then, at the request of Prince George Frederick, served as a hunting castle. For the purposes of adaptation in the years 1579-1581 the castle was reconstructed by changing its character in a representative.

Since the mid-seventeenth century, the castle started to decline and was abandoned. Ruin deepened the municipal authorities, who decided to sell the people of Szczytno bricks from the walls of the castle for the construction of housing. Then demolished the tower and one wing of the castle - from the ward - and the walls. Probably the upper floors then demolished the remaining wings.

In 1928, in connection with the transfer of the abandoned ruins on a regional museum renovated retained three wings. During the archaeological work in 1969 discovered the foundations of the south-eastern wing of the movement on the inner courtyard from the ward. Three existing wings and a high square tower called the Tower Juranda after the war, the lack of user fell into disrepair. Currently, the reconstructed buildings are located branch offices and the Museum of Warmia and Mazury, which found a place folk art and the history of the castle and the region. The castle runs the Brotherhood of the Sword and Crossbow.