The Teutonic castle in Toruń (1233-1236) is the oldest structure of this kind in  Chełmno Land and the first brick fortress in Prussia. The castle, situated by the Vistula bank, had a unique horseshoe-plan, which was a result of using fortification elements of an early Slavic stronghold of Postolsko. With time, the castle took on a form of a wedge  between the Old Town and  the New Town (founded later, in 1264). The Toruń castle was a seat of the Komtur and one of the most important Teutonic convents.

The castle compound, built in several stages, consisted of three levels: the upper castle, the pre-wall and the outer court (ward). The castle used to be surrounded on three sides by an artificial stream called Bacha (Struga Toruńska) and on the south side it was flanked by the Vistula. The compound comprised buildings situated along the perimeter wall; there was the main building with living quarters and reception halls, a chapel and a storage area. The east wing of the castle, presumably a two-storey structure, contained  a chapter house (meeting hall). In the north part of the courtyard, which featured covered arcades, an octagonal free-standing tower was built (10 meters in diameter, the height is unknown); in the case of an enemy attack the tower served as the last defense point. Today only the ground level is left of the tower. Outside the curtain wall a toilet tower (Gdanisko) was built. The outer courtyard contained utility buildings.

After the Thirteen Years' War (1454-1466) the castle hill was overgrown with forest and the area of the main castle and the moat were used as a rubbish dump (now archeologist's paradise!) It was only for the celebrations of the millennium of the Polish state that the area was cleared and the ruins restored.