Residents/Population:	36 709
Area:	17 km2
Expenditure per capita:	5 502,37 zł
Website:	www.malbork.pl
Rulers/Leaders:
Marek CharzewskiMayor of the City	Jacek MarkowskiChair of the City Council

The strategic importance of the city of Malbork, situated on the Nogat River, has for centuries been determined by the seat of the Teutonic Order and its favorable location at the intersection of railway, road, and water routes. The rich history of Malbork and the unique atmosphere of this city attract nearly half a million tourists every year. This is primarily due to the world's largest Gothic Teutonic Castle.

However, Malbork is not only a tourist destination. Although surrounded by medieval defensive walls, it does not close itself off to new investors, and it continuously raises the quality of life for its residents.

Malbork is a city with a unique history. It was once a settlement of the Prussian tribe of Pomesanians, who were conquered by Pomeranian dukes. At the beginning of the 13th century, these dukes gifted the lands to the Teutonic Order, which began erecting a monumental, heavily fortified castle on this site. To this day, it remains the largest brick building in Europe and the largest Gothic fortress in the world, earning it the title of one of the greatest tourist attractions on a global scale (a so-called "class 0" monument). In 1997, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an excellent example of medieval defensive and residential architecture.

Many cultural events are associated with the Malbork castle, two of which are particularly popular: The Siege of Malbork and Magic Malbork. The former combines elements of theater and historical reenactment, during which one can watch demonstrations of medieval craftsmanship, cuisine, and music, as well as pyrotechnic shows. Magic Malbork, on the other hand, is a spectacle combining music, dance, imagery, and light. All these elements create a spectacular performance that attracts tourists from all over Poland to Malbork. The former Teutonic Castle is not the city's only historical asset. Visitors can also find the remains of medieval defensive walls, a historic Old Town Hall, and beautiful churches here. A unique tourist attraction is also the Żuławy Ceramic Village, where visitors can try their hand at operating a potter's wheel and learn about the methods of creating ceramic tiles and clay objects. An unforgettable experience is also provided by gondola rides along the defensive walls of the city and the castle, as well as cruises on the Nogat River that begin in Malbork.

The city's attractiveness is also enhanced by its location. Its convenient transport accessibility along national road No. 7 (Gdańsk - Warsaw) and its proximity to the A1 motorway (the Swarożyn interchange) create favorable conditions for the development of many enterprises. Thanks to its location on a major railway line, residents can reach the center of the metropolis in less than an hour, Olsztyn in two hours, and Warsaw in three. By train, one can also travel directly to Szczecin and Kraków. Railway connections are also beneficial for local exporters. The border crossing in Gronowo, located about 110 km away, and the direct railway connection with Kaliningrad foster trade exchange with entrepreneurs from the Kaliningrad Oblast. Great opportunities are also provided by the river port on the Nogat - the starting point for inland navigation to Gdańsk and eastern Poland.

Malbork attracts an increasing number of investors. The city still possesses attractive areas designated for business development. Local government authorities additionally encourage entrepreneurs to invest their capital here by introducing tax reliefs and exemptions. This is made possible by the city's growing budget, whose revenues are increasing mainly due to the ongoing privatization of municipal entities and the sale of municipal property (including land for investments). As a result, the city constantly invests in municipal infrastructure and has the ability to allocate matching funds that allow it to undertake projects co-financed by the European Union.

New production facilities are being established in the city that fit the profile of innovative enterprises, while others are modernizing their operations in terms of innovation. The city's economic structure is dominated by the food industry. Among others, the Malbork Sugar Factory and the Malborżanka Confectionery Production Plant are located here. The clothing industry is represented in the city by the companies Cotte and Koga. Farmers and gardeners are familiar with the gardening equipment and tools produced in Malbork by the Leokadia company. Also worth mentioning is the Malbork Machine Tool Factory Pemal S.A., which produces woodworking machinery.

The ORGANIKA S.A. Chemical Plant, well-known in the furniture industry, also has its headquarters in Malbork, exporting its products to Central and Eastern European countries and the Balkans. ORGANIKA deals with the production and processing of polyurethane foams used in upholstered furniture and mattresses. The company also provides consulting on the selection of appropriate foam materials and structural solutions. It supports its customers by supplying complex cut-outs and molded parts for production. The grain processing company Elewarr is also ranked among the largest industrial plants.

Alongside large enterprises, there is no shortage of medium-sized companies and family businesses in Malbork. The Entrepreneurship Support Association helps residents and novice entrepreneurs in Malbork who want to implement their own business projects. It is a non-governmental, business-related organization that runs, among other things, a Business Incubator, a Loan Fund, and an Advisory Point for SMEs. The activities of this institution are primarily aimed at individuals who wish to escape unemployment and start their first business.

Malbork residents also have at their disposal a rich network of secondary schools and courses organized by the District Labor Office. Additional training allows for the education of staff in all specialties needed in the labor market.

Among young residents of Malbork, the group of university graduates is growing. Malbork is home to a branch of the University of Economy in Bydgoszcz - the Faculty of Management and Engineering in Malbork. Primarily engineers and production specialists are trained there, but the Faculty also houses a teaching team for tourism and recreation, as well as a highly popular Foreign Language Center.