According to legend, in the 5th century, there was a fortress called Honede on this site by the bay, built by the Prussians for their king Widewuto. From the wooden fortress, located on an elevation, the bay was well visible. It was this strategic feature that attracted the knights who came in the 13th century to Christianize Prussia. Therefore, in 1239, after a fierce battle, it fell into the hands of the Teutonic Order knights.

The fortress, built according to all the rules of military science, was an excellent defensive structure, but the wooden buildings of the fortress burned down many times after raids by the local population. Therefore, in 1250, by order of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, the crusaders erected a huge Convent building on the fortress grounds, which became the initial core of the future stone fortress. Fieldstone and fired bricks were used in the construction.

In 1290, when all the work was completed, Balga became the first castle in these lands and the most powerful. In addition, it housed the residence of the Komtur (Komtur is a knight who governed a certain area of the Order's state). However, the site chosen for construction was not very fortunate, as the castle stood on a steep shore and had no access to water, which allowed it to be blockaded. Therefore, nearby on the shore, Brandenburg Castle was built.

Once it was a powerful fortification. The knights of the order were warrior-monks, so their castle is more like well-fortified barracks; in the center of the fortification is the central castle — the convent (the high castle), surrounded by the Vorburg — the outer bailey with high massive walls. Around the Vorburg is a moat. The beautiful tower facing the sea is the Gdansk sanitary tower, used both as a toilet and to watch enemies at sea. Now only a small fragment of the Vorburg remains of the former splendor.

In the 1390s, the castle was commanded by Konrad von Kyburg. In 1410, after the Order's defeat at the Battle of Grunwald, many castles of the German knights came under Polish control. The Komtur of Balga refused to submit and remained independent, becoming the Grand Komtur. During the next century, Balga continued to be an Order castle despite all attempts by neighbors to seize it. After the secularization of the Order in 1516, the castle was granted for life use to the Evangelical bishop. In 1520, in the era of firearms and cannons, the castle managed to repel another Polish siege. However, half a century later, after the bishop's death, the castle began to fall into ruin; part of the wall and the tower-dansker fell into the sea. In 1627, Balga was used by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus as a stronghold base.

In 1525, Duke Albrecht granted Balga to the Bishop of Samland, Georg von Polentz (German), who owned the fortress until 1550. After the bishop's death, many buildings began to deteriorate. During the Swedish war of 1620, King Gustavus Adolphus used Balga as his base. Later, a tavern was opened in one of the fortress rooms, and the tower served as a lighthouse.

In 1701, Frederick I ordered the stones of Balga to be used for the construction of the fortress in Pillau, after which the fortress was effectively turned into a quarry.

In 1927, to attract tourists, a local history museum was organized on the fortress grounds, and the walls of the Vorburg were painted with the names of the great masters of the Teutonic Order.

After 1945, the fortress fell into decline. Only the ruins of the Vorburg and the castle’s St. Nicholas Church have survived to this day. Despite this, the ruins of the ancient castle attract numerous tourists.

In 1945, the evacuation of civilians and cultural valuables took place from Balga. Therefore, many legends are associated with treasures buried on the territory, including the Amber Room.

Balga suffered greatly from military actions. And the legends of valuables hidden in the ground further contributed to the destruction of the ancient outpost. Many have searched here — black diggers who showed no respect for cultural layers and walls.

In the 1970s, the KGB searched here and also did not strive to preserve history. Even in the 2000s, the FSB dug here. They say something was taken away, but that is not certain…

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balga_Castle

https://balga-castle.ru/