Poland has many castles open to tourists. Alas, not everyone has ghosts. But in some of them you can stay overnight, take part in a knightly tournament and taste old dishes. "Vestnik ATOR" has collected for you 10 historical gems of Poland of the XIII-XIX centuries.
GOTHIC CASTLE MALBORK
Where: 80 km from the Kaliningrad region, 50 km from Gdansk, 300 km from Warsaw
Fact: The largest Gothic castle in the world. Area - 21 hectares
Time of construction: XIII century
The Gothic Malbork Castle is considered one of the largest brick structures in the world and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Built by the German monastic order in the early 13th century, the castle became a haven for the knights of the Teutonic Order. And in 1309 the Grand Master of the Order moved from Venice to Malbork Castle. According to the estimates of the architects, about 4.5 million bricks could have been spent on the construction of the castle, and at the same time the castle could accommodate up to 3000 people. An interesting fact is that the castle is a favorite wintering place for all bats in Pomerania.
A historical museum with an impressive collection of ancient weapons, knightly armor, as well as a collection of amber items is open for tourists in the castle. A total of 23 expositions from the field of culture, arts and crafts are presented in the museums of the castle. At the end of July, the famous theatrical performances "The Siege of Malbork" are held in the castle grounds. At midnight, lovers of mysticism are invited to go down with a guide to the dungeon to listen to stories about the ghosts that live in the castle.
And after the cultural program, guests are invited to the Gothic Restaurant & Cafe, reminiscent of medieval taverns with long oak tables and benches, earthenware and sausages hanging over the tables. The chef prepares dishes of national cuisine recreated according to old recipes; for example, game dumplings with cracklings, fried onions and herbs, or beef cheeks with vegetables and mashed potatoes.
How much it costs: The price of an adult ticket to visit all expositions in the summer season is 39.5 zlotys (600 rubles). The price includes an audio guide in Russian. The most profitable is to buy family tickets (from 98.5 PLN for three). Children under 7 years old can visit the castle for free.
Visiting hours: Daily from 9:00 to 20:00. Day trips are available throughout the day. Night tours run from 20:45 to 22:15. On Monday you can enter the castle grounds free of charge.
Official website:
NEDZICA CASTLE
Where: right bank of the Dunajec River, 113 km from Krakow
Fact: At the entrance to the castle, there is a sign "Caution, ghost!" There is a hotel in the castle.
Time of construction: early XIV century
Niedzica Castle was originally erected in 1320 by Hungarian magnates as a border fortress. In 1470 the castle passed into the ownership of the aristocratic Zapoliai family, and from 1858 to 1943 the castle was owned by the Salomon family. According to legend, the treasures of the Incas are still hidden within the walls of the castle, and at night the spirit of Princess Umina, who was killed by Spanish mercenaries, wanders here.
In 1946, the castle came under the control of the Polish Ministry of Culture, and during the restoration, under the stairs, a cache with a tin cylinder was actually found, which contained a kipu message - a knotted letter of the ancient Incas. They could not decipher it, and soon the letter mysteriously disappeared altogether.
Today, the Niedzica Castle houses a museum that stores an extensive collection of old prints and engravings with views of the castle at different times, as well as historical maps of Hungary from the 16th-20th centuries. In the dungeons of the castle, a prison and secret passages have been preserved, which, under cover of night, were used for sudden raids on enemy troops.
And if you want to spend the night here, the castle hotel is always ready to receive tourists for very modest money - from 200 zlotys for a double room. As entertainment, guests are offered to take part in a medieval fancy-dress knight's feast with the obligatory hand-eating of old Polish dishes and unrestrained medieval dances.
How much: Adult ticket - PLN 14. Discount ticket for children, students and pensioners - PLN 12. Children under 7 years old can enter the castle for free.
Visiting times: Access to the castle is open daily from 9 am to 6:30 pm.
Official website:
AMOK RYN
Where: Ryn, Masurian Lakes, 240 km from Warsaw
Fact: A hotel has been opened in the castle since 2006
Time of construction: XIV century.
The Gothic castle-hotel Ryn is located in the town of the same name Ryn and rises on a picturesque hill between the Ryn and Olov lakes. Built by the crusaders in the XIV century, the castle survived several wars, managed to be in the hands of the Teutonic Order and the Prussian conquerors, and after the terrible plague of the 18th century, the empty castle was sold to private individuals. Later, a women's prison was organized in the castle, and during the Second World War, the dark cellars of the castle became an imprisonment for Russian and Polish prisoners.
And only after the castle passed into the hands of Polish businessman Andrzej Dovgiallo, his new, happy life began. The castle houses the Regional Museum with a unique collection of ancient artifacts, including attributes of the weapons of the Crusaders and Polish soldiers, as well as unique archaeological finds: knightly axes, spears and swords.
Since 2006, a hotel has been opened in the castle. According to the centuries-old tradition, four wings have been preserved in the hotel: Komturskoe, Knights, Okhotnichye and Prison. In total, the hotel has 143 rooms, styled antique, but equipped with the latest technology. There is also a restaurant in the Gothic style for 300 people. The menu includes dishes of Old Polish, noble and European cuisines, as well as traditional Ryn wine.
From entertainment - bowling, golf, tennis, a pool with geysers in an ancient underground among brick vaults and a wine cellar. In the central Knight's courtyard of the castle, entertainment events are held, knightly tournaments, order and prison feasts are organized, costume parties and fairs of nobility are organized.
How much it costs: Entrance to the castle for adults - 10 zlotys (152 rubles), for children, schoolchildren, students and pensioners only 5 zlotys (76 rubles). Accommodation in a double standard room of a castle hotel with breakfast - from 6300 rubles per day. Participation in events is paid separately.
Time of visit: for hotel guests 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Guided tours for tourists are held only 2 times a week - on Saturday at 16:00 and on Sunday at 11:00.
Official website:
XENGE CASTLE
Where: 70 km from Wroclaw
Fact: All styles are mixed in the architecture of the castle - from Gothic to Baroque. There is a hotel in the castle.
Time of construction: XIV century.
Ksi Castle in Wroclaw is considered the third largest castle in Poland. The castle was founded in the 14th century by representatives of the Piast dynasty, and then for four centuries the castle belonged to the noble family of Hochbergs. During the Second World War, the Nazis set up a headquarters in the castle and even tried to break through the rocky base of the castle a tunnel leading to Sowa Castle, located in the mountains. Almost all valuable exhibits of the museum were then lost. However, tourists can see the former grandeur and beauty of the castle in old photographs presented in one of the exhibitions.
This castle also has a hotel. Standard double room with breakfast will cost 250 PLN.
Every year, magnificent balls, knightly tournaments, flower and chamber music festivals are held in Ksie castle. In the palm greenhouse, plants are grown for landscaping and decorating the castle premises. Also, tourists are invited to the carriage museum, located in the stables. Here pedigree purebred stallions of Silesian and English breeds are bred. If desired, guests of the castle can take horse riding lessons.
How much: a ticket to visit all the sights of the castle without a guide - PLN 30, day excursion with a guide - PLN 52, night - PLN 50. Children are not allowed on night tours.
Official website:
CASTLE WAVEL
Where: left bank of the Vistula, Krakow
Fact: The castle is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Time of construction: XIV century.
The Wawel Castle stands on a hill 228 meters high and is considered one of the symbols of Poland. Decorated in the Gothic style, it amazes with its monumentality and grandeur.
The first mention of the castle dates back to the 11th century, when Wenceslas II began building the first stone fortifications on the Wawel Hill. Later, under Casimir III the Great, the Wawel Castle acquired a new architectural look, and its walls were connected to the city walls. The castle burned several times, was a barracks for Austrian soldiers, during the Second World War it served as the residence of a German general, who set up a cinema and a beer bar in the castle. Most of the castle's collections were looted.
Today the castle has several exhibitions. The Royal Chambers, furnished with Italian Renaissance furniture, display tapestries of King Zygmunt Augustus, portraits of Polish kings and Dutch paintings from the 15th to 17th centuries. The Treasury and the Armory store gold items and rare examples of Polish and Western European weapons. One of the guided tours of the castle leads to the Dragon Cave - an ancient grotto, the total length of the dungeons of which is about 270 meters, and the ceiling height is 10 meters.
How much: from 3 to 25 zlotys for each exhibition. During the tourist season, the number of tickets is limited, so it is better to arrive at the box office early in the morning.
Visiting times: Exhibitions are open daily from 9:30 to 17:00.
Official website:
PESKOVA SKALA CASTLE
Where: Ojcowski National Park, 27 km from Krakow
Fact: The castle is surrounded by three rock walls and was considered completely inaccessible in the Middle Ages
Time of construction: XIV century
Peskova Skala Castle was built in the 14th century by King Casimir the Great and is an example of defensive architecture in the Renaissance style. However, in the middle of the 17th century, after the reconstruction, the architecture of the castle acquired a Gothic hue.
In 1377, Ludwig of Hungary presented the castle to a wealthy family of Shafrants in order to settle a conflict in which Ludwig's soldier accidentally cut off Peter Shafranz's ear during a fight.
Before the museum appeared here, Peskova Skala castle was used as a hunting base, and later a boarding house was opened there.
Today, the museums of the castle keep the richest collection of medieval exhibits and art objects from the 16-18 centuries. At the foot of the castle, there is a unique inverted rock called the Mace of Hercules. And in the vicinity there are many grottoes and dungeons, into which you can go down.
How much: The entrance to the castle is PLN 11 for adults and PLN 9 for students. Parking in front of the castle is paid - PLN 10.
Official website:
MOSHNA CASTLE
Where: Moszna village, 35 km from the town of Opole
Fact: The castle has exactly 99 towers and 365 rooms
Time of construction: XVII century
Moszna Castle is located in a picturesque park of 200 hectares in the village of Moszna. This unique piece of architecture was built in the late 17th century in an eclectic style. From the middle of the 19th century until the end of World War II, the castle was owned by the old German family of Tiele-Winkler. After a fire in 1896, part of the castle's interiors was completely destroyed, but after reconstruction, the castle regained its royal appearance and even acquired a winter garden, which has survived to this day. From 1972 to 2013, a hospital and a medical center operated in the castle.
During evening excursions, theatrical events take place on the territory of the castle: knightly tournaments, stylized aristocratic balls with the possibility of renting historical costumes and themed parties.
Also, in the park, you can spend the night in a tent for free. And for those who want to feel like a king or monarch, you can stay at the hotel at the castle.
The cost of living in the castle with breakfast and unlimited use of the gym and sauna starts from 150 zlotys (2270 rubles) per day for a mini-standard double room with a bathroom in the hallway. 5-bed golden apartments will cost 650 zlotys (9927 rubles). Also in the castle you can arrange a magnificent wedding or corporate party dressing up in historical costumes.
How much it costs: Entrance to the palace and park - 6 zlotys, and a guided tour of the castle will cost 10 zlotys. Children under 3 years old - free. Night excursions - PLN 30, children under 6 free of charge. An extreme excursion is also offered (35 zloty per person) with a rise to the highest tower of the castle (1800 meters), and then with a visit to the deepest basement of the castle - 5 meters underground.
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ROYAL CASTLE IN WARSAW
Where: Old Town, Warsaw
Fact: Monument of national culture of Poland
Time of construction: late 16th century
The construction of the Warsaw Castle began in 1598 by order of the Lithuanian prince Sigismund III. The last king of Poland, Stanislaw August Poniatowski, reconstructed the castle, after which it turned into a work of architecture. The Hall of the Great Assembly hosted court concerts, banquets and entertainment. In the 20th century, a national museum operated here.
After the outbreak of war in 1939, museum staff within a few weeks removed more than 80% of the works of art that now form the basis of the exhibitions. Art critics and architects tried to save everything: they dismantled doors, floors, fireplaces, stucco moldings, shades and even fragments of paintings. In September 1944, the Nazis mined the castle around the entire perimeter and blew it up - only a pile of stones remained of it.
After World War II, the castle was rebuilt from scratch using photographs from the 17th century. The reconstruction was completed only in 1988, when the Royal Castle appeared in its former guise of the early baroque of the 18th century.
Today, several viewing rooms have been recreated in the castle: the Knight's, Throne's, Great Hall, Oval Gallery, Marble Room and Council Hall. In each room, tourists can admire antique furniture, antique sculptures, paintings from different periods of time, antique carpets, tapestries and Saxon porcelain.
How much: an adult ticket is PLN 30, for students and pensioners - PLN 20. Children under 16 years old - PLN 1.
Visiting times: During the summer season the exhibitions are open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, on Thursday until 20:00.
Official website: www.zamek-krolewski.pl
VILIANUV PALACE
Where: Wilanow, 10 km from Warsaw
Fact: The palace is tacitly recognized as the best Baroque creation in Poland
Time of construction: XVIII century
The Wilanów palace and park ensemble, which is a member of the Association of European Royal Residences, is located just 10 km from Warsaw. This is almost the only palace in Poland that survived the war and remained in its original form. At the entrance to the park, tourists are greeted by a majestic statue of King Jan III Sobieski, who in 1677 began construction on this site. In the 18th century, the palace was compared to Versailles.
The palace was completely ransacked twice, the last time in 1939 by the German invaders. Almost all valuables were stolen and sold around the world. Priceless exhibits were returned to the museum only after the end of the war.
Today, the museums of Vilanuva display the richest collections of works of art from different countries, paintings by Rembrandt, Raphael and Van Dyck, antique vases, Chinese porcelain, personal belongings of the royal family. In the Banquet Hall of the Palace Museum, tourists will find the Royal Theater, which shows pantomimes, monodramas in Old Polish and even puppet shows.
How much it costs: To walk in a two-level baroque park or enter an Anglo-Chinese landscape park, you need to pay PLN 5 for adults and PLN 1 for children 7-16 years old (children up to 7 years old are free). Entrance to the halls of the palace - PLN 20, audio guide in Russian - PLN 12. On Thursday, admission to the park and palace is free.
Visiting times: The expositions are open daily from 9:00 to 18:00, the park until 22:00. It is better to book excursions as part of a group a month in advance.
Official website:
LAZENKI ROYAL (PALACE AND PARK COMPLEX)
Where: Warsaw, center
Fact: Several dozen tame peacocks live in the park
Time of construction: XVIII-XX centuries.
The palace and park complex azienki Royal was built on the site of the baths of the princes Lubomirski, in a nature reserve of 76 hectares. On the territory of the park there are numerous architectural monuments of the 18th-20th centuries: the Royal and Ujazdow Palaces, the Belvedere Palace, the Old Orangery, the Hunting Palace, the Great Wing of Podhoronzówka and the White House. Thanks to King Stanislav Augustus Poniatowski, the palace collections were replenished with works of art by Italian, French, Dutch and Flemish painters. And in the Old Greenhouse there were copies of antique sculptures and the Stanislav court theater, which gives performances to this day.
It should be noted that the park is very popular among newlyweds who arrange photo sessions here. Locals call azienki Korolevskie "the happiest place in Warsaw".
How much it costs: Entry to the park is free, but you have to pay to visit each museum. It is most advantageous to purchase a one-day ticket (PLN 45 for adults and PLN 3 for children and students) with the opportunity to visit all the attractions, parks and museums in the Royal azienki area.
Visiting times: Access to the collections of the museums is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. And the park itself is open to visitors every day "from dawn to dusk". Do not forget that it is forbidden to ride bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades in the park so as not to scare away squirrels and peacocks.
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