An Abandoned Castle Rots in Poland

The castle. borutka/used with permission

This moody castle rots within a small Polish village. It was abandoned before it was even completed, essentially doomed to exist as a shadow of what it could have become.

Łapalice (Zamek Łapalice in Polish) isn’t an ancient castle or medieval fortress at all. Construction began in 1979, and it was meant to be a studio for artist Piotr Kazimierczak. The artist planned for it to be a grand estate, complete with a swimming pool, ballroom, ramparts, and 12 towers representing the 12 apostles.

But it wasn’t long before progress hit a snag. Not only did Kazimierczak run out of funds, he also extended construction for the enormous castle onto land he didn’t have a permit for. He was forced to abandon his dreams of completing the space—fleshing out its inside, adding wooden floors and stuccos, and installing decorated vaults—but, according to many, he has yet to give up hope and is still fighting to once again resume construction.

Now, the fabulous folly is no more than an empty shell. Its formidable walls are now at risk of collapsing, and its gloomy interior is covered with graffiti. But still, its sad state has yet to deter people from passing through the estate’s imposing brick entrance gate and exploring the giant building.

Know Before You Go

You need your own transport to visit the place. There's a big fence behind it, but you can easily access the property through the gate. There's also a small parking area near the castle. It's been reported that the castle is in a fragile state and some parts are in danger of falling apart, so enter at your own risk.