Krzysztopor Castle – a World in Ruins

By Elia Olson

During my travels in Poland our group had the fortune of traveling to Eastern Poland, specifically to the small town of Ujazd.  Although we did not get to see the center of this small town, I believe we saw its greatest treasure, Krzysztopor Castle.  This castle is truly a magnificent sight to see and I could have spent all day there but what makes it even more incredible is the state that this glorious place is currently in.

Krzysztopor Castle was built by a rich magnate Ossolinski in the 17th century as a fortress but was to show how wealthy the owner was.  It had 365 windows, 52 rooms, 12 ballrooms and a huge aquarium in addition to other outlandish adornments.  Although this castle was magnificent, in only had a few short years of glory before the Swedish army came in and looted it in 1656.  After this looting, the castle quickly deteriorated to its present state of the largest ruin in all of Poland.

During our trip to Ujazd, we found Krzysztopor Castle in its current state and I was completely blown away by how magnificent it still felt.  Walking and exploring through all the hallways, tunnels, staircases, ballrooms and long courtyards I could only think of how beautiful this place would have been in the 17th century when it was fully furnished and kept up instead of only being a few walls here and there with grass grown up all over the place.  I have always been fascinated by history but always felt that the really cool parts of history were only talked about, never experienced.  Usually in Europe, the really cool places are sectioned off and you can only see part of whatever is left and you have to get all the history from those few rooms.  Krzysztopor Castle is fortunately nothing like that.  One can explore unhindered through every part of that glorious castle and can take as many pictures as one may like.  The lack of rules of this place also made it one of my favorite places because I was given complete access to the history there, not an abridged version somebody thought was complete enough.

If you ever get the chance to come to Poland, Krzysztopor Castle in Ujazd is one place you should not miss. Also as the funds for keeping such relics up is dwindling, you better come quick or the ruins I had the pleasure of exploring may not be there for your viewing pleasure.