Situated at the top of Mount Choina, Grodno Castle is considered one of the most picturesque fortresses in Silesia. The castle, first mentioned in documents in 1315, was supposedly built to secure local trade routes. However, some believe that the fortress was built as early as 800 by an English knight. Initially, it was merely a watchtower that was gradually expanded. It is difficult to pinpoint the actual date of the castle’s construction, which only adds to the mysterious aura surrounding it.
The Tumultuous History of the Silesian Fortress
The castle soon became part of the Czech Crown, and in the 15th century, it was inhabited by robber knights who plundered the surrounding areas. Later, the fortress had several owners until it eventually came into the hands of Maciej von Logau. The new owner rebuilt the castle in the Renaissance style, and the work was continued by his son. Unfortunately, at the end of the 16th century, Maciej von Logau’s widowed daughter-in-law had to relinquish the estate and leave it forever.
This did not end the fortress's turbulent history. During the Thirty Years' War, the Swedes captured and destroyed the stronghold. There was also a peasant uprising at the castle that was bloodily suppressed. Nature did not spare the fortress either; according to the official website of Grodno Castle, lightning struck the castle tower in 1689, causing it to burn down.
In the 18th century, the castle ceased to be a magnate residence. The neglected building fell into ruin, and parts of the walls collapsed. Eventually, the castle was auctioned off, and its new owners became local peasants. However, they did not plan to rebuild the fortress; instead, they intended to dismantle it for cheap building materials. The demolition did not proceed as planned. Professor Johann Gustav Büsching opposed it, and after a legal battle, it was decided that he could use it for life. The castle was secured, and adaptation work was carried out. The fortress passed into the hands of the von Zedlitz family, who owned it until the end of World War II.
Legends That Attract Tourists
The castle quickly became a tourist attraction, visited not only by sightseeing enthusiasts but also by fans of paranormal phenomena. The skeleton of Princess (actually Castellan's daughter) Margaret was found in the castle. According to legend, the woman did not want to marry the older nobleman her father had chosen for her. She decided to get rid of her would-be husband by pushing him off a cliff. Her father, who witnessed the incident, punished her by chaining her to a rock. Margaret's skeleton remains in this place and attracts visitors.
Hitler's Treasures Hidden in Grodno?
In the 1990s, one of the Nazi sappers, Leonard von Schreck, claimed that Hitler's treasure was hidden in Grodno Castle. He communicated this information in a letter to journalist Joanna Lamparska. He claimed to be one of the people who hid and secured mysterious chests in the forest. However, no one knew what was inside them.
Years later, he revealed that the first chest was located in the tunnels under Mount Ślęża. Another was supposed to be in Grodno Castle, and the last in a temple near Grodno. According to Interia.pl, it was there that "the major was supposed to mine a casket hidden behind a child's epitaph." The author of the letter mentioned drastic details, stating that some people involved in hiding the chests were murdered to prevent them from revealing their locations. He was also supposed to die, but the shots aimed at him were ineffective. Leonard von Schreck lived in Poland until his death, eventually revealing his secret.
Although many adventurers have tried to find the mysterious treasure, nothing has been discovered. Archaeological research has also not indicated the presence of the chests described by the major. However, Leonard von Schreck's statements were surprisingly consistent, and the legend of the hidden treasure continues to spark the imagination of treasure hunters to this day.
