A beautiful but puzzling castle located in the middle of a forest lake, in Poland, has caused controversy for years as no one knows why it is they or who built
A mysterious castle is located in the middle of a frozen lake in Poland, but nobody knows who owns it or how they finished it.
The odd, yet magnificent, building has been recorded from the air but it is not clear why the structure was built, or by whom. Construction of the Stobnica Castle started back in 2015, and was built on a man-made island in the middle of a lake, in the west of Poland.
The castle, which is built in a protected nature reserve, has been hugely controversial but flew under the radar until 2018, when local environmental groups and authorities became aware of the property.
It is located on the outskirts of Notecka Forest, which is roughly an hour away from Poznan, and it features tall towers, stone walls and grand turrets. In total, the property is around 230 feet high, and 656 feet long.
Recent aerial footage revealed the castle, which took around nine years to build, and now sits completed on a snow-covered and frozen lake. Many theories have been suggested of who owns this secluded castle, and why it was built in the first place.
Some people think that the Polish billionaire Jan Kulczyk, who died in 2015, could have been behind the project. However, other rumours claim that the site was funded by money from offshore accounts or alternatively, the Polish company DJT could have been behind the building.
Seven people, reportedly investors, were detained by cops in 2020, according to Notes from Poland. A local governor has also been removed from the office over the castle.
The people held by the police were accused of causing damage to the environment. Many attempts have been made by the building authorities to block the project, but none have worked. Although, the project was paused at many points.
Locals and authorities are also unsure why the castle was built. Its developers have insisted the building was intended to be owner’s main residence, but some people have also questioned this. Some locals are also now worried about the structure getting transformed into a luxury hotel.
While the Stobnica Castle itself isn’t open to the public, visitors can visit the grounds, as well as cruise the waters surrounding the castle on a barge. There is also a small gift shop, selling unique gifts made by local manufacturers, with many using natural materials such as wood and stone.
For those who get peckish, there is also a café, which serves baked goods such as croissants, as well as hot drinks. On its website, it says: “We especially recommend our proprietary apple pie tea, which has won the hearts of dozens of guests.
“For greater hunger, we recommend tomato cream with casserole or beetroot cream with mushroom cone.” Admission to see the grounds of the castle can be purchased for around £10 (49 Zloty), according to the castle’s website.
