The text is part of an action – a series, carried out by the Lifestyle editorial team of the Interia portal, in which we present various places, phenomena and phenomena of our country.
On the map of Poland you can distinguish places that almost immediately give you slight shivers. Not because they scare you with the sight of ruined buildings or suspicious alleys. The reason for this impression is the feeling that under the layer of everyday life there is an intriguing story. , located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, can certainly be included in such locations.
A non-obvious place on the map of Poland
The first steps we take in the city make us start paying attention to details. The famous Leaning Tower looks as if it is leaning out to both welcome newly arrived guests and watch them closely. Old walls and tenement houses remembering old times encourage you to take a walk, even though . However, they should definitely be included in the plans of people who value travel with thrills.
Polish Frankenstein. Has Ząbkowice Śląskie been commemorated in world literature?
The slogan “Frankenstein” probably brings to mind one of the most famous horror novels by Mary Shelley. Much fewer people know that from the Middle Ages to 1946 this was the name of Ząbkowice Śląskie. Did the English writer have the opportunity to visit the town? There is no information about this. However, some claim that it was necessary to create a famous work that is still a horror classic to this day.
In 1606, a series of tragic events struck. An epidemic of plague broke out, killing one third of the inhabitants. In an atmosphere of fear and chaos, eight local gravediggers were accused of deliberately spreading the plague. Their trial received wide coverage not only in the immediate area, but also in Europe. Therefore, there is a high probability that the sensational story also reached the ears of Mary Shelley.
Skeptics claim that Frankenstein was quite a popular surname at that time, so the writer could have chosen it for completely different reasons. However, this does not change the fact that in Ząbkowice Śląskie you can visit a place dedicated to the legendary scientist and his monster, which is eagerly included in the local legends and historical heritage.
“Silesian Pisa”, i.e. Ząbkowice with a record
The Lower Silesian city offers much more than just a dark legend about a place where fear met real tragedies. One of the most characteristic points is , often compared to the one in Pisa. This is where the city’s “Italian” nickname comes from.
Its distinct deviation from the vertical, amounting to as much as 2.14 m, causes it to be called “”. This is visible not only at first glance, but is also felt after climbing to the top, from which you can admire the panorama of the entire city.
Well-thought-out marketing or the forces of nature? Why is the tower leaning?
Here is another mysterious chapter in the history of Ząbkowice Śląskie. There are at least several theories explaining the unusual shape of the famous building. as part of a medieval castle, serving defensive purposes. Over time, it began to serve as the bell tower of the church. Saint Anna. The reason for its tilt was said to be tectonic shocks that hit the city in 1590. It is also said that the tower was built on muddy ground, which had a disastrous impact on the foundations.
It seems that Ząbkowice would not be itself if it did not confuse this story even more. You can find information according to which the tower, after it was partially destroyed by fire in 1858, was subjected to detailed examinations before renovation works. A trace was then discovered proving that . The proof of this was supposed to be an inscription-message from the architect (which does not exist today). He proclaimed: “My name is Johannes Gleiss, I built this leaning tower with diligence.” If this actually happened, you can be impressed by the author’s advertising sense and his imagination.
A city where even the inhabitants surprise
A visit to Ząbkowice gives the impression that the past is at your fingertips. The possibility of visiting Frankenstein’s laboratory has already been mentioned, but that’s not all. In the same building – formerly the manor of the knight Zygmunt Kauffung – there is an extensive exhibition of memorabilia from the times of the Polish People’s Republic.
One object, and it has a lot of interesting facts, because it is . The first mention of it comes from 1504. According to legend, its first owner was rather ignorant of the true rules of knighthood. His occupation was not noble deeds, but robbery, which was his main source of income.
Mystery at every step
If you want to get to know Ząbkowice Śląskie even better, it is worth visiting the castle, which guarded the city in the past. Today, its remains are a silent witness to former powers, but also to the conflicts that tore Ząbkowice. The market square enchants with colorful tenement houses that become the background for .
It can be assumed that Ząbkowice Śląskie is one of the most mysterious cities in Poland. They subtly draw you into their history and stories, which are not always confirmed in official archives, but make your imagination run at full speed.
Can you discover the country only during holidays? In no case! We invite you to “Unusual Poland”, a tourist series of the Lifestyle editorial team of the Interia portal. In the articles published every two weeks, we will show you places and attractions that few people have heard about, we will introduce you to enthusiasts and people with extraordinary skills, we will taste specialties from regional cuisines and we will see how small, local initiatives can cause big changes. See how extraordinary Poland can be.
