Olsztyn Castle near Częstochowa

Schlesien (Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska) · Poland · Castle ruin

In the castle's dungeon vault, voivode Maćko Borkowic was starved to death – at full moon his moans and rattling chains can still be heard.

The royal castle of Olsztyn outside Częstochowa is today a dramatic ruin on the limestone crags of the Jura. In 1358 Casimir the Great had the rebellious voivode Maćko Borkowic thrown into the castle's dungeon pit, where he slowly starved to death – the chronicles say he suffered for forty days. Ever since, it is said that at full moon groans and the rattle of chains rise from underground, and the shadow of a broad-shouldered nobleman with a bushy moustache drifts through the ruins. The tale is among the oldest and best-attested ghost stories in Poland.

FAQ

Where is Olsztyn Castle near Częstochowa located?

Olsztyn Castle near Częstochowa is in Schlesien (Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska), Poland.