Haunted Chojnik & Czocha Castles – Poland
Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Sacramento Paranormal Investigations
Halo Paranormal Investigations
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My stepmother Cindy has traveled to over 90 countries and territories. Cindy is a well-traveled international traveler and that is one of the reasons why my father was attracted to her, because of her adventurous spirit. One of the countries she visited was Poland. Poland has a remarkable history and plenty of ghost stories. Let’s discuss two castles that she visited while in Poland.
Chojnik Castle: The Shadow Rider
Chojnik Castle is filled with history. Nestled on top of a mountain, it has been an witness to several battles and skirmishes. The castle has faced fires, and some locals believe the castle is cursed. In fact, the last owner of the castle was Hans Ulrich Schaffgotch. He was killed in 1645 after it was discovered he betrayed the ruler. After his death people started witnessing the shadow of a rider on a horse galloping around the castle grounds. They called this ghost “Shadow Rider” and it would appear during the night hours and come out of a dark mist. The locals believe the Shadow Rider is no other than Hans Ulrich Schaffgotch. Locals believe that the Shadow Rider protects the castle and has not come to terms of his own demise. Cindy says during her visit at the castle, she heard the sound of horse’s hoofs, but there was nobody around, let alone a horse.
Chojnik Castle was built on the orders of Duke Bolko I the Strict in 1292. Before the castle was erected, there was a hunting lodge on the grounds of the castle. The hunting lodge was built by Bolesław II the Bald, who was the father of Duke Bolko I the Strict. The fortress was built to protect the borders of Bolko’s Duchy of Jawor against the menacing Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. Bolko’s grandson Bolko II the Small, the last independent Piast duke, had the castle reconstructed starting in the year 1355.
The Chojnik Witch
The Chojnik Castle is also haunted by a possible witch, “the Chojnik Witch”. The Chojnik Witch is described as being a young lady with a flowing blue dress. She is seen carrying flowers. Some locals believe the Chojnik Witch is no other than Agnes von Habsburg who after her husband Bolko II died in 1368, she sold the castle to one of the courtiers, the knight Gotsche Schoff. Gotsche II Schoff modernized and expanded the castle in 1393. In the same year he donated the Gothic chapel, which was completed in 1403. The chapel was devoted to Saint Catherine and Saint George featuring exquisite paintings preserved until World War II. The castle survived the next centuries without any damages. It withstood the attacks by the Hussites in 1426 and by King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, who after his campaign of 1469 destroyed many Silesian castles. In 1529 Ulrich I von Schaffgotsch renovated the castle, and the beauty of the castle remains today. Cindy says that sometimes locals and tourists hear soft whispers echoing through the castle and feel extreme cold spots in some parts of the castle.
Czocha Castle: The Ghost of Konrad von Wallhausen
Czocha Castle was built as a stronghold, on the Bohemian-Lusatian border. The building of this castle was ordered by Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, in the middle of the 13th century (1241–1247). In 1253 the castle changed hands and went to Konrad von Wallhausen, Bishop of Meissen. In 1319 the complex became part of the dukedom of Henry I of Jawor. After his death, it was taken over by another Silesian prince, Bolko II the Small, and his wife the Duchy of Silesia named Agnes. The beginning of this castle starts in the year 1329. Locals and tourists say that at times the ghost of Konrad von Wallhausen – Bishop of Meissen is seen walking the grounds of the castle. Sometimes the Bishop is seen reading the Bible. In the mid-14th century, Czocha Castle was annexed by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. In 1389 and 1453, it belonged to the noble families of von Dohn and von Kluks. The castle was besieged by the Hussites in the early 15th century. The Hussites captured the castle in the year 1427. This was during the Hussite Wars. Battle screams are sometimes heard during the night hours on the castle grounds and locals believe this has to do with the Hussite Wars. Residual energy that replays itself over and over again. Cindy said when she explored the castle, she felt like she was being watched all the time. Cindy says it was a creepy feeling.
The Mourners & the Ghost of Joachim von Nistitz & her Baby
The castle has a nickname, it’s called the Ghost Fortress by the locals. The locals say that the whole castle is haunted by many spirits. The castle is haunted by “The Mourners”. The Mourners haunt the bridge that leads to the castle gates. The Mourners attended a funeral that was conducted there is 1719. The bridge collapsed and The Mourners drowned in the watery moat. Locals and tourists have heard cries and moaning coming from the moat area. Then there is the ghost of Joachim von Nistitz, a former castle owner. Joachim was an adulterer and cheated on her husband. When the husband found out, he ordered his guards to drown her at the well. Her child was bricked up in the castle’s chimney. Even today, the cries of the baby can be heard in the castle walls. Screams of Joachim can be heard by the well. Cindy heard a whimpering noise coming out of the castle’s chimney. From what Cindy experienced at this castle, she must agree that this castle is very haunted.
The Unfaithful Ones
The castle is also haunted by “The Unfaithful Ones”. Gutschow, another castle owner would toss his unfaithful wives into the castle’s dungeons through a secret trapdoor hidden in the bedroom. Loud crying from women can be heard coming from the dungeons. The Unfaithful Ones when finding themselves in the dungeon, were tortured and starved to death. Gutschow went through many wives. The dungeons have a maze of many underground corridors.
The White Lady
The oldest ghostly resident is known as the White Lady. She is the apparition of Gertrude who used to live in this castle with her brother in the 15th century. To take vengeance on her sibling after a heated argument, she set the Hussites against him. All in all, they did not conquer the castle, Gertrude the Traitor, in turn, was beheaded and cursed by her sibling. This is why she cannot even enter the gates of hell, she is doomed to roam the castle for eternity. Sometimes the White Lady is seen carrying her head around.
