# Otmuchów Castle

- **Country:** Poland
- **Coordinates:** 50.463740, 17.171801
- **Location Text:** in Otmuchów – Opole Voivodeship

Otmuchów Castle is a historic fortress located in the town of Otmuchów within the Opole Voivodeship of Poland, situated approximately 68 kilometers southwest of Opole. Originally constructed in 1159 during the medieval period, the site served as a significant residence for the Bishop of Wrocław until secularization occurred in 1810. The castle holds deep historical roots, dating back to the twelfth century when Pope Adrian IV granted authority over the land and structure to the bishopric. Its prominence grew substantially under Bishop Preczlaw of Pogarell, who designated Otmuchów as the capital of the Duchy of Bishops, cementing its role as a center of ecclesiastical power in the region for several centuries.

The architectural evolution of the castle reflects various eras of European design. While founded in the medieval style, it underwent a major expansion between 1585 and 1596 that introduced Renaissance features. Further reconstruction in the seventeenth century incorporated Baroque elements. Following the secularization of church properties in 1810, the castle fell into partial ruin, leading to the demolition of its south-eastern wing. The remaining lands were transferred to the House of Humboldt, who utilized materials from the destroyed sections to repair the two surviving four-story wings. The former wing locations were transformed into a garden featuring exotic trees, including ginkgo and Canadian lime trees, sent by the famous explorer Alexander von Humboldt.

Today, the castle stands as a testament to its complex past, retaining two main wings while bearing scars from its turbulent history. Among its most intriguing and grim features are the so-called cells of death. These small interior chambers were allegedly used to trap prisoners, forcing them to fall twenty meters onto a stone courtyard equipped with sharpened birch perches. A chilling inscription reading Go you are free marked the exit to this fatal drop. Despite the loss of half the original structure, Otmuchów Castle remains a notable landmark, preserving layers of religious, architectural, and dark judicial history within its walls.

![Photo of Otmuchów Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/2014%20Otmuch%C3%B3w%2C%20zamek%2001.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otmuchów_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)