Pałac Czarnej Damy
Pałac Czarnej Damy is a large abandoned castle in Poland, less than 90 kilometers from Wrocław. People call it the Palace of the Black Lady because of the dark legend that still surrounds the place. The estate is huge, quiet, and full of mystery, and even today it still waits for a new owner.
Local stories say the palace is haunted by the ghost of a widow. She once lived here with her husband and had a happy life. But everything changed when he died suddenly. She became deeply sad. On the anniversary of his death, she walked to the balcony, stabbed herself in the heart, and fell into the water around the palace. Since then, people say her spirit still walks through the empty halls.
History of Pałac Czarnej Damy
The real history of Pałac Czarnej Damy started long before the palace itself. In 1820, the estate was a small village with 129 people living there. By 1845, the number of residents grew to 148. At that time, the land belonged to Johann Karl von Schönitz. He had a daughter, Elise von Schönitz, who later inherited the estate. In 1864, Elise married Eugen von Gossler, and the property passed to the von Gossler family. They stayed the owners until 1945.
The Palace Building
The palace we see today stands on the site of an older manor house. It was built in 1870 on stone foundations from the 17th century. In 1889, the von Gossler family rebuilt and enlarged it.
The building is made of brick and stone. It has long rectangular wings, many rooms, a large basement, and a tower. The design feels grand but also heavy and dark. On the south side, there is a pond with a stone bridge. Around the palace you can also find an English-style park, a cemetery, a chapel, a roadside shrine, two houses, a barn, and an old outbuilding.
After the War and Abandonment
After the Second World War, the estate became part of a state agricultural farm. In 1977, PGR Zaborowice moved into the castle. Between 1979 and 1983, the building had a large renovation. Later, it became part of the Góra Agricultural Combine. But after the PGR system ended in the 1990s, the palace lost its purpose. It passed to the State Treasury Agricultural Property Agency.
In the early 2000s, people left the building. It stayed empty, but it was still protected and kept in fair condition.
What You See Today
Today, Pałac Czarnej Damy is still abandoned. The buildings are closed and sealed, so entering is not easy. Visitors usually need to find the caretaker first and ask for permission. Inside, the palace still feels powerful. The silent rooms, old walls, and empty halls give the place a strange atmosphere.
