Ruins of the Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze - Station 04 - Kitchen, warehouses and cellars

Description

Opposite to the gate in the courtyard there is the entrance to the next room. When you enter the door in the middle, you will stand at the edge of the well (photo 07.04.001-07.04.002). Originally, it reached 100 meters, today its depth is still impressive and it reaches 30 m. It is hard to imagine what techniques were used centuries ago to realise such a deep well in the rock. This matter was explained by another castle legend. During the times of Seweryn Boner, the castle guard was Anselm of Józefów. As he left at home a beautiful wife, he asked his master for dismissal. Boner allowed him to leave on condition that he dig a well, in which there would be water. Anselm started to work eagerly, however, he did not foresee he had undertaken a project that was almost impossible to do. Digging took him 20 years. When he finished his task his heart could not stand the joy and he died. It is said that then, mysteriously, the water disappeared, and Seweryn Boner never benefited from the well.

Almost as amazing, but fully scientifically explained phenomenon, is the formation of the tiny stalactites on the ceiling of the room. Rain water falling on the castle penetrates through the rocks and collect calcium carbonate which solubilise from them, which it is finally deposited as a thin tube (Photo 07.04.003). Nature offer to careful observers one more gift. On the walls of the castle you can see fossils, mostly ammonites, characteristic shells impressed in limestone (photo 07.04.004).

The next rooms are located on both sides of the well and behind it. They were the warehouses and cellars, built on different levels of the castle, also under the surface of the yard (photo 07.04.005). The cellars were used not only as warehouses, but they also served for defensive function, as proved by bay and loopholes.

On the right was a kitchen (photo 07.04.006), with no chimney and the smoke venting out through special holes. To this day you can find the remains of the hearth. Let's not be fooled, however, by the flue – it as contemporary design. Around the kitchen there were accommodation for servants (photo 07.04.007).