Mary Ann Bernal: Discovery of a Medieval Well Raises New Questions About Nazis and a Polish Castle

A team of Polish researchers has discovered a well which dates back to medieval times. It is located in the famous castle of Książ in Wałbrzych, Lower Silesia, Poland. Although they previously believed that it may have been a part of a system of tunnels created by Nazis, the real story of the well may be even more fascinating.

According to Gazeta Wyborcza, the well was found under the floor of a tower discovered last July. It is quadrilateral and without any visible damages. One side of the well is 2.5 meters (8.2 ft.) wide, and it is about 50 meters (164 ft.) deep. The tower which covered the mysterious well was discovered while cleaning the road area near the castle. It is dated back to the 18th century and was depicted on drawings of the castle. The well was examined with a camera, which confirmed that the discovery is very rare and will bring much more information after it is further explored by the researchers.

A photo taken inside of the well at Książ Castle in Wałbrzych, Poland. (ZWIK Łódź)

However, the future works will be demanding, and it's necessary to apply more analysis before the team will be able to continue. During the first exploration, they found chisels, but it is unknown what period they come from. It is possible that the medieval well was closed after the18th century, which makes the discovery extremely interesting.

The Castle of Książ is one of the most iconic in Poland. Originally built in the early medieval period, it was destroyed in 1263. The new castle was created at the end of the 13th century, and through history it had many different owners, including the famous Hochberg family. During World War II, the castle was held by the Nazis. Nowadays, Książ Castle is considered one of the pearls of the region. In this area there are more stories about hidden chests, trains, and chambers where Nazis could have hidden treasures than places for them to actually have hidden it.

A decorated room inside Książ Castle. (Dariusz Cierpiał/CC BY SA 3.0)

Essentially, every Polish city which belonged to the Germans in the past has stories related to lost loot. One of the most interesting tales is about the precious treasures of Daisy of Pless and her possible lover Emperor Wilhelm II. However, it's only a legend. The treasures from this story were stolen by the Russian army, and any that survived are currently exhibited in a museum.
Wałbrzych, like many other places in Silesia, still hides many secrets. Recently, another group of researchers was trying to find the legendary Nazi train that is said to be filled with treasures. As April Holloway wrote on November 9, 2015:

''Headlines were made around the world as treasure hunters identified a legendary Nazi train packed with weapons, gold, money, and archives hidden in a long-forgotten tunnel in the Polish mountains. It is believed that the train may also contain the long-lost Amber Room of Charlottenburg Palace, an early 1700s room crafted from amber, gold, and precious jewels, estimated to now be worth $385 million.”

Hand-colored photograph of the original Amber Room, 1931. (Public Domain)

Holloway continued:

“Poland’s Culture Ministry announced that the location of the Nazi train was revealed to Piotr Koper of Poland and Andreas Richter of Germany through a deathbed confession. The Telegraph reported that two treasure-hunters found the 100-meter-long armored train and immediately submitted a claim to the Polish government – under Polish law those who find treasures can keep 10 per cent of the value of their find. The Polish Ministry has confirmed the location of the train using ground-penetrating radar. The train is said to be located in an underground tunnel constructed by the Nazis along a 4km stretch of track on the Wroclaw-Walbrzych line. However, its exact location is being kept hidden, not least because it is believed to be booby trapped or mined and will need to be investigated through a careful operation conducted by the Army, Police, and Fire Brigade.''

Researchers still haven’t been lucky enough to find the legendary train and its rich contents. However, they have already announced that the search will continue.
Top Image: Książ castle in Wałbrzych, Lower Silesia, Poland. (Piotr Bieniecki/ CC BY SA 4.0) Detail: A photo taken inside the newly discovered well. (ZWIK Łódź)