OK, so this post’s title is really a misnomer, but I really was in an upside down house in Poland, and it really is something to see. But this post and the pictures that accompany it are about a lot more than just a house that is upside down.
This is really about an attraction of sorts. It was built by a Polish philanthropist, Daniel Czapiewski, near Szymbark, Poland. Though the main attraction may be the upside down house, this place is about a lot more than that. I believe it’s called the Centrum Edukaci I Promocji Regionu–the Center for Education and Regional Promotion. In many ways, it promotes the Kaszubian region of Poland. The attraction contains many elements, and I took photos of many of them. You can see the photos here: http://poland.leonkonieczny.com/Albums/Poland%202011/Upside%20Down%20House/index.html.
The following is about these pictures in rough order that you’ll see them:
- One of the first things you see when you walk in is the world’s longest table that is made from a single tree. It is indeed something. There are pictures of how it was made, and even then-President Lech Wałęsa took part in the cutting.
- Siberia — there is a “house” of sorts that was brought from Siberia. It shows the way people (prisoners) had to live and sleep. In Siberia, if you were unlucky enough to sleep against the wall, the person next to you might wake up in the morning to find you dead, frozen stiff.
- Train — Many people were taken to Siberia after the war. Some returned (including a relative of mine), but many did not. The people were loaded like cattle into the train cars. Not very comfortable traveling.
- World War II Underground Bunker — The resistance (partisans) in Poland built some extensive underground bunkers where they’d retreat to escape German bombing. They even lived in these bunkers. We were in one, it is quite amazing, quite cramped, and quite dark when the lights are out!
- Rock with shell in it — There is a huge rock where a shell from German bombardment is embedded.
- Church — A small church gives testimony to the religiousness of Poland.
- Huge Grand Piano — This may be the world’s largest grand piano. I think it’s about 13 feet wide and maybe 6 feet high. It’s huge!
- Brewery — They brew their own beer here. I had a taste, it’s very good.
- Zipline — There is a zipline, fun for kids, I’m sure
- Assorted things — Such as old farm implements, an old stump hoist, and many more antiquest.
- Small “zoo” — Well, really just a few deer and ducks/geese in a pond. There are horses too.
- Upside Down House — This is certainly the main attraction. We waited an hour in line to get in. When you go in, it is really amazing because everything is at angles and your brain tells you one thing while your sense of balance tells you something totally different. You stagger around this place like you’re drunk, it’s really something. The pictures do not do it justice, but it was a lot of fun
You can read more about the “meaning” of the upside down house here: http://www.cepr.pl/en/?upside-down-house,9
If you’d like to take a virtual tour of this whole attraction, go here: http://wkraj.pl/index.php?page=vr&start=24086. It’s worth a visit!
We had a great time here, and the kids sure enjoyed the upside down house a lot.
