The Polska #32 - Zamek Rycerski w Besiekierach

#ThePoland #Castles #Besiekiery Some castles are fortunate enough to boast numerous epic sieges and historical events that unfolded beneath their walls. In this respect, the Knight's Castle in Besiekiery, located fifty kilometers north of Łódź, unfortunately has little to boast about. You won't find battle tales or captivating, romantic sagas here. However, there are legends associated with this place – and quite interesting ones at that! Hundreds of years ago, a knight lived near Łęczyca. He possessed neither wealth nor a stately family seat. He lived in a modest, cramped chamber in the castle's outer bailey. One day, during a lavish dinner at Łęczyca Castle, he became the butt of his fellow guests' crude jokes: "What kind of knight is he without a castle?" they exclaimed. "He's like a carriage without a horse!" The laughter of his companions greatly distressed our knight. So, when the evening meal was over, he sat down on one of the stone steps and pondered his sad fate. Suddenly, a richly dressed man appeared beside him and asked: "What troubles you so, knight?" "Poor Lord, poor Lord. I can't provide such a long period of faithful service, let alone a decent home for my family." "You are strong and healthy. Get to work and build a castle yourself!" the stranger suggested. "But where will I get the money?" he replied, distressed. "I know I can trust you. I will give you the money. Build a great castle!" The knight looked up. The stranger's offer surprised him. It was dark, so he could barely make out the shadowy face of the strange interlocutor. "How can that be, Sir? You want to give me money for nothing? Out of the goodness of your heart? You want something in return, don't you, Sir?" "Yes. Your soul," the devil replied. It was Boruta. A noble devil residing in the local castle in Łęczyca. Not some mangy, toothless devil you might encounter in the hollow of a roadside willow tree – but the Devil's Magnate, the provincial of hell, the burgrave of the underworld. It was he who cast the insidious net for our knight. "But I have one condition, boy," he added. "You cannot use an axe to build your castle. If you fail to meet this condition, in a year your soul will be mine. In the chamber is a chest of treasure – take it! We will meet in twelve months, and then we will settle accounts!" There was a flash. A crack. The smell of sulfur. No trace of the devil remained. The knight looked around, but no one was there. He ran to the chamber and looked, and there, in the center of the room, stood a large chest full of treasures. He was overjoyed and set to work the very next day to fulfill his dream. The construction took a full year. The knight found a suitable site – a lake, in the middle of which he built a small island from scattered stones. On this island, he built a castle, from whose tower he could see nearby Łęczyca. The entire structure was constructed of stone and brick – no wooden elements were used, in observance of the ban on the use of axes. Even the roof was made of straw instead of planks and beams. The construction was completed. The knight hosted a celebratory supper to celebrate the completion of the work. Late at night, when all the guests had fallen asleep, the expected guest appeared in the middle of the courtyard: a nobleman in a long russet coat, mounted on a magnificent steed, with a torch in hand. It was Boruta who had come to conclude the agreement. "Greetings, Sir," our Knight greeted him. "I am pleased to welcome you. This is the castle that, thanks to your gift, I was able to build." "Greetings, Knight," Boruta replied. “Do you remember our condition?” “Yes, I remember,” he bowed low. “I didn’t use an axe when building the castle; everything was made of stones and bricks!” “And yet, your soul will soon become mine,” the devil replied. “How so? Impossible!” the knight protested. Then Boruta silently pointed to the door leading to the tower. Just then, a young man emerged. “Who are you, man?” the devil asked. “I am a bricklayer’s assistant, Sir. I was straightening the last bricks; I wanted to check if they were lying correctly.” “That’s not what I’m asking!” the devil said angrily. “What’s your name, man?” “I am Jaćko, Sir. Jaćko Axe.” From the manor near Łęczyca... Read more on the blog: https://40latidopiachu.pl/2023/03/09/...