A HUGE medieval castle has popped up in the middle of a frozen lake in Poland, but it’s veiled in mystery.
The bizarre and grand construction has been recorded from the air but no one is exactly sure why the structure was built or who owns it.
Construction of the strange Stobnica Castle started in 2015 and has been built on a man-made island in a secluded spot in the west of the country.
The project, built on a protected nature reserve, has been hugely controversial.
This massive building flew under the radar until 2018 when local environmental groups and authorities became aware.
The unbelievable building was made on the outskirts of Notecka Forest, around an hour away from Poznan.
Stobnica Castle features tall towers, stone walls, and grand turrets.
The huge fairytale site is around 230 feet high and about 656 feet long.
Recent aerial footage revealed the castle, which has taken nine years to build, now sits completed on a snow-covered and frozen lake.
Theories have swirled around who owns this secluded castle and why it was built in the first place.
Some people thought the Polish billionaire Jan Kulczyk, who died in 2015, could have been behind the project.
Other rumours claimed the site was funded by money from offshore accounts.
Some recent reports have also suggested that the Polish company DJT could have been behind the building.
In 2020, seven individuals, believed to be investors, were detained by law enforcement officials, which sparked a legal dispute surrounding this remarkable yet unplanned location. This information was reported by Notes from Poland.
A local governor was even removed from office over this castle.
Those held by police were accused of causing damage to the idyllic environment.
Various attempts by building authorities to block the project haven’t worked, although it was paused at certain points.
The reason for its construction has also been questioned.
Its developers reportedly insisted the building is intended to be the owner’s main residence but some people have questioned this.
Some locals have speculated the grand structure could be transformed into a luxury hotel.
Stobnica Castle has been open to visits where guests can cruise around the site on a barge, eat at an on-site coffeehouse or even visit a gift shop.
Tickets for the attraction can go for around £10 (49 Zloty), according to the castle’s website.
