This abandoned and ruined palace, in addition to its rich history, has a peculiar architectural curiosity, namely "ornaments" in the form of mascarons and gargoyles. It is difficult to imagine the rehabilitation function of this facility, because its last destination is a correctional facility for young people (reformatory).
"Linden of Queen Elizabeth" with a circumference of 7 meters and a height of 26 meters
Let us return, however, to these peculiarly beautiful ornaments - that is, mascarons and gargoyles (Puking).
Mascaron or mascaron (from Italian mascherone, in French mascaron) - is a decorative motif, "ornament", depicting the figure of a human or fantasy head, used in architectural sculpture. These characters are always ugly and ugly, and the uglier the better, because it was believed that the greater their ugliness, the more effectively they drive away evil demons at the sight of their likenesses, warn against evil, and at the same time protect against it (here it is worth taking a look at some faces of current politicians).
Mascarons were used as ornaments of e.g. a capital, a bracket, a column, a keystone, most often in the Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque periods. The most famous in Poland are mascarons in the Krakow Cloth Hall.
Another beauty on the walls of manor houses, churches, as well as palaces and castles are Gargoyles (Latin gargulio "throat"), or gargoyle, bluffer, spit, spit. This individual, apart from the task of deterring others who are similar, performed at least one useful function, namely - it was the end of the gutter. His figure protruded beyond the walls, from which rainwater flowed freely as far away from the building as possible, which protected it from damage and excessive moisture. Initially, gargoyles were made of stone, as they progressed from sheet metal. During the Gothic period in France, they took fanciful forms of human faces, animal maws, and fantastic creatures (eg Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris). From France, they spread throughout Europe.
And finally, such a personal reflection. The deterrent option does not work nowadays, especially on the Internet, because whenever a Gargoyle appears, Mascarons will soon arrive.
