Abandoned Castles and Palaces in Poland Photography Workshop
October 19 to 25, 2026
Lower Silesia in Poland is a fascinating region for photographers, filled with abandoned castles, forgotten palaces, historic interiors, and architecture marked by time, decay, and layers of European history.
During this workshop, participants will explore a hand-picked selection of castles and palaces in different stages of preservation. Some are ruins, some are in deep decay, and others have been restored and given new life as hotels, museums, or cultural spaces. This gives the workshop a strong visual variety, with opportunities for architecture, documentary photography, atmosphere, details, interiors, textures, and storytelling.
The workshop is based at Zamek Sarny, a former abandoned castle that has now been carefully restored into a hotel and restaurant. From here, the group will take day trips to several castles and palace locations in Lower Silesia. The workshop also includes a visit to Vang Stave Church in Karpacz, a Norwegian medieval stave church originally built around the year 1200, moved from Norway to Poland in the 1840s.
This is a workshop for photographers who enjoy historic places, mood, atmosphere, old architecture, and locations with a strong sense of story.
Quick facts
Dates: October 19 to 25, 2026
Location: Lower Silesia, Poland
Main base: Zamek Sarny, Ścinawka Górna
Start and end: Wrocław, Poland
Instructor: Bjørn Joachimsen
Workshop fee: EUR 1250
Accommodation: Paid separately by each participant
Main accommodation: Zamek Sarny
Tuition language: English and Norwegian
Transport during the workshop: Included when travelling according to the workshop itinerary
Group size: Small group workshop
Lower Silesia has a rich and complex history, shaped by Polish, Czech, German, Austrian, Prussian, Soviet, and other European influences. This history is visible in the region’s architecture, from medieval castles and aristocratic residences to abandoned palaces and buildings slowly being reclaimed by time.
For photographers, this creates a rare mix of subjects: grand architecture, faded interiors, quiet details, dramatic textures, traces of former lives, and atmospheric locations that invite a slower and more thoughtful way of working.
The workshop days will normally run from breakfast until evening, with photography sessions at different locations during the day. There will be guidance in the field throughout the workshop, with a focus on composition, visual storytelling, observation, and making the most of each location.
Accommodation and travel
The first and last nights are planned near Wrocław Airport. For most of the workshop, the group will stay at Zamek Sarny in Ścinawka Górna. Participants book and pay for their own accommodation, and full details will be provided after registration.
Travel to and from Wrocław is not included. Participants should not book flights before their place on the workshop has been confirmed.
What to bring
Participants should bring comfortable shoes, clothing suitable for changing autumn weather, camera equipment, extra batteries, tripod, and any filters or accessories they normally use. A laptop or tablet can also be useful for editing during the workshop, but it is optional.
For the complete itinerary, practical information, accommodation details, and registration, please visit the full workshop page.
