Remains of 17th century gallows have been found in the south-western town of Lubomierz.

The gallows were situated on a hill about one kilometre from the town centre.

“Wooden gallows were there since the 15 century. In 1607, German emperor Rudolf II Habsburg allowed nuns from Lubomierz to build stone gallows,” Daniel Wojtucki from the University of Wroclaw told Gazeta Wyborcza. They were dismantled in 1837.

The Lubomierz gallows was a gruesome place. The body of a hanged man remained swinging from the gallows for up to two years, as a warning to any potential criminal In 1906, five outlaws were hung there and two other convicts were executed on a breaking wheel. In 1614, Catherine Hopner, found guilty of prostitution, theft and the murder of two children, had her hands cut off and was buried alive.

The last execution in Lubomierz took place in 1676.

There were about 300 gallows in the Lower Silesia but so far only eight have been discovered. (mg/pg)

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