This is some big news for all the Harry Potter fans out there!
Remember how we couldn’t wait to get our letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as kids and grew up only to the disappointment of finding out that that is never going to happen?
What if I tell you that there’s actually a real-life Hogwarts opening in the UK which is, if not at par with the fictional one, then the next best level of, magical?
A 4-day Harry Potter-inspired wizardry workshop at the Czocha Castle in Poland is what I am talking about. This event was created by role play specialists Liveform and Rollespilsfabrikken.
The College of Wizardry (CoW) is a live-action role play (LARP) carried out in the castle of Czocha, which means every individual included acts out as a personality and showcases the life of a witch or wizard for the term. Tickets for a 3-night stay at the Hogwarts-esque castle (called Czocha) are 2.800 Danish Krone — or about INR 26,760. The cost includes food and lodging, with dorms and group dinners served Hogwarts-style. You’ll need to get yourself to Poland, however. The CoW works in a magical universe influenced by “Harry Potter”, however, it is not sponsored in any official manner by Warner Bros. or J.K. Rowling. Students there carry on as though they’ve officially “graduated” from Hogwarts, and are going to college. Rather than “Muggles,” non-enchanted people are referred to as “Mundane.” Students must bring their own wands, and “Mundane” clothes. School robes are given. Many parts of the school completely reflect that of Hogwarts. The players are sorted into houses, and a few students are given Prefect duties, and points can be awarded to students. The Czocha has five houses, not like Hogwarts’ four, which are Faust, Molin, Sendivogius, Durentius, and Libussa. Each house depicts an alternate Eastern European culture. There are 13 subjects being taught, including Alchemy (Potions), Beastology (Care of Magical Creatures), Herbology, and Magical Theory.
Students are instructed on how to cast spells and can associate with each other for sharing imaginative views. Toward the end of the course, there’s a festival like the “Yule Ball” from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”, where all the students gather to celebrate their time spent at the school. And obviously, there’s Quidditch. The real-life adaptation of the game is like dodgeball, soccer, and rugby combined. The school is allowed only to those who are 18 years or older and is conducted in English to allow worldwide participation.
The entrance to the castle is bordered by two beautifully carved stone structures, both topped with iron lamps. The palace’s hall is huge and flawlessly decorated with plasterwork, and in addition, has an oak balcony above. The grounds highlight a few statues and other decorative structures, and also a very well-maintained garden.
The palace, along with the event, features some extraordinary authentic details that truly add to the memorable experience.
A happy moment for the whole of Harry Potter fandom out there!