Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
Though they’re protected inside the park, wolves can be killed when they cross its borders.
Wolves Have a Bad Reputation. One Yellowstone Naturalist Is Trying to Fix It.

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Poland Muchołapka

Muchołapka

A mysterious structure left behind on the Polish mountainside, sometimes called "Hitler's Stonehenge".

Poland

Added By
ThomasSchneider62
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Muchołapka, or “Hitler’s Stonehenge”.   tomasz przechlewski/CC BY 2.0
Muchołapka.   tomasz przechlewski/CC BY 2.0
Muchołapka.   tomasz przechlewski/CC BY 2.0
  Batigoal PhotOgraphe / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Near the village of Ludwikowice Kłodzkie in Silesia, Poland, there is a massive concrete dodecagon frame atop 12 concrete pillars dozens of feet high. This is part of a World War II bunker site that was abandoned by the fleeing Nazis when Soviet forces captured it in 1945. Its function and original contents have not been publicly revealed. The structure is situated atop Project Riese, a secret series of tunnels dug by concentration camp prisoners under the Polish countryside.

The structure's official name from World War II is not publicly known, but it is commonly called Muchołapka, a nickname bestowed upon it by a Polish journalist. A muchołapka is a traditional Western European flytrap, a kind of glass decanter that lures insects to a watery death through a hole in its base. This name sums up the intrigue surrounding the unexplained structure.

A theory suggests it may be the the base of an unfinished water cooling tower, one of many wartime weapon projects abandoned around Europe by the Nazis. However, some people have suggested an alternative theory (without supporting evidence) that it was the launch pad for flying saucers assembled by the Nazis using alien blueprints. This casts an eerie shadow on the Muchołapka's name. According to this (improbable) theory, perhaps the structure was meant to beam unsuspecting victims into the belly of a UFO, much like a fly into a trap.

Its other equally spooky nickname given to the structure is "Hitler's Stonehenge", due to its blocky pillars arranged like an ancient henge. This association with prehistoric monumental henges adds another layer of mystery to this enigmatic ruin.

Related Tags

Nazis World War Ii Hitler Stonehenge Ufos Ruins Military

Know Before You Go

To find the structure, head up to the northern end of Fabryczna - 50.628959°, 16.494949° will take you right there.

Community Contributors

Added By

ThomasSchneider62

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, Shiv, MagnumPI, aribrown...

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • Shiv
  • MagnumPI
  • aribrown
  • GeoSurveyor
  • Batigoal PhotOgraphe

Published

September 8, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.swiat-tajemnic.pl/blog/paranormalnyblog/nazistowskie-ufo-cz-13-hitlerowskie-stonehenge/
  • https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucho%C5%82apka
  • http://dolnoslaskipodroznik.pl/mucholapka/
  • https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucho%C5%82apka
Muchołapka
31 Fabryczna
Poland
50.62971, 16.49529

Nearby Places

Podziemne Miasto Osówka

Sierpnica, Poland

miles away

Totenburg Mausoleum

Walbrzych, Poland

miles away

Błędne Skały

kłodzki, Poland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Poland

Poland

Europe

Places 201
Stories 14

Nearby Places

Podziemne Miasto Osówka

Sierpnica, Poland

miles away

Totenburg Mausoleum

Walbrzych, Poland

miles away

Błędne Skały

kłodzki, Poland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Poland

Poland

Europe

Places 201
Stories 14

Related Places

  • An evening view of the second tower.

    Berlin, Germany

    Humboldthain Flak Tower

    These former Nazi anti-aircraft towers offer a singular view of the north of Berlin in the summer, and a sanctuary for bats in winter.

  • The hotel as it looks today.

    L'Aquila, Italy

    Hotel Campo Imperatore

    This Italian ski resort rose to fame when Benito Mussolini was held prisoner there and then rescued by the SS.

  • The castle had strategic importance for centuries.

    Walbrzych, Poland

    Książ Castle

    A fairytale Gothic castle steeped in Nazi treasure conspiracy theories.

  • The Bendlerblock.

    Berlin, Germany

    The Bendlerblock

    After a nearly successful attempt on Hitler's life, the conspirators met their fate in the courtyard of this Berlin building.

  • Treguennec Pebble Crusher

    Tréguennec, France

    Treguennec Pebble Crusher

    The haunting concrete remains of a Nazi pebble crusher can still be found in this small French commune.

  • St. Annaberg Thingstätte

    Gmina Leśnica, Poland

    St. Annaberg Thingstätte

    One of the largest amphitheaters in Europe is a former Nazi German gathering place that still stands today.

  • The Kongresshalle.

    Nuremberg, Germany

    The Kongresshalle, Nuremberg

    This abandoned coliseum was intended to be a grand Nazi rallying ground before it was halted at the end of the war.

  • Concrete building at the abandoned Murphy Ranch.

    Los Angeles, California

    Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch

    World War II-era Nazi compound nestled in the Santa Monica hills.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.