Upside-Down House in Szymbark

The Upside-Down House stands at ul. Szymbarskich Zakładników 1 in Szymbark, a Kashubian village in Poland's Pomeranian region, about 60 km from Gdańsk. Built in 2007 as part of the Centre for Education and Promotion of the Region, it is a deliberately inverted wooden house, with its roof on the ground and its floor overhead. Inside, the furniture is attached to the ceiling and rooms are arranged upside down, and the angle of the floor and the odd perspective cause many visitors to feel slightly dizzy as they walk through. The house is a short and light-hearted attraction, and most visitors spend about an hour in the complex including the queue for the house itself. The wider complex shows traditional Kashubian buildings, giving context on the region's rural architecture and heritage, and offers other exhibits and food outlets. The area is open in summer typically from 9AM to 6PM, with shorter hours off-season. Admission is about 30 PLN for adults and about 20 PLN reduced. Weekday mornings are the quietest time, while summer weekends and school holidays bring queues for the house. Photographers favour the exterior with the roof planted in the ground, and the interior shots, where the visitors seem to stand on the ceiling, are popular. Szymbark is reached by regional bus from Kartuzy or Kościerzyna, or by car about 60 km from Gdańsk, so a visit works well as part of a day exploring Kashubia. Visitors with a tendency to motion sickness should take care inside the house, and those with balance problems may find the angled floors difficult. Comfortable shoes and patience for the queue help in the high season.