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Gołdap
The Pyramid in Rapa stands in a forest above the Błędzianka river north of Gołdap, right next to the border with the Kaliningrad region. It was raised in the early 19th century as the family mausoleum of the Prussian barons von Fahrenheid, who were fascinated by the culture of ancient Egypt. It is almost 16 metres high, on a square base of over 10 metres.
Several members of the family were buried in the crypt; the dry microclimate inside caused the bodies to mummify naturally. After the estate was sold the structure fell into oblivion, was plundered during both world wars and vandalised for decades. Only recent restoration work put it back in order, and the entrance to the burial chamber was closed off with a grille.
The pyramid is visited from the outside — the interior can be seen through the grille. A short forest track leads to it from the village of Rapa, with the last stretch covered on foot. The area is a quiet, sparsely populated borderland of Masuria, with the Romincka Forest and the spa town of Gołdap nearby.
