Matrot Castle

Sunday, Justin, Ariel and I took off to check out a local castle. It's the "Matrot Castle" pictured below.  We had a great time walking through the wine cellar and around the grounds. There was a magic show, lots of food and crafts of unique talent. We saw horses and a man carving wood figures with a chainsaw!!  We would be walking by the carver and he would be working on one carving... by the time we walked back by, he was done and working on a new carving! That's fast!! The whole day was very wonderful. If you want to read about the legend and stories of the castle, check this out: Matrot Castle

The castle, at 6424 S.W. Huntoon, has been shrouded in mystery since it was built in 1883. Seraphin Matrot built the castle as a refuge for his family after fleeing political persecution in France.

Legend has it his paranoia concerning assassination is evident in how the castle was built. The castle is more a small fortress --- it had a secret tunnel that led to the Kansas River and windows with holes that could fit a gun barrel. The castle's walls are a foot thick.

"He was kind of a character," said Jerry Wittmer, who now owns Matrot Castle.

Rumors have long held that Matrot haunts the castle. Wittmer told children touring the castle Sunday that if they came back to trick- or-treat they might see Matrot, who likes to visit on Halloween.

"I don't like ghosts," said 3-year-old Sarah Withey as her mother and family friends began their tour of the original castle.

Wittmer, who is restoring the castle, said that during the construction phase they had some unexplained activity.

"The lights would go off and come on at irregular times," he said. "Since we've moved in, things have kind of settled in."

Many visitors said they hadn't known about the castle before Sunday but were impressed after seeing it.

"I never even realized this was here," said Jessica Alexander, a senior at Topeka West High School who was giving tours. "It's really cool, a part of history I never knew about."

Michelle Young, Matrot's great-great-granddaughter, said she was impressed by Wittmer's restoration efforts. She said the property had been badly overgrown before he bought it about three years ago.

"It's great," she said. "This is beautiful. He did a great job."

Those touring the castle for the Halloween celebration also could tour the wine cellar, which held antique presses decorated for the holiday. Kansas wine makers also had samples available for tasting.

Wittmer said he is working to restore the original grapevines in the Matrot vineyard. He wants to use the location to promote Kansas wineries and vineyards, as well as his nonprofit organization Opportunities Worldwide Foundation, which provides scholarships to international students.

Other activities included grape stomping, photos, food and demonstrations by a chainsaw carver, a magician and a fortune teller.