Inside the real-life 'Harry Potter'-inspired wizard school that takes place in an actual castle
The College of Wizardry is a "live action role play" (LARP) event. Each person involved plays the character of a witch or wizard for the weekend.
It's kind of like pretending you're in a fantasy movie.
Tickets for a 3-night stay at the Hogwarts-esque castle (called Czocha) starts at 390 Euros, or about $436.
The price includes room and board, with dormitories and group meals served Hogwarts-style.
You'll have to get yourself to Poland, though, and it's BYO-wand.
Your adventure might include sinister creatures and dark wizards ...
... epic romance ...
... and new friends.
But remember: You're also there to learn magic.
The College is inspired by "Harry Potter," but it isn't endorsed by J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros.
As it says on the website: "This is an event about witches and wizards, not a Harry Potter event. We think the Harry Potter stories are great, though!"
The "students" behave as if they've already graduated from Hogwarts, and are attending college.
Instead of "Muggles," non-magic folk are referred to as "Mundane."
Students must bring their own wands, and "mundane" clothes. School robes are provided.
As you can imagine, they take things very seriously. There's a 560-page student handbook that's written in character.
You can order a leather bound copy, or get the PDF here.
The main handbook is an 88-page "design document," which helps players create and play their characters.
There's also a special "midterm madness" edition of the design document, and another book about magical animals.
Even the professors in charge of classes are LARPers, not professional actors.
Everyone at college speaks English, despite the homebase in southwestern Poland.
Parts of the school resemble Hogwarts and the players are sorted into houses.
Some students are assigned Prefect duty (similar to college RAs), and points are awarded to students.
The Czocha castle has five houses, each based on a different Eastern European culture.
The school teaches 13 different subjects.
They include Alchemy (potions), Beastology (similar to care of magical creatures), Herbology, and Magical Theory.
Students are taught how to cast spells, which work on each other if they agree to imagine them working on each other.
Source: Cosmic Joke UK
It's up to the the LARPer on the receiving end of a spell to have the right reaction, whether it's falling to ground or dodging the incantation.
Source: Cosmic Joke UK
Some of the experienced role-players use makeup and elaborate costumes to bring depth to their characters.
This guy looks like he's role playing as a rock.
The food is pretty normal, but the setting is magical.
At the end of the weekend, there's a celebration similar to the Yule Ball from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
And of course, there's Quidditch. The real life version of the game is similar to dodgeball, soccer, and rugby all in one.
Source: Cosmic Joke UK
The College of Wizardry has a whole team of creative people working behind the scenes on props, costumes, and set designs to make the setting as magical as possible.
College of Wizardry is in session three times a year, and enrollment for March 2017 is open now.
Watch the full intro video below, and check out their website for details and tickets.
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