Książ Castle in Wałbrzych

                        KSIĄŻ CASTLE  

View from vantage point

It is located in Książański National Park in Wałbrzych.

Książ Castle was known since 1288. It was changing its owners very quickly. It was owned by Piasts, Luxembourgs, Hungarian king, Hochbergs, the Nazi regine, the Russian Army and finally the Wałbrzych district government. 

 Książ Castle is one of the biggest castles in Europe. It's the third biggest castle in Poland and the biggest one in South Silesia. The history of this castle is really interesting. 

View from the front

On top of that, there are a lot of unanswered questions and tales sourounding it. In 1891 Princess Daisy ( the most famous figure) was living there. Her name is Duchess Maria Teresa Olivia Hochberg von Pless. Daisy married wealthy Prince Hans Heinrich XV Pless Hochberg. Wedding took place at London's Westminster Abbey, and the witness was Edward, Prince of Wales. The similarity of beauty, views and fate made that people often compare Daisy to Princess Diana. She is known from her tales and stories which are told until these days. One of them says that in the ruins of the Old Książ Castle, which is located near the new one, her ghost appears everyday at midnight in blue cape and cries.

View from the back left side

View from the front left side

The castle for centuries belonged to the powerful family of Hochberg. During this time the castle was visited by the most prosperous people in the world: prince couples, magnates, throne successors, but also John Quincy Adams, the future president of the United States and Tsar Nicholas I. When family fell into debt, prince was forced to make the castle accessible for tourists - mansion was annually visited by over 80 thousand people.

View from the back side

Within the castle there are a lot of attractions. You can visit it during the day or during the night. You only pay to enter the castle itself and the terraces.   

An additional attractions are castle stables, coach house and an indoor arena, one of the finest halls of its kind in Europe, built entirely of larch wood without any nails. 

The Goddness Flora Terrace 

The Middle Terrace

The Water Terrace

The Rose Terrace

The castle is in the middle of beautiful forests and views.

View from the Terrace

The terraces also contain a lot of unique flowers.

At the exit of the terraces there is an Old Forge.

You can see incredible landscapes without even buying a ticket because the road to the Castle is very long but it doesn’t mean that it’s boring. It is full with different kinds of species of plants. They are all signed. You can also visit the stable which is free as well. If you are not planning on visiting the castle, you can easily bring your dog with you. After entering the gate you will see restaurants. On the castle grounds there is also a hotel.

The road to the Castle

Terrace at the front of the Gate

The Gate

Restaurants

Książ Castle has a Palm House which contains over 250 species of plants which are from climate zones. It was found by the Hochberg dynasty for Princess Daisy. The building has taken place between 1908 and 1911. It is located in different spot but it is easy to find because of the signs.

Opening hours in day time with the tickets:

1.04 to 30.09—Mon-Fri:10a.m.-5p.m./Sat-Sun:10a.m.-6p.m.

1.10 to 31.03—Mon-Fri:10a.m.-3p.m./Sat-Sun:10a.m.-4 p.m.

->TOUR WITH A GUIDE is only in Polish language and it costs 350zł or 250zł, it contains visiting the Castle, Terraces and the Palm House.

-> TOUR WITHOUT A GUIDE, you can visit the Castle, Palm House, Terraces on its own for 30zł or 20zł, when adding the Stable you will pay 5zł more, when you want to visit only Terraces and Palm House you'll pay 20zł or 10zł.

->KSIĄŻ CASTLE BY NIGHT, it is usually on Fridays or Saturdays but you have to book in advance to find out the date. You will pay 55zł or 60zł.

For more details check the official site of Książ Castle.



Written by MW 2LAS
Photos by MW 2LAS