Historic sites
a medieval defensive tower from the 13th century, the tallest of the surviving town towers of Lwówek Śląski
Historic sites
a Renaissance castle from the 16th century built by Ramphold Talkenberg, today a Baptist church centre
Historic sites
an 18th-century residence of the von Schmettau family on a hill, destroyed by fire in 2006
Historic sites
a Neo-Gothic villa from 1880 built to resemble a medieval defensive castle
Historic sites
a town fortification tower predating 1261, currently being renovated as a future tourist information point
Castles in Lwówek Śląski: a Renaissance stronghold in Płakowice, town towers, a hilltop palace and a neo-Gothic villa. What you can actually see.
Płakowice Castle is regarded as one of the largest Renaissance defensive buildings in Silesia. It was built in the 16th century on the site of a manor that already stood here in 1480. Ramphold Talkenberg of Podskala began the larger castle in 1550, to a design by the Italian architect Franciszek Parr. Today it houses a Christian centre and is still being renovated. After 1605 the estate passed to the von Schaffgotsch family.
Two towers survive, with different histories. The Lubań Gate Tower from the 13th century was one of three towers guarding the town gates, is the tallest that survives, and has been listed since 1954. The Łupinowa Tower belonged to the inner ring of walls begun before 1261. It was built mainly of sandstone and converted into a dwelling in the late 18th and early 19th century. Since 2024 it has been under renovation, so treat it as something to glance at from outside, not a reason to travel.
The Wietrznik Palace stands on top of a hill (393 m above sea level) in Płakowice and is now largely a ruin. Count Bernard von Schmettau built it in 1745, and from 1786 it belonged to the von Hohberg family, who set up a chamber concert hall there. It is also known as the Hunting Manor.
The Lwówek Little Castle is a villa from 1880 on Kamienna street, built of brick in neo-Gothic style to resemble a castle. It has crenellations along the roof gables, a cylindrical tower and small corner turrets.
We also list all defensive sites and residences under castles of the region, and buildings in other categories under historic sites and architecture. For a solo route see Lwówek solo, and for the town as a whole the Lwówek Śląski attractions page.
