Old Książ Castle

Old Książ Castle is a historic ruin in the north-eastern part of the Wałbrzych Foothills in the Sudetes, within the city of Wałbrzych. It is a separate site from the nearby Książ Castle, although the two places are historically and visually linked.

From a stronghold to a Piast fortress

A stronghold already existed on this site in the second half of the 9th and 10th centuries. At the end of the 13th century, Duke Bolko I the Strict built a stone defensive castle here, and in 1290 moved his seat here from Lwówek Śląski. The fortress lost its importance in 1392, when the Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor passed under the Bohemian crown. In 1428 it was seized by the Hussites, and later served as the seat of robber knights, until its destruction in 1484. The castle fell into ruin and ceased to serve any defensive function at the start of the 16th century. In 1509 the estate was taken over by the Hochberg family.

An artificial ruin from the late 18th century

Between 1794 and 1797, the owner of the estate, Jan Henryk VI von Hochberg, commissioned the architect Christian Wilhelm Tischbein to transform the remains of the old castle into a romantic, artificial ruin, conceived as a scenic feature for the nearby Książ Castle. Elements moved from the palace in Trzebień were used in this rebuilding.

20th-century history and present condition

In the summer of 1945 the building was set on fire by Soviet troops. The artificial ruins survive to this day: the main building with a legible layout of the former interiors, but without ceilings and most of the tower, as well as two Renaissance portals and the ruins of a chapel. The castle is entered in the register of immovable historic monuments, where its function is listed as an artificial ruin and its building material as stone. The site is administratively managed by the State Forests district office (Nadleśnictwo).

Visiting

The site is a ruin, and the sources give no information about organised access to the interiors or about opening hours. From the outside you can view the outline of the old walls, the portals and the remains of the tower, surrounded by the forest of the Wałbrzych Foothills.

Nearby

Just half a kilometre away stands Książ Castle, for whose view Stary Książ was originally arranged as an artificial ruin. Nearby it is also worth visiting the Palm House and the Stara Kopalnia Science and Art Centre.

Practical information

• Location: Wałbrzych, near Książ Castle, in the north-eastern part of the Wałbrzych Foothills in the Sudetes.
• The site is a ruin, with no organised visiting of the interiors, viewable from the outside.
• Wooded terrain, so it is worth wearing shoes suitable for uneven ground.
• Opening times and access rules for the area are worth checking before your visit.