Historic sites
an artificial, romantic ruin of a former Piast stronghold, arranged as a scenic feature for Książ Castle
Historic sites
the third-largest castle in Poland, with a history going back to the 13th century and tunnels from the Second World War
Historic sites
the ruins of a Gothic stronghold of the Dukes of Świdnica in the Wałbrzych Mountains, now overgrown with forest
Historic sights in Wałbrzych include Poland's third-largest castle and ruined medieval strongholds. Here is where to begin.
Start with Książ, because it shapes the rest of the route. The castle stands above the Pełcznica ravine in the district of the same name. It covers about 42,840 square metres, and only Malbork and Wawel are bigger. It lies on the Piast Castles Trail in Książ Landscape Park. Building on the site of a wooden stronghold ran from 1288 to 1292, and tunnels from the Second World War run beneath the castle.
They are two separate sites. Stary Książ (Old Książ) is an artificial ruin of a former Piast castle, rebuilt in the late 18th century as a scenic feature for Książ Castle. A stronghold stood here as early as the 9th and 10th centuries, and around 1290 Duke Bolko I the Strict moved his seat here from Lwówek Śląski. Hussites took the fortress in 1428.
Nowy Dwór Castle, once called Ogorzelec, is the ruin of a stronghold from the turn of the 14th century on Zamkowa Góra. Together with the Rogowiec and Radosno castles it guarded the border of the Świdnica duchy. A fire in 1581 damaged it so badly that its owners, the Czettritz family, left. You can walk up along the yellow trail, so plan a trip into the Wałbrzych mountains. Afterwards visit the museums or see the churches and monasteries. The whole city is on attractions in Wałbrzych, and the region on historic sights in Lower Silesia.
