Fürstenstein Castle: A touch of magic and history in Lower Silesia!

Fürstenstein Castle: A touch of magic and history in Lower Silesia!

Fürstenstein Castle, located in today's Wałbrzych, attracts numerous tourists annually with over 500,000 visitors and is one of the most important sights of Lower Silesia. The press spokesman for the castle, Mateusz Mykytyszyn, compares the area with the famous Wawel in Krakow and the Marienburg. The combination of breathtaking nature, cultural diversity and impressive architecture makes the castle a real jewel. In particular, the mystical figure of the Princess Daisy of Pless-Hochberg, which is considered an icon in Polish pop culture, contributes to attraction.

Princess Daisy, active in the social and humanitarian areas, was not only a benefactor, but also a passionate environmentalist. Her husband, Prince Hans Heinrich XV. However, these extensive conversions contributed to the financial crisis of the Hochbergs and ultimately led them to have to sell the castle to the state in the interwar period after they were its gentlemen for four and a half centuries.

historical backgrounds

The castle, which was first mentioned in 1293, was mentioned in 1355 as Castrum Fürstinberg. Initially, it belonged to the Reichen family Hochberg, which, among other things, made significant conversions in the 17th, 18th and 20th centuries, including the wonderful maximilian hall. The last time the castle was owned by the Hochberg until 1940 before it was rebuilt in the course of the Second World War to serve as the outside seat of the Nazi regime.

The time of the Second World War brought destruction and conversions that were initiated by the “Organization Todt”. These planned to adapt the lock for high-ranking Nazi officials such as Hitler, Göring and Ribbentrop. The memories of Dorothea Stempowska, which was born in Fürstenstein in 1935, illustrate the dramatic changes in the castle and the associated destruction by the Russian troops.

cultural attractiveness and visitor magnet

Fürstenstein Castle - known today as Książ Castle - is the largest castle in Lower Silesia and the third largest in all of Poland. It enthroned majestically on a rock lead, surrounded by the picturesque gorge of the Polsnitz river. Open all year round and equipped with combined tickets for the adjacent stud and the palm house, the castle attracts visitors from near and far. Particularly noteworthy is the underground area that was created as part of the giant project during the war and has been open to the public since 2018.

All information about opening times, prices and visits can be found on the official website of the castle. Whether as part of a study trip or on an individual visit, Fürstenstein Castle is undoubtedly a place where the rich past can be experienced in a lively way.

For more details about Fürstenstein Castle, take a look at the reports of mdr , E-Lower Silesia and Silesia News .