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Ksiaz Castle what to see and what to do?
If you go to Ksiaz Castle, you will discover one of the main attractions in Poland. When you visit it, you immediately realize that it is not only a beautiful building, terraces with gardens or a park, but also a place that keeps an amazing history full of secrets and legends.
Not to be missed!
Książ Castle on our route through Poland
What to keep in mind?
On your trip to Poland you must visit Ksiaz Castle (pronounced something like "Xaus"), a beautiful and amazing place at the same time.
History of Książ castle
The history of Ksiaz is more than 700 years old. The castle has been rebuilt and enlarged many times, so you can see various architectural styles in it. The biggest changes were made in the XNUMXth and early XNUMXth centuries. The castle has more than 400 rooms.
Origins
A first fortification on the site was destroyed by the Bohemian forces of King Ottokar II in 1263. The Duke of Silesia Bolko I the Strict (d. 1301), ruler in Świdnica and Jawor, had a new castle built from 1288 to 1292 and took his residence here, adding Lord of Książ to his titles.
When the last Duke of Świdnica, Bolko II the Little, died childless in 1368, the castle property passed to the Luxembourg king Wenceslas IV of Bohemia, son of Bolko's niece Anne, while his widow Agnes of Habsburg reserved the usufruct. As Agnes, contrary to her limited royal rights, had sold the Książ properties, the castle passed through many hands.
The second castle complex was devastated in 1482 by Georg von Stein, a military commander in the service of the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus while his forces were campaigning in Silesia. Stein granted the estates to Frederick von Hohberg, his descendant Konrad I von Hohberg obtained Castle Hill in 1509. The von Hohberg family was elevated to the rank of Freiherren (Baron) in 1650, Graf (Count) in 1666 and Imperial Counts (Reichsgrafen ) in 1683 and owned the castle until 1944.
World War II and Soviet stage
During World War II, the castle was taken over by the Nazi regime in 1944 Overseen by SS personnel and the Todt Organization, the Ksiaz castle building complex became part of the vast underground complex of Project Riese. Presumably a projected Führer headquarters and future abode for Adolf Hitler. The construction work was carried out in inhumane conditions by forced laborers and inmates from the Gross-Rosen concentration camp.
The castle was subsequently occupied by Red Army forces in the wake of the Vistula-Oder Offensive in 1945. Parts of the historic building's structure were demolished and numerous artifacts were stolen or destroyed during the Soviet occupation.
What to see and do at Ksiaz Castle
Really visiting Ksiaz Castle can take you even a whole day, because in addition to the third largest castle in Poland, There are also many places worth seeing in the area.
For us, there is ten places in the castle that you cannot miss:
1. Courtyard of honor
2. Princess Daisy's Apartments
3. The Maximiliano Room
4. Terraces and gardens
5. The undergrounds of the castle
6. Herd of stallions and stables
7. Castle viewpoint
8. Hochberg family mausoleum
9. The Hochberg path and the path around the castle
10. Castle ruins
The history of Ksiaz is more than 700 years old. The castle has been rebuilt and enlarged many times, so you can see various architectural styles in it. The biggest changes were made in the XNUMXth and early XNUMXth centuries. The castle has more than 400 rooms.
Princess Daisy's Apartments
Daisy was the last lady of the castle. He liked Ksiaz more than Pszczyna Castle, which also belonged to the Hochbergs. He managed to make Ksiaz a place where crowned heads and influential people meet.
Today, at the Princess Daisy Apartments, you can travel back in time and see what life was like for the Hochbergs in the early 200th century. There you will find the permanent exhibition "Kitchen Ksiaz", consisting of more than XNUMX unique photos showing not only the castle and the princely family, but also the common people who worked for them.
You will see how the children grew up, what the interiors looked like before they were looted and destroyed, and you will feel for a moment the atmosphere that reigned here.
Ksiaz terraces and gardens
In the period from April to September, the tour of the castle can be completed on the terraces next to the castle with ornamental gardens. The first ones were built in the seventeenth century on the site of the old fortifications.
Currently, the terraces are arranged on 12 levels with an area of 2 ha. The gardens are kept in French style. They are decorated with flowers, trees, shrubs, statues and fountains. They are also a place from which you can admire beautiful views of the surroundings, which were mentioned in her memoirs by Princess Daisy von Pless.
Castle viewpoint
Ksiaz was built directly on solid rock on a steep promontory with a height of 395 m above sea level. It is said that "the castle looks like a ship floating in the vegetation." It is worth seeing with your own eyes and seeing the castle from a different perspective.
Among several viewpoints, I especially recommend the viewpoint that is located on the Giant's rock, about 700 m from the castle, it is very easy to access and the view of the castle is incredible.
The Hochberg path and the path around the castle
The Hochberg Trail is one of the biggest surprises when visiting Ksiaz. I suggest starting on the green path that goes from under the castle to the mausoleum. The route runs along steep slopes, over the ravines along the walls of the ravine, on which numerous footbridges and bridges hang. In this place, you breathe peace and there are excellent views.
Ksiaz Castle is worth a visit!
Eat in the castle
Finally, let me tell you that we ate in the restaurant at the entrance of the castle, which has a beautiful back terrace in the gardens. Apart from very good quality very well priced. A delight to eat there! Highly recommended, especially the iced coffee that I ordered at the end (ice coffe).
Where to park and spend the night in Książ by motorhome
Just as you enter the castle you will see a marked parking lot with a motorhome, there you can park and spend the night at a low cost.
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