Książ Landscape Park

Książ Castle stands on a rocky spur above the gorge of the Pełcznica River, and it is this mountain-like landscape within the city limits of Wałbrzych that Książ Landscape Park protects. Its 3,155 hectares hold deep ravines, beech woods, the ruins of the medieval castles of Old Książ and Cisy, and a flooded quarry known as Lake Daisy. Marked walking paths start right in the Wałbrzych districts of Podzamcze and Szczawienko.

The park in numbers

The park was created on 28 October 1981 by the regional council in Wałbrzych. It covers 3,155.4 ha, with a buffer zone of a further 5,933 ha. It lies in the Wałbrzych Foothills, within Wałbrzych, Świebodzice and the municipalities of Stare Bogaczowice, Dobromierz and Świdnica. The highest point reaches 481 m between Poniatów and Pogorzała, the lowest (about 270 m) is on the Strzegomka River at Dobromierz. The park is divided into three landscape zones: Dobromierz around a reservoir, Książ with its river gorges, and Lubiechów with its rounded hills.

What to see

• The Przełomy pod Książem nature reserve, protecting the gorges of the Pełcznica and Szczawnik with a truly mountainous feel, although these are only foothills.
• Książ Castle with its terraces above the Pełcznica gorge, and the Książ Stud.
• The ruins of Old Książ Castle on a hill above the Szczawnik and the ruins of Cisy Castle above the Czarny Potok valley.
• The Lake Daisy reserve: a disused limestone quarry with Upper Devonian fossils, surrounded by beech forest, next to an underground working called Daisy Cave.
• The Bolko yew and other natural monuments: there are 17 in the park, mostly yews, plus 3 historic tree-lined avenues.

Nature and trails

The forests are mainly oak-hornbeam, acidic mountain beech and foothill alder woods. Surveys record between 181 and 229 plant species, 29 of them protected, with mosses and lichens particularly abundant. The park authority has laid out educational trails: the Rhododendron Valley trail, the Lake Daisy nature trail and the Hochberg Trail, which combines nature and history and refers to the former owners of Książ. Walking trails also cross the park, including the Piast Castles Trail, plus marked walking paths from Wałbrzych-Podzamcze and Szczawienko.

Tripto tip

The best short loop starts in Wałbrzych-Szczawienko or Podzamcze: the red walking path leads to the ruins of Old Książ, over Skiba hill and back through the Szczawnik gorge. Allow 2–3 hours for this walk, or a full day if you also want to tour Książ Castle. Paths in the gorges can be steep and slippery after rain, so wear shoes with a good grip. Entry to the forests and reserves is free; you only pay to visit the castle and the stud. Lake Daisy is named after Princess Daisy of Pless, the last owner of Książ Castle, and the remains of her lookout tower still stand on the shore. The reserve lies in the municipality of Świdnica and is easiest to reach from Pogorzała.