Palace in Łubowice

The Łubowice Palace ruins (Łubowice: woo-boh-VEE-tseh) mark the birthplace of Joseph von Eichendorff, one of the best-loved poets of German Romanticism, in the countryside of Upper Silesia in southern Poland. All that remains of the manor are roofless brick walls in a quiet park above the Oder valley, but the place is full of atmosphere and shared Polish-German history. It is a short, rewarding detour for literature lovers and anyone exploring the Racibórz area.

History

The poet's father, Adolph von Eichendorff, bought the Lubowitz estate in the 1780s, and a single-story Baroque manor was built in 1786. Joseph von Eichendorff was born here on March 10, 1788; his best-known works include the poem "Mondnacht" (Moonlit Night) and the novella "Memoirs of a Good-for-Nothing." The family lost the estate after the father's failed land speculation, and it was auctioned in 1823. From 1852 it belonged to the Dukes of Ratibor, who rebuilt the house in 1858–1862 in a Tudor-Gothic style with a central tower and corner turrets.

In 1945, during fighting on the Oder front at the end of World War II, the palace was hit by artillery and burned; afterward its bricks were carted off by locals. After the fall of communism, a local Eichendorff society cleared the rubble in 1989, and in 2000 a Polish-German Eichendorff cultural and meeting center opened next to the ruins.

What to see

• The palace walls, with window openings and stairways, best seen from the park.
• The park and the "Hare Path" avenue with views over the Oder valley that inspired the poet.
• The Eichendorff Oak, with a bilingual board carrying one of his poems.
• A small memorial room in the former village school, an Eichendorff monument and the old cemetery with family graves.

Condition and safety

In May 2026 a resolution signed in Łubowice called for urgent conservation, warning that the ruins' structural condition is a serious concern. View the walls from outside, stay on paths and keep children away from loose masonry.

Practical information

The ruins and park are open year-round and free (as of October 2026). Address: ul. Zamkowa 2A, 47-417 Łubowice. The memorial room opens by phone appointment, arranged through the Eichendorff center; signage is bilingual Polish-German rather than English. Allow 30–60 minutes, or about two hours with the memorial room and cemetery.

How to get there

Łubowice is about 9 km (6 miles) north of Racibórz, which is roughly 80 km from Katowice and its airport. A car or bike is the easiest way to get there. Is it worth visiting? For fans of Romantic poetry or Silesian history, definitely; combine it with Racibórz's market square and Piast castle.