Ballestrem Palace in Pławniowice

The palace in Pławniowice, between Gliwice and Kędzierzyn-Koźle, is one of the most distinctive buildings of Upper Silesia: a three-winged residence of red brick under a steep graphite roof, decorated with turrets, spires and dormers. It was built in 1882–1885 as the seat of the Ballestrem family, with the master builder Konstanty Heidenreich from Kopic near Grodków as its designer. The style — Dutch Neo-Mannerism with neo-Gothic additions — sets it apart from other Silesian residences.

Interiors and the chapel

The complex includes the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, consecrated on 15 October 1885 and now serving as the parish church. Surviving state rooms include the Green Room, the rococo Pink Room, the former count's study and the dining hall, now used as a concert room; one chamber collects keepsakes from missionary expeditions. The ensemble is completed by farm buildings in the same style, with an outbuilding, stables and carriage house, and by a 2.4-hectare landscape park with a large magnolia next to the palace.

Practical visiting

The palace-and-park complex belongs to the Diocese of Gliwice, which runs an educational centre here. The park and interiors are open for a fee, although the palace rooms can be visited only on selected days of the week and for a few hours, so check the schedule before your trip; a basic ticket covers the park. Nearby lies the Pławniowice reservoir, a popular bathing and fishing spot, which makes it easy to combine the visit with time by the water.