Palm House in Wałbrzych (Lubiechów)

The Wałbrzych Palm House (say "VAHW-bzhikh") in the Lubiechów district is a historic glasshouse built by Prince Hans Heinrich XV von Hochberg, lord of nearby Książ Castle, for his wife, the British-born socialite Daisy, Princess of Pless. Today more than 250 plant species grow under its glass roofs, and the grottoes and waterfalls inside are built from solidified lava shipped from Mount Etna. Run by Książ Castle and about 2 km (1.2 miles) away from it, it is the natural add-on to a castle visit, especially on a cold or rainy day.

A gift for Princess Daisy

Daisy, born Mary Theresa Cornwallis-West, loved flowers and exotic plants. According to the castle company that runs the site, the palm house was built in 1908–1911 (some authors say 1911–1914) at the staggering cost of 7 million gold marks. It was a whole horticultural works: besides the main palm house there were hothouses, Japanese-style gardens, a rose garden and a fruit and vegetable garden. Seedlings from here helped turn the formal French gardens at Książ into romantic English-style grounds, and the kitchens got fresh produce. The palm house was open to visitors from the start.

The most unusual detail is the interior stone: the prince had seven railroad cars of solidified Etna lava brought from Sicily. Builders broke the volcanic tuff into pieces and shaped it into grottoes, waterfalls and walls with planting pockets.

What to see

• The central hall: a roughly 15-meter (50-foot) metal-and-glass pavilion ringed by single-story orangeries, originally planted with date palms
• The plant collection: bamboo, figs and shrubs from Asia, eucalyptus from Australia, perennials from Africa, cacti and agaves from Central America and citrus from the Mediterranean
• The bonsai exhibition: described by the operator as Poland's only permanent bonsai display, with a juniper about 200 years old
• Volcanic grottoes and waterfalls made of Etna lava

Visiting tips

Visits are self-guided only; there are no guided tours and no group bookings for guided visits. Most people need about an hour. Almost everything is under cover, so it works well with kids and in bad weather.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026:

• Through October 18, 2026: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
• From October 19, 2026: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• The palm house ticket office closes 30 minutes earlier.

A palm-house-only ticket costs PLN 27 (reduced PLN 21); children under 4 enter free. Every daytime Książ Castle ticket also includes one palm house entry, valid for 12 months; for example, castle with audio guide plus terraces and palm house costs PLN 72 (reduced PLN 62). Keep your ticket: it gets you 20% off at Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you are visiting Książ anyway: it adds an hour of greenery, a striking piece of Silesian aristocratic history and the bonsai collection for a modest extra cost. On its own it is a pleasant but small attraction.

Getting there

The palm house is at ul. Wrocławska 158, about 2 km from Książ Castle, roughly a 25-minute walk. Wałbrzych is about 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Wrocław, whose airport (WRO) is the nearest international gateway. Phone: +48 74 666 33 15; email: palmiarnia@ksiaz.walbrzych.pl.

Nearby

Pair it with Książ Castle, its terraces and underground tunnels. The Explore Wałbrzych ticket (PLN 139) also covers the Old Mine science and art center, the Porcelain Museum and the lookout tower in Sobieski Park.