Gardens

Central Park in Świdnica

Central Park stretches slightly south of the Old Town of Świdnica, within the outline of Śląska, Pionierów, Lipowa streets and Plac Ludowy. After the thorough revitalization carried out in recent years it is the most polished green space of the city: wide alleys, a fountain, pergolas draped with flowers and footbridges over fish-stocked water reservoirs.

The park is monitored and spectacularly illuminated in the evenings, so a walk works at any time of the day and the year. Entry is free and the area is open around the clock. In summer the park stage hosts open-air events, among them the St John's Eco-picnic, worth catching if you plan a visit around the solstice.

The Wieland sculpture

The most unexpected object in the park is the sculpture of Wieland, the mythical smith from Germanic mythology. It was created after the plebiscite and the Silesian Uprisings, when a large part of Upper Silesia found itself within Polish borders, and it was then the most anti-Polish sculptural manifestation in Świdnica — the pedestal carried the inscription Remember Upper Silesia. Today, stripped of its pedestal and original message, it stands in the park as an ornament of the alleys and a history lesson like no other.

Practical information

The park lies a few minutes from the Świdnica market square, on the way to the Church of Peace listed by UNESCO — the two points are easiest to combine into one walk. Świdnica sits on the Bystrzyca river, in Lower Silesia, within the Wałbrzych agglomeration, so the park also serves as a natural stop on the way to the Sowie Mountains or to Wałbrzych.