Park in Świerklaniec

The park in Świerklaniec, between Tarnowskie Góry and Pyrzowice on road 78, is today a place for walks — and a memorable remnant of the residence of the Donnersmarck family, among the richest people in Europe a century ago. At its heart lies a pond with a fountain and a historic mast, next to it a large body of water spreads out, and around both runs an asphalt loop popular with cyclists and rollerbladers.

The palaces you will not see

The former residence had two grand palaces. The Old Castle was dismantled at the beginning of the twentieth century, when the new palace known as the Little Versailles was built — considered one of the finest residences of Silesia in its day, it did not survive the twentieth century. What did survive is the Cavalier Palace, a guest house from around 1903 whose first distinguished guest was Emperor Wilhelm II; after renovation it occasionally opens to visitors, and a café operates in its cellar.

Walking in the family's footsteps

The neo-Gothic Church of the Good Shepherd completes the park's composition, and the family's history is recalled by the story of La Païva, the famous femme fatale of the nineteenth century and wife of Guido Donnersmarck, and by the Hubertus hunt tradition still kept up in the park. A heron fishes at the pond in summer, while ducks and swans stay all year; the car park by the main gate is paid, and on warm weekends it is worth arriving early, as the park draws visitors from all over Upper Silesia.