Castles

Bad Muskau Castle

On the Lusatian Neisse, on the Polish-German border, the New Castle stands in the Muskau Park — the heart of the largest English-style park in this part of Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle lies on the German side, in Bad Muskau, just across the Neisse from the Polish Łęknica, reached through the park via the Double Bridge.

The work of Prince Pückler

The park was created in the early 19th century by Count Hermann von Pückler-Muskau — a traveller and eccentric who financed the undertaking by divorcing his beloved wife and marrying a wealthier woman. The park, covering nearly 750 ha on both sides of the river, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. The castle itself was built on the foundations of a 16th-century Renaissance structure, and the 19th century gave it its present, stately form.

Visiting the castle and the park

Strolling through the park is free — the grounds are closed to car traffic, and the well-kept greenery and ponds invite long walks. The so-called New Castle is open to visitors for a fee. Nearby it is worth visiting the Łuk Mużakowa Geopark, also a UNESCO site, with colourful lakes in former excavations.

Practical information

The castle stands on Schloßstraße in Bad Muskau on the German side; from Łęknica you can walk there through the park. The park is open all year round, and the best light for photos is in the morning, before the crowds arrive by the water. Remember to carry your documents — you are crossing a state border.