Castles

Stary Książ Castle

Stary Książ is a set of romantic ruins above the Pełcznica gorge, within the Książ Landscape Park near Książ Castle in Wałbrzych. It is a rewarding walk to a less obvious part of the Książ complex. This is an outdoor ruin, not an operating museum with a ticket office and fixed visiting hours.

A romantic ruin, not a medieval castle

Between 1794 and 1797, Hans Heinrich VI von Hochberg commissioned architect Christian Wilhelm Tischbein to shape the surroundings of Książ as an English landscape park. The remains of an older castle were transformed into a picturesque romantic ruin, following the period’s fashion for Gothic scenery and atmospheric buildings.

What to see

The surviving elements include stone walls, towers, Gothic arches and fragments of a courtyard set directly on the rock. The surrounding paths open views towards the Pełcznica gorge, forests and the Książ area. The building burned in 1945, so today’s visitor sees the remains of a romantic ruin rather than preserved interiors of a former residence.

Practical information

Stary Książ is reached on foot through the Przełomy pod Książem nature reserve. The 4.5-kilometre Hochberg Trail runs through the Pełcznica gorge from Wałbrzych or Świebodzice. The terrain is wooded and steep in places, and it is not suited to effortless access with a pushchair. There are no standard opening hours or a separate museum route. Stay on marked paths, do not leave the trail in the reserve and keep dogs on a lead. Check trail conditions and any notices before setting out.