Castles

Świecie Castle

The ruins of Świecie Castle near Leśna stand on a rocky promontory above the road towards Pobiedna and Mirsk. They are the remains of a medieval stronghold built on gneiss rock and once part of the fortifications of the Queis area. This is not the Teutonic castle in Świecie on the Vistula, but a Lower Silesian ruin surrounded by forest.

A stronghold above the Queis

The castle was probably built at the beginning of the 14th century on the initiative of the dukes of Świdnica-Jawor. In 1329, sources mention it as Swete. The fortification guarded routes from Lusatia and Meissen towards Silesia and Bohemia. After Silesia came under the Bohemian Crown, it lost military importance but remained a feudal residence.

Fires and rebuilding

The castle changed its form several times. The most important alterations followed a fire in 1527, when Renaissance elements were added; further rebuilding took place in the 18th century. After it was abandoned in 1760, the site gradually declined, and a later 19th-century fire left it in ruin. Fragments of the gneiss walls, the courtyard, residential buildings and the outer bailey have survived.

Before you go

The ruins are privately owned and restoration work affects how much of the site is accessible. Check current information from the municipality before travelling and do not enter beyond clearly designated areas. The castle can be combined with a walk near Leśna; a green trail passes close to the ruins, and a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands a few hundred metres away.