Location
Lower Silesia on the doorstep
The woods begin right behind our house, and a 20-minute walk through them brings you to Książ Castle. Szczawno-Zdrój, Stara Kopalnia and the Church of Peace in Świdnica are 10 to 20 minutes from us by car, and Adršpach Rock Town, over the border in the Czech Republic, makes a full day out.
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20 minon foot
Książ Castle
Poland's third-largest castle, after Malbork and Kraków's Wawel: more than 400 rooms on a rock above the Pełcznica gorge, owned by the Hochbergs for over four centuries — this is where Princess Daisy lived. Then there are the terraced gardens and the Second World War tunnels beneath it. From us you walk through the woods, uphill for the last stretch; the car stays at our house, while the car park below the castle charges a fee.
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15 minon foot
Książ Stud Farm
Historic stables on the way to the castle — on maps, look for the name Stado Ogierów Książ. The stud breeds mainly Silesian horses, and its hippodrome hosts competitions and shows, including the Art Cup at the end of August and the championship for young Silesian horses. You can walk round the grounds on your own; a guided tour of the stables has to be arranged in advance by phone or e-mail. The riding school gives lessons, and children can ride from the age of 10.
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4.4 kmto the pump room
Szczawno-Zdrój
A spa town developed by the Hochbergs of Książ: a covered promenade hall (the present one from 1896), a spa park with a bandstand and the Henryk Wieniawski Spa Theatre. In the pump room anyone, not just spa patients, can taste four mineral waters: Dąbrówka, Marta, Mieszko and Młynarz. From us it is an hour's walk or a quarter of an hour by car.
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8 km13 min by car
Stara Kopalnia and the Porcelain Museum
The former Julia coal mine, where the last tub of coal came up to the surface on 20 September 1996. You visit with a guide, underground as well, and the Centre for Unique Ceramics runs workshops, including some for children. Two kilometres on, in the Alberti Palace, is the Porcelain Museum — half a day for the pair, and a good plan for a rainy day. The Explore Wałbrzych combined ticket covers both of them, plus the castle and the palm house, among other places — one entry to each within 12 months; with this ticket, ring the mine in advance to book your visit.
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17 km20 min by car
Church of Peace in Świdnica
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, regarded as the largest timber-framed church in Europe. Permission to build it came with strict conditions: wood, clay and straw only, no tower and no bells, outside the town walls and within a year — it went up in ten months and holds 7,500 people. Opposite the pulpit is the private box of the Hochbergs of Książ. On Sunday mornings there is a service, so visiting only starts at midday.
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40 km
Adršpach Rock Town
Over the Czech border, a full day out: sandstone towers and narrow passages between the rocks. The main circuit is 3.5 km; allow about two and a half hours. Buy tickets for a set entry time in advance at adrspasskeskaly.cz — once a time slot has sold out, the ticket office cannot sell you one either. There are few car parks, and it is best to pay for parking online. It is busiest between 10 am and 2 pm. The boat only runs in season and takes Czech crowns in cash, and with a pushchair you will only get as far as the Little Waterfall (Malý vodopád, about 1.3 km) — beyond it come narrow, steep steps, so bring a baby carrier instead.
More things to do around Wałbrzych
We have written up each of the places below in detail — how to get there from us, how long to allow, and what to know beforehand.
- Książ Castle (Fürstenstein) 2 km
- Wałbrzych Palm House 1.1 km
- Walim Adits – the Rzeczka complex 24 km
- Stara Kopalnia and the Porcelain Museum 8 km
- Szczawno-Zdrój – Bad Salzbrunn 4.4 km
- Książ Stud Farm 2 km
- Grodno Castle and the Owl Mountains 17 km
- Church of Peace in Świdnica 17 km
- Mountains and lookout towers around Wałbrzych
- Free guided walks and hikes around Wałbrzych
- Staying near Książ Castle: 20 minutes on foot
- Stary Książ – the old castle above the Pełcznica gorge 2 km
- Daisy Lake – Jezioro Daisy 5.5 km
- Hiking and cycling routes from the house
Practical
Getting here from Wrocław, and on to Książ Castle
- By car
- From Wrocław take national road 35 (DK35) via Świdnica and Świebodzice — about 80 km, usually an hour to an hour and a quarter. Świdnica lies on your route, so the Church of Peace makes a good stop on the way in. There is free private parking at the house, and you can walk to the castle and the stud farm — the car can stay with us for the whole of your visit.
- By train
- The nearest station is Wałbrzych Szczawienko (ul. Stacyjna), 1.3 km from us — 15–18 minutes on foot. Koleje Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesian Railways) trains run from here to Wrocław Główny more than 20 times a day (52–64 minutes, see the timetable) — the same trains that stop at Wałbrzych Miasto, so there is no need to make your way there. Long-distance PKP Intercity trains call at Wałbrzych Główny; from there it is about 20 minutes by taxi. On this same line, at kilometre 65 in Szczawienko, a dig in 2016 searched for the legendary “gold train” from the end of the war — and found nothing.
- By air
- Wrocław Airport (WRO), about 80 km — around an hour and a quarter by taxi. Airport transfer on request.
- By bus
- The “Wrocławska – Fabiana” stop is 300 m from the house, a four-minute walk. Line 8 takes you up to Książ Castle (not every bus – where to get off) and, in the other direction, to Szczawno-Zdrój; line 12 runs to the town centre and to Wałbrzych Miasto and Wałbrzych Główny stations. You cannot buy a ticket from the driver — pay by contactless card on board or via an app. Check departures at rozklad.walbrzych.eu.
