Visit to the fascinating Ksiaz Castle in Poland

Today, I'm taking you to discover a monument full of secrets in Lower Silesia: Ksiaz Castle, perched in the forest just a stone's throw from Wałbrzych in southwestern Poland.

Imagine a spectacular castle set on a rocky spur, surrounded by gorges and wooded paths, which you can visit by day or by night, with underground tunnels built by the Nazis right beneath your feet.

It makes for a very easy day trip from Wroclaw, combining medieval history, castle life, World War II, and a nature walk, all in a single full day.

In this article, I explain how to visit Ksiaz Castle in 2026: what to see on site, which areas to prioritize depending on how much time you have, which ticket to choose, how to get there by train, bus or car, and how to book a guided excursion from Wroclaw if you prefer to have someone leading the way.

I also share my impressions from a full day spent at Ksiaz, to help you plan a realistic schedule and make the most of this visit, which is often overlooked by foreign travelers.

The history of Ksiaz Castle

Ksiaz Castle, the third-largest castle in Poland, condenses nearly eight centuries of history, from medieval fortress to aristocratic residence and its transformation by the Nazis during World War II.

This long and complex history can still be read today in the architecture, the restored rooms, the traces of looting and the underground tunnels that run beneath the estate.

From medieval fortress to Hochberg residence

Ksiaz was built at the end of the 13th century on a rocky promontory at about 395 meters above sea level (about 1,295 ft), probably on the site of an earlier wooden structure, to control the surrounding area and defend the region of Silesia. This commanding position largely explains why the site was occupied so early in local history.

The castle passed through the hands of several owners, notably dukes and kings such as Charles IV of Luxembourg and Wenceslas of Luxembourg, each of whom helped enlarge it. At the end of a regional conflict in the 15th century, the castle was handed over to the commander of the Hungarian forces, who profoundly transformed the spirit of the place. From a defensive fortress, Ksiaz evolved toward a more residential role with the construction of the Matthias Wing, the first major extension focused on comfort and prestige.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Ksiaz was purchased by the Hochberg family, an influential family from Lower Silesia, who would leave a decisive mark there for nearly 400 years. Each generation altered the castle, removed fortifications, added gardens, a library, a Baroque wing, an honorary courtyard and a summer pavilion that would later become the family mausoleum.

Between the 19th century and the early 20th century, the exterior was redesigned with new roads, a landscaped park, an additional wing, several towers and, just before World War I, the construction of greenhouses a few kilometers away.

Ksiaz Castle under the Third Reich

In 1939, when the Third Reich extended its control over the region, Ksiaz was requisitioned by the Nazis and the last member of the Hochberg family living there was expelled from the castle. Suffering from what was probably multiple sclerosis, she died during the Second World War after quietly trying to help prisoners from the nearby Gross-Rosen concentration camp by sending them food parcels, while her sons were fighting against Nazi Germany.

The Todt Organization, responsible for major Nazi military construction projects under the supervision of Fritz Todt and then Albert Speer, decided to radically transform the castle to turn it into a possible residence for Hitler. A significant part of the interior was demolished and redesigned, a network of underground tunnels was dug beneath the castle, and an air-raid shelter was built to protect the regime's leaders.

These construction works still raise many questions among historians today. Some believe that the tunnels were simply meant to serve as a secure area, while others suggest they were intended as storage for sensitive archives or as a discreet place to conduct research related to the atomic bomb. What is certain is that this transformation was carried out using forced labor from the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, with deportees being sent to work in extremely harsh conditions.

Looting, restoration and rediscoveries

When Nazism fell, the castle was left without clear protection and suffered extensive looting by the local population, who took furniture, objects and decorative features. It was only after the intervention of the regional historic monuments curator, who secured the entrances, that Ksiaz was finally spared from squatters and further theft.

From the 1970s onward, an extensive restoration campaign was launched. The project went on for a long time, notably because of a major fire in 2014, caused by workers' negligence, which required new work on the roof and certain parts of the building. In 2015, a symbolic milestone was reached with the return to the castle of works that had belonged to the Hochberg family, which were found and put on display again in the restored rooms.

Archaeological research and renovation work still hold surprises. In 2019, for example, wall paintings hidden by the Nazis behind layers of plaster and paint were uncovered by chance. Today, Ksiaz is one of the "7 Wonders of Poland" and offers several visitor routes that help you understand these different layers of history.

What can you visit in Ksiaz Castle?

The visit to Ksiaz Castle is organized around several complementary areas: the interior of the castle and its terraces, the stables, a spectacular viewpoint over the building, the underground tunnels, a family mausoleum and, nearby, the Palmhouse greenhouses. By combining these places, you can plan a really full day around the castle.

The interior of the castle and the terraces

The castle visit is mostly self-guided, with the option of renting an audio guide to better understand what you're seeing. Guided tours are available, but they are mainly offered in Polish, which makes the audio guide very useful if you speak English.

The castle has more than 400 rooms, but only part of it is open to the public. The rooms you visit give a good sense of the daily life of the Hochberg family and of the distinguished guests who stayed here. There is relatively little original furniture left, but a well-designed display with old photographs helps you immerse yourself in the past and recapture the atmosphere of the place. Looking at some of the images, I had the feeling that the castle had truly been a "house of happiness," with scenes of children playing in the park, riding donkeys, or posing with animals.

Some of the emptier rooms recall the dark period when the Nazis stripped and rearranged the castle to suit their needs. The ballroom, for example, is impressive in size but remains quite bare today.

Beside these almost empty spaces, other rooms are richly decorated, with painted ceilings, large chandeliers, and colonnades representing the months of the year. As you walk down the corridors, you move from one atmosphere to another, which makes the visit quite varied.

Among the curiosities, I really liked the "wall of joy", a wall you're supposed to touch to see your wishes come true. It's a little ritual that entertains visitors and creates a pause in the tour.

There is also a detailed model of the underground tunnels and a fun exhibition dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, with machines you can operate that appeal as much to children as to adults. This is one of the aspects I appreciated about the visit: Ksiaz combines fairly classic historical rooms with more interactive spaces.

In some respects, the castle was far ahead of its time. At the beginning of the 20th century, it already had at least 8 elevators, dumbwaiters linking the second basement to the fifth floor for food, and two service elevators between the cellar and the ballroom. During World War II, a special elevator was even built to connect the castle tower directly to the underground tunnels, at a depth of about 15 meters (about 49 ft).

To follow all these explanations without getting lost, I strongly recommend asking for an audio guide in English at the reception desk if you're not comfortable with Polish. The signs are often translated, but the audio guide adds a lot of extra historical context and anecdotes.

In the fine season, from April to September, the castle terraces are open to visitors. Their opening period can sometimes be extended into October if the weather allows. There are nearly 2 hectares (about 5 acres) of terraced gardens, with flowerbeds, manicured shrubs, staircases, fountains, and viewpoints over the valley. Each terrace has a slightly different identity, and together they really make it feel like a castle set in the middle of a green jewel box.

The stables and the riding arena

About 500 meters (about 0.3 miles) from the castle, a path leads to the stables and the riding arena, built between the 18th and 19th centuries at the initiative of one of the Dukes of Hochberg. This area was dedicated to breeding Silesian horses, which were highly renowned in the region, and it illustrates the importance of equestrian life on aristocratic estates at the time.

Today, the visit lets you discover the architecture of the buildings and the work areas, and see how this part of the estate fit into the overall property. It is an interesting addition to the castle tour if you like to understand how these grand residences functioned as a whole.

A spectacular viewpoint over the castle

To get the best overall view of Ksiaz, you need to move a little away from the main building and head into the park to reach a developed viewpoint. It is very easy to find because it is marked by signs saying "Punkt Widokowy" as you approach the castle.

The castle stands in the heart of a park with gorges and a river below, and this viewpoint lets you see it as if it were perched on its rocky spur, surrounded by forest. If you enjoy walking, you will appreciate taking a bit of time to wander along the paths, listen to the sound of the water below, and observe the contrast between the ever-present nature and the castle's architecture.

During my visit, I was able to see Ksiaz under a beautiful stormy sky that contrasted with the warm colors of early autumn, promising a magnificent view.

The underground tunnels and the legend of the "gold train"

The castle's underground tunnels, dug by the Nazis beneath Ksiaz, have only been open to the public since the end of 2018. The section you can visit is actually relatively short, with about 1.5 km (about 0.9 miles) of galleries accessible, but it gives a very concrete sense of the scale of the work carried out at the time.

You walk through both concrete tunnels, more "modern" in appearance, and others carved directly into the rock, where you can physically feel the amount of work this required. It is hard not to avoid thinking of the prisoners from the Gross-Rosen camp who had to dig these galleries, often at the cost of their health and their lives. The visit provides some historical context that helps place these locations within the broader framework of the exploitation of concentration camp labor.

The tunnels are also tied to a story that has sparked a lot of discussion in Poland: the legend of a Nazi train loaded with gold, works of art, and treasures hidden somewhere in the south of the country before the collapse of 1945. According to this legend, the train headed toward Walbrzych but never arrived, fueling the theory that it is stuck in a blocked tunnel, perhaps under Ksiaz Castle or in one of the other underground complexes of the "Riese Project" in Lower Silesia.

Extensive searches have been carried out, including by the Polish army, without ever finding any trace of the train. In 2015, two men claimed to have located it using radar, and the story took on national proportions when the then deputy minister of Culture publicly mentioned images suggesting a train about 100 meters long (around 330 ft). Hopes were quickly dashed: analyses disproved the presence of the convoy, even though costly excavations were nevertheless undertaken, revealing only a partially collapsed tunnel. The legend remains very much alive and is now part of the imagery associated with Ksiaz.

The guided tour of the underground tunnels also includes videos projected in certain rooms. When I visited, the tour was only in Polish, which made the English audio guide almost essential for following and understanding the explanations. Do not hesitate to ask for it if they do not offer it to you spontaneously at the entrance to the tunnels.

The nighttime lantern tour

The castle regularly organizes guided night tours, usually on Fridays and Saturdays, which offer a very different experience from the daytime visit. These tours are only conducted in Polish, but if you have already explored the castle during the day, it can be an original way to extend your visit.

The nighttime tour lasts about 1.5 hours, is done by the light of lanterns, and includes areas that are not part of the standard route, such as the Hochberg family cellars or their former private movie theater. The atmosphere is more intimate, and the castle reveals a completely different side, with plays of light and shadow on the walls and vaulted ceilings.

You can check the upcoming night tour dates and book your tickets online by choosing among the different routes on offer.

The Hochberg family mausoleum

On the estate itself, a short distance from the castle, you will find the Hochberg family mausoleum. The building was originally constructed as a summer pavilion in the heart of the garden, before taking on a funerary function in 1883 with the addition of an underground crypt.

It notably contained a three-person "communicating sarcophagus" for Hans Heinrich XI and his two wives, which gives you a sense of some of the peculiarities of family life at the time. Another, much smaller sarcophagus was intended for the daughter of Hans Heinrich XV and Princess Daisy, who died shortly after birth. After 1945, the mausoleum was no longer used as a burial site, and all the sarcophagi are now empty. Visiting it nevertheless allows you to feel the very strong bond between the Hochberg lineage and the Ksiaz estate.

The mausoleum is generally closed in winter (from December to March), which may influence your choice of ticket if you are visiting the region in the off-season.

Visiting the Palmhouse greenhouses near the castle

The "Palmhouse," located about 2 km (about 1.2 miles) from Ksiaz Castle, is a nice way to round off a day of sightseeing with a lighter moment devoted to plants, natural light, and a coffee break in a tropical setting. It is a short detour that is easy to plan on foot or by bus, and will be especially appealing if you enjoy gardens and greenhouses.

A historic greenhouse gifted by Hans Heinrich XV

The Palmhouse greenhouses were built between 1911 and 1914 by Hans Heinrich XV as a gift for his wife, Princess Daisy. They are located about 2 km (about 1.2 miles) from the castle and can be reached very easily on foot by crossing a meadow along a well-marked pedestrian path.

The greenhouse covers about 1900 m² (about 20,450 sq ft), making it a pleasant space but modest in size compared to some of the large greenhouses you find in European capitals. It is not an absolute "must-see" if you are already familiar with many botanical gardens, but it is still very enjoyable to visit and offers a nice interlude after the historical intensity of the castle.

There are around 250 different species, with a good variety of tropical and subtropical plants. As you walk along the paths, you also catch sight of fish and several turtles, both small and larger, in an area combining water, rocks, and stones heated by a lamp. It adds a lively touch to the whole and often captivates children visiting the greenhouses.

Buying plants and taking a coffee break

One of the nice aspects of the Palmhouse is the possibility of buying plants on-site at very affordable prices compared to what you often see in France or Belgium. During my visit, I saw beautiful orchids for under 10 € (about $11 / £9), echeverias, cacti, plant terrariums, and it is quite hard to resist if you enjoy gardening or plant-based decor.

In the center of the greenhouses, a small café offers drinks and snacks in a very lush setting. "Boxes" laid out among the plants allow you to sit down as a pair or in a small group; some accommodate 4 to 6 people, while others are more intimate. It is an ideal stop for a break in the middle or at the end of the day, especially if you have walked a lot around the Ksiaz estate.

When leaving the Palmhouse, you simply need to cross the road and walk about 2 minutes to the left to reach a bus stop that will easily take you back to the Wałbrzych train station. It is a convenient route if you chose to come by public transportation from Wroclaw.

Spending the night in the Ksiaz Castle hotel

Spending the night at the Ksiaz hotel lets you extend the experience beyond the standard visit and enjoy the castle in peace and quiet, once most visitors have left. It is an option to consider if you have a bit of time and feel like experiencing a stay "in the manner of the castle's former guests."

A princely stay right by the castle

Within the estate itself, several outbuildings connected to the castle house a hotel that can accommodate around 80 guests. It offers single, double, and triple rooms, suites, and apartments suited to different types of travelers, as well as a playroom for children and common areas that extend the site's historical atmosphere.

Spending the night on site lets you stay as close as possible to the castle, in a setting that has seen kings, queens, emperors, and tsars come and go, while taking your time to enjoy the Lower Silesia region without rushing. It is also an opportunity to walk in the park early in the morning or at the end of the day, when the site is almost empty, which completely changes the atmosphere compared to peak visiting hours.

You can see photos of the Ksiaz Hotel and the room prices here to check whether this option matches your budget and your way of traveling.

Guided excursions to visit Ksiaz Castle

If you would rather not deal with public transportation or organizing things on site, several guided excursions from Wroclaw allow you to discover Ksiaz Castle and its underground areas, often combined with other major sights in Lower Silesia. These tours are particularly convenient if you are traveling for a short time or if you want an English-speaking guide.

Classic excursions from Wroclaw

From Wroclaw, you can visit Ksiaz with a guide by booking a day trip. These tours usually include round-trip transportation, a visit to the castle and the tunnels, and a second stop at another major point of interest.

For example, you can check out this 8-hour guided tour (available in English), which includes a visit to Ksiaz Castle, its tunnels, and the Church of Peace in Świdnica, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a private excursion, which means you benefit from the guide's full attention, with more flexibility to ask questions and slightly adjust the pace of the day.

There is also a similar but slightly shorter tour, which allows you to be back in Wroclaw by mid-afternoon. It is a good option if you have a busy schedule there and want to keep part of the day for other visits or simply to stroll around the city.

Tours for World War II enthusiasts

If you are particularly interested in the history of World War II and secret Nazi constructions, you can opt for a more specialized tour combining Ksiaz and the underground facilities of Project Riese. These military complexes, carved into the surrounding mountains for the needs of the Third Reich, were largely built by Jewish prisoners taken from concentration camps.

Take a look at this guided tour, which includes both Ksiaz Castle and some of the Project Riese sites. It is an intense day from a historical point of view, but very informative for understanding the concentration camp system, the logic behind major Nazi construction projects, and the role of Lower Silesia in this history.

Practical information for visiting Ksiaz Castle

Organizing a visit to Ksiaz Castle means coordinating transportation, tickets, and your visiting route, but everything remains fairly straightforward if you plan your travel and schedule at least a little in advance. Here are the key elements to plan your day.

Getting to Ksiaz by train, bus, or car

From Wroclaw, the easiest way to reach Ksiaz without a car is to take a train to Wałbrzych Miasto, then a city bus on to the castle. It's an inexpensive, fairly quick option and simple to do as a day trip.

From Wroclaw, allow about 55 minutes by train to reach Wałbrzych Miasto station. There's usually one train per hour, and you can buy your ticket directly at the ticket counter or from the machines. If you like, the website e-podróżnik.pl lets you check timetables in advance and compare routes. For the pronunciation of the city name, you can listen to an example here.

When you leave the station, turn left onto the main road that runs alongside the building and walk to the stop for bus no. 8, called "Armii Krajowej - Dworzec Miasto." It's located just after a Crédit Agricole branch and a pharmacy, which makes it easy to spot.

Take a bus whose final stop is "Jezdziecka - Zamek Ksiaz" and get off there: it's very close to the estate entrance. Alternatively, you can get off at the "Jezdziecka - Piastow Slaskich" stop, about a 10-minute walk (about 0.6 miles) from the castle, if the timing works better. On my trip, the combined cost for the round-trip train + bus was under €10 in total (about $11-$12 or £8-£9), which is very reasonable for the distance covered.

Bus lines 9 and 12 go to the Palmhouse instead: they can be handy, but from there you'll have about a 25-minute walk (around 1.5 miles) to reach the castle.

If you're coming by car, the address to enter in your GPS is 1, ulica Piastów Śląskich, Wałbrzych. Coming from Wroclaw, allow about 1 hr 15 min of driving outside rush hour. A large parking lot for visitors is accessible directly from the DK35 road. It's important to head for the visitor parking and not the "Hotel Ksiaz" lot, which is reserved for hotel guests and located a bit farther up.

Tickets, tour options, and opening hours

Ksiaz Castle now offers several different tour options so you can plan your visit according to your schedule and interests. Contrary to what you might think, it's not essential to choose the most comprehensive ticket to enjoy the site's main highlights.

Which ticket should you choose to visit Ksiaz?

• First visit (recommended): castle + underground tunnels + Palmhouse
• Complete visit of the estate: All Day Ticket (also includes the stables and the mausoleum)
• Short visit: castle with audio guide only
• World War II-focused visit: underground tunnels only or combined with the Riese project

In practice, the All Day Ticket is mainly worthwhile if you also want to visit the stables and the mausoleum. If your goal is to see the essential parts of the site, the castle + underground tunnels + Palmhouse option is usually more than enough.

As an indication, expect to pay approximately:

• €22 to €25 (about $24-$27 or £19-£21) for a castle + underground tunnels + Palmhouse package
• €25 to €30 (about $27-$33 or £21-£26) for the All Day Ticket
• €10 to €12 (about $11-$13 or £8-£10) for the underground tunnels only
• €6 to €8 (about $6.50-$9 or £5-£7) for the Palmhouse only

Prices change regularly, so always check the exact cost when you book online.

Opening hours vary slightly depending on the season, but the castle and greenhouses usually open at 9 a.m. and close between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., depending on the day and time of year. I recommend checking the exact hours for your travel dates, especially if you're visiting in the low season or on a Polish public holiday.

How much time should you plan for the visit?

For a first visit to Ksiaz starting from Wroclaw, it makes sense to plan a full day, giving you time to get to Wałbrzych, see the main sights, and enjoy the park a bit. That's what I did on my trip, and I never felt like I was in a rush.

From the castle entrance, allow about:

• 8 minutes on foot to reach the entrance to the underground tunnels.
• 9 minutes on foot to get to the stables.
• A similar amount of time to reach the mausoleum.
• About 25 minutes on foot to walk to the Palmhouse greenhouses.

For the visit itself, plan on 1 to 2 hours for the castle, depending on your pace and your interest in the exhibitions, 35 minutes for the guided tour of the underground tunnels, a similar amount of time for the greenhouses if you enjoy taking photos and having a break, and a flexible amount of time for the stables, the mausoleum, and a walk in the park. Once you factor in the Wroclaw-Wałbrzych journey, lunch, and a few photo stops, you easily end up with a very full day.

Personally, I really enjoyed the balance between architecture, history, forest, and greenhouses, along with the feeling of discovering a monument that is still fairly little-known internationally but very important for the region's memory. It's also a nice way to get out of Poland's big cities to see a bit of countryside and rolling hills, and to feel like you've discovered the country "from the inside."

If you're planning a trip to southwestern Poland, I suggest combining this visit with a stay in Wroclaw, a city I truly fell for: you'll find my detailed tips in this article on things to do in Wroclaw.

Which visit route should you choose at Ksiaz?

Depending on how much time you have on site, you can adapt your visit:

• In 2 to 3 hours: castle only, with the terraces in season if you focus on the essentials;
• In half a day: castle + underground tunnels;
• In a full day: castle + underground tunnels + Palmhouse + walk in the park;
• Full version: add the stables and the mausoleum with the All Day Ticket.

The Traveler's Memo for Ksiaz Castle

Here are the answers to the most frequent questions for planning a visit to Ksiaz Castle from Wroclaw or the Lower Silesia region.

To conclude, Ksiaz is one of those places where you can put together a truly tailor-made outing: a simple castle visit, a full day including the underground tunnels and the Palmhouse, or a deeper dive into the history of Lower Silesia and World War II. This flexibility is what makes the visit particularly appealing, whether you are a heritage enthusiast, a history buff, or simply looking for a beautiful nature excursion from Wroclaw.