Zamek Książ

About the museum

Książ Castle was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries on the orders of the Duke of Świdnica–Jawor, Bolko I the Strict, as a stronghold guarding the routes into Silesia. Until 1945 it bore the German name Fürstenstein. From 1509 it belonged to the Hochberg family, who extended the castle for more than four centuries, and in the 18th century created the Baroque terraces and gardens. At the beginning of the 20th century the interiors and gardens were thoroughly transformed by Princess Daisy.

During the Second World War the castle was taken over by the authorities of the Reich, and some of the rooms were rebuilt as part of the secret “Riese” project. Under the castle a system of tunnels and halls was hollowed out by the hands of prisoners; today it can be visited as the Underground Tourist Route. Since 1991 the castle has been looked after by the company Zamek Książ w Wałbrzychu, owned by the commune of Wałbrzych.

The complex comprises more than 400 rooms. Visitors pass through the representative halls of the Hochberg family, the medieval and Renaissance part of the castle, the interiors remodelled by the Nazis, and new exhibitions on the third floor, to which a part of the former collections has returned. Nearby are the palm house, the Hochberg mausoleum and a stud of stallions.

Highlights

• Third-largest castle in Poland, with more than 400 rooms
• Representative halls of the Hochberg family and the heritage of Princess Daisy
• Underground Tourist Route from the time of the “Riese” project
• Terraces and gardens (seasonal) and the Wałbrzych Palm House
• Tour with an audio guide, also in a version in Polish Sign Language

Permanent exhibitions

• Trasa zwiedzania zamku – The representative halls of the Hochberg family, the oldest part of the castle and the rooms remodelled by the Nazis, with new exhibitions on the third floor.
• Książ od kuchni – Exhibition of recovered photographs showing the everyday life of the castle.
• Podziemna Trasa Turystyczna – Half a kilometre of tunnels, halls and chambers hollowed out during the Second World War, visited with a guide.

Operated by

Zamek Książ w Wałbrzychu Sp. z o.o. (gmina Wałbrzych)

Admission & discounts

The price of PLN 72 covers a tour of the castle with an audio guide set, the terraces (seasonal) and the palm house; prices of other sets are given under additional tickets. Children under 4 enter free. The Ogólnopolska Karta Dużej Rodziny (National Large Family Card) and the Wałbrzyska Karta Dużej Rodziny 3+ (Wałbrzych Large Family Card 3+) are honoured. Tickets for the castle without a guide are valid for 12 months from purchase. The price list applies from 6 May 2026.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Most of the castle route is accessible to wheelchair users thanks to ramps and lifts, but part of the route and the terraces have stairs with no way around them. Toilets for people with disabilities are on the first and second floors. Designated parking spaces are in the hotel car park and in the forecourt (3 spaces by the Gatehouse Building and 5 in the Main Car Park). The castle can be visited with an audio guide set for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, with Polish Sign Language. The route through the palm house is accessible, although one pavilion has stairs and there is no toilet for people with disabilities there.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Educational routes are prepared for children and young people, including “Magiczny Zamek” (“Magic Castle”), “Bajkowy Książ” (“Fairy-Tale Książ”) and “Zamkowe Tajemnice” (“Castle Secrets”) (for groups), as well as family and night tours. Children under 4 may not be taken into the underground.

Getting there & parking

The palm house lies about 2 km from the castle (ul. Wrocławska 158); the mausoleum and the stud of stallions are in the park, about 700–900 m from the castle.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

Backpacks, umbrellas and other large items must be left in the cloakroom; a backpack worn at the front may be taken into the rooms. Audio guide sets are collected at the castle entrance, next to the cloakroom. Hotel Książ is located at the castle.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 1,000 guests.

The castle houses the Congress and Cultural Centre, with more than 25 conference and banqueting rooms for up to 1,000 people. Commemorative photo sessions are possible only on the terraces and in the palm house.

Plan your visit