Ksiaz Castle
Reputedly the largest castle in Lower Silesia, the 400-room Ksiaz Castle was originally laid out in the 13th century by members of the early Polish nobility. It's been refurbished and rebuilt several times through the centuries, resulting in today's baroque-Renaissance-rococo-neoclassical mishmash. From 1509 to 1940, the castle was owned by the Hochberg family, and its most famous resident -- at least, to English-speaking readers -- is Winston Churchill's aunt, Princess Daisy Hochberg, who lived here from 1891 to 1923 and then again in the tempestuous years at the start of World War II, from 1938 to 1940. During the latter half of World War II, the castle was seconded by the Nazis, who dug huge tunnels in the ground below. It's never been fully revealed what the Nazis were up to, but theories include preparing the castle as a residence for Adolf Hitler or simply clearing space to build an underground munitions factory.
After the war, the occupying Soviet Army requisitioned the castle and, according to the Poles, stayed a suspiciously long time; perhaps trying to figure out what the Germans wanted to do here. After the Russians left, the castle languished unoccupied. Now, it's making a comeback as one of the most popular tourist sites in these parts and also as a conference and party venue.
There are two possibilities for seeing the interior: one is to take a guided tour (offered only in Polish), the other is to tour the castle on your own. The former includes a visit to the underground Nazi-era tunnels, while the latter unfortunately does not. Before embarking on the individual tour, be sure to stop in at the antique store on the ground floor to buy a little booklet in English on the castle. The guided tour lasts about 70 minutes. (English tours are available, but must be booked in advance and are conducted only for groups of 15 or more.)
Reputedly the largest castle in Lower Silesia, the 400-room Ksiaz Castle was originally laid out in the 13th century by members of the early Polish nobility. It's been refurbished and rebuilt several times through the centuries, resulting in today's baroque-Renaissance-rococo-neoclassical mishmash. From 1509 to 1940, the castle was owned by the Hochberg family, and its most famous resident -- at least, to English-speaking readers -- is Winston Churchill's aunt, Princess Daisy Hochberg, who lived here from 1891 to 1923 and then again in the tempestuous years at the start of World War II, from 1938 to 1940. During the latter half of World War II, the castle was seconded by the Nazis, who dug huge tunnels in the ground below. It's never been fully revealed what the Nazis were up to, but theories include preparing the castle as a residence for Adolf Hitler or simply clearing space to build an underground munitions factory.
After the war, the occupying Soviet Army requisitioned the castle and, according to the Poles, stayed a suspiciously long time; perhaps trying to figure out what the Germans wanted to do here. After the Russians left, the castle languished unoccupied. Now, it's making a comeback as one of the most popular tourist sites in these parts and also as a conference and party venue.
There are two possibilities for seeing the interior: one is to take a guided tour (offered only in Polish), the other is to tour the castle on your own. The former includes a visit to the underground Nazi-era tunnels, while the latter unfortunately does not. Before embarking on the individual tour, be sure to stop in at the antique store on the ground floor to buy a little booklet in English on the castle. The guided tour lasts about 70 minutes. (English tours are available, but must be booked in advance and are conducted only for groups of 15 or more.)
Details
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Available as paperback
and as e-book.
