Ksiaz Castle

Ksiaz Castle, Poland's third-largest castle, is also known as the Pearl of Upper Silesia. Ksiaz, which was built in the 13th century, has seen several government transitions and has been the location of numerous historical agreements. This magnificent fortress has hosted everyone from Russian czars to British leaders. Today, Ksiaz Castle provides numerous guided tours every day, and there are various restaurants within the castle walls where you may dine while surrounded by centuries-old art and architecture.

Construction work was conducted out inhumanely by forced laborers and Gross-Rosen concentration camp prisoners. Following the Vistula-Oder Offensive in 1945, the castle was seized by Red Army soldiers. The Fürstenstein subcamp is commemorated by a monument. During the Soviet occupation, parts of the ancient building structure were dismantled, and other artifacts were taken or destroyed.

Following the war, communist authorities took over the castle complex and used it as a vacation home and cultural center. Large portions of the interior have been meticulously repaired in recent years. Parts of the tunnel network beneath the castle are being utilized for gravimeter measurements by the Polish Academy of Sciences, while many WWII-era tunnels are open to the public on guided tours.

Location: Wałbrzych, Poland