Książ Castle is one of those places that genuinely takes your breath away — the third largest castle in Poland, perched dramatically on a rocky cliff above the forested Pełcznica river gorge in Lower Silesia. With over 400 rooms, a history stretching back to the 13th century, and wartime tunnels hidden beneath its foundations, it offers far more than just a pretty facade.

The castle sits at 395 metres above sea level, surrounded by the beautiful Książ Landscape Park. The setting shifts wonderfully through the seasons: spring brings the famous Flower and Art Festival that draws up to 100,000 visitors over just a few days, summer fills the baroque terraces with colour, and autumn wraps the whole complex in golden forest and rolling mist that makes it feel genuinely otherworldly. Even in winter, blanketed in snow, it is utterly captivating.

• Wałbrzych (town centre) — local bus or by car via Jeździecka Street, parking available at the castle; a leisurely walk through the park takes around 15–20 minutes, easy terrain
• Piast Castle Trail (red marking) — passes directly through Książ, connecting it with other historic castles of the region
• Green trail — from Cis Bolko through Książ towards Świebodzice, moderate difficulty

• Open to visitors year-round; entrance fee applies
• Underground Tourist Route through WWII-era tunnels open since April 2018
• Hotel and restaurant on site within the castle complex
• The Lower Silesian Geophysical Observatory (Polish Academy of Sciences) operates in the underground levels

Legend has it that the first fortress here was built in the 10th century by a knight called Funkenstein, who supposedly received his noble title from King Henry I of Saxony as a reward for gifting him a sack of coal found in the forest — a story as colourful as the castle itself.