Visitor guide
Książ Castle visitor guide — everything you need to know before visiting
Książ Castle (Zamek Książ) stands above the Pełcznica river gorge in northern Wałbrzych, in Poland's Lower Silesia. It is the largest castle in Silesia and the third-largest in Poland after Malbork and Wawel. First built in the late 13th century, it passed through the dukes of Świdnica and later the Hochberg family, became famous in the early 20th century as the home of the English-born Princess Daisy, and was requisitioned by Nazi Germany during the Second World War, when tunnels were driven beneath it as part of the unfinished 'Riese' project.
At a glance
- Book in your languageYour currency, one final price.
- Pro tips includedThe rooms most miss, the terrace, the best tunnel slot.
- Ready before you flyMobile ticket, waiting in your inbox.
- 24/7 human supportReal people, instant answers — any hour, any time zone.
The castle above
Książ grew over seven centuries from a compact border castle into a vast residence of towers, courtyards and stacked baroque terraces. The interiors you visit with an audioguide include the state rooms and the grand Maximilian Hall, the ceremonial heart of the house. From the terraces the view runs out over the wooded gorge — and back across the castle's own silhouette, which is why so many photographs are taken from there.
The tunnels below
From 1943 Nazi Germany requisitioned Książ and began carving tunnels into the rock beneath and around it as part of 'Riese' ('giant'), one of several vast underground projects in Lower Silesia. Its purpose was never officially confirmed and the work was abandoned unfinished in 1945. The guided Underground Tourist Route leads you through these raw passages — cool, bare and unforgettable — and tells the story of who dug them and why.
Princess Daisy
The castle's most romantic chapter belongs to Daisy, Princess of Pless — born Mary Theresa Olivia Cornwallis-West in England and married into the Hochberg family. Celebrated across Europe for her beauty and charity and later marked by war, divorce and decline, she remains the figure most associated with Książ, and her story threads through the rooms and the audioguide.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I allow at Książ?
Allow at least half a day. The castle interiors and terraces take a comfortable couple of hours, the Underground Route adds a guided walk, and the Palm House is a further short trip. With the Explore pass and the other Wałbrzych sites you can fill a full day.
Is the Underground scary or claustrophobic?
The tunnels are wide rock passages rather than tight crawlspaces, walked as a guided group with lighting. They are cool and bare, which is part of their power. Most visitors find them fascinating rather than frightening, but if confined spaces are difficult for you, the castle-only ticket is the better choice.
Sources
This guide is written by the concierge team and cross-checked against the official operator every time we update it. Primary sources:
About our service
Książ Castle Tickets is an independent concierge service that helps international visitors reserve and receive their entry tickets in English. We are not the castle and we are not an official vendor — we purchase genuine entry tickets on your behalf from Zamek Książ, the official operator, and our service fee is included in the price you see. If you prefer to buy directly, the operator's own ticket site is bilety.ksiaz.walbrzych.pl.
Ready to book?
See all ticket options and availability on the home page.
See ticket options