Although in the common imagination, Silesia is associated with coal mines and red brick settlements, it is just a small part of the entire landscape and architecture. Silesia also boasts castles, palaces, manors, and other historical sites worth visiting.
From the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland to the Silesian Beskids, the Silesian Voivodeship is home to dozens of castles and palaces, bearing witness to ancient times. We have chosen those located closest to the town of Wisła.
Pszczyna Castle - The Most Beautiful Palace in Silesia
Since 1946, Pszczyna Castle has functioned as a museum. Although it is referred to as a castle, it is, in fact, a palace, once the residence of nobility, built on the site of a Gothic castle. As one can imagine, the property has been extensively rebuilt over the centuries, reflecting Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-Baroque styles. The castle, along with its English park spanning over 150 hectares, forms a palace and park complex. The original furniture and furnishings have been preserved within the castle. In one of the rooms, a Miniature Cabinet has been created, and a weapons room is located in the basement.
All exhibitions cover nearly 3,000 square meters. Visitors can explore the castle from the basement to the second floor. On the ground floor, you will find, among other things: the apartment of German Emperor Wilhelm II from the early 20th century, a council room, a working room, and a wardrobe. Stairs made of light sandstone lead to the first floor, where you can see, among other things: a sculpture of the Egyptian Amnesis holding a basket with little Moses, sculpted by Francesco Barzaghi in 1874; Princess Daisy's apartments, the wife of Duke Hans Heinrich XV Hochberg (parlor, bedroom, boudoir, and bathroom); the Duke's bedroom and study, a hunting anteroom, a library, and one of the most beautiful rooms, the mirror room. The castle's second floor was only built in the 18th century and houses a hunting gallery, a music room, a working room, a dining room, a bedroom, and the aforementioned Miniature Cabinet.
While visiting the castle, it's worth stopping by the European Bison Show Farm in the Pszczyński Park.
Check the museum's opening hours and the periods when it is open.
Distance from Vestina Wisła Malinka Hotel >> approximately 60 km.
Castles in the Silesian Voivodeship: Chudów
Chudów Castle consists of modest remnants of a Renaissance fortress built in the 1530s on the initiative of Jan Saszowski of Gierałtowice, replacing a former wooden defensive tower. Initially, the castle had six floors, but in 1874, it was destroyed by a fire.
In 2004, as part of the renovation, the castle's tower was brought back to life and transformed into a small museum. The castle becomes especially attractive during the August Medieval Fair, which has been growing in popularity for nearly thirty years.
Right next to the castle stands Tekla, the oldest lush poplar in Poland. A "Puchatek's Cottage" was created in its trunk.
Check the museum's opening hours and the periods when it is open.
Distance from Vestina Wisła Malinka Hotel >> approximately 80 km.
Castles in Silesia: Będzin
The medieval Będzin Castle has served as the Museum of the Zagłębie Region since 1956. The exhibition halls primarily house collections of weapons and armament from past centuries. In earlier times, this castle was a defensive fortress built during the reign of King Casimir the Great. It was constructed on the foundations of an existing settlement dating from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Located on a high hill on the left bank of the Czarna Przemsza River, it once served as a defensive stronghold.
Check the museum's opening hours and the periods when it is open.
Distance from Vestina Wisła Malinka Hotel >> approximately 110 km.
Castles in Silesia: Toszek
Toszek Castle is a partially reconstructed 15th-century building, serving as the seat of the "Zamek w Toszku" Cultural Center. However, its history dates back to the 10th and 11th centuries when there was a wooden fort in Toszek, destroyed by Hussites in 1429. The castle was rebuilt by Duke Przemysław Toszecki. Over the centuries, the castle changed hands. Between 1957 and 1963, the castle was partially rebuilt.
Before visiting this Silesian castle, it's a good idea to check the events taking place there. You can participate in a painting workshop, Toszek Brewery events, Toszek Days, or a fair. The castle can be explored with a guide, and there is a restaurant on its premises.
Check the museum's opening hours and the periods when it is open.
Distance from Vestina Wisła Malinka Hotel >> approximately 120 km.
Traveling along the trail of castles and palaces in Silesia can be a fascinating adventure that will reveal the ancient and partly forgotten history. So, when planning your vacation in the Silesian Beskids, consider creating an itinerary that allows you to take a moment to explore historical castles.