Castle complex in Pszczyna
Dubbed the Pearl of Upper Silesia, Pszczyna has much to offer visitors. The Old Town is a great place for strolling with its pretty main square surrounded by the Town Hall and rows of old townhouses where you can now enjoy a drink outside one of the atmospheric pubs and cafes. But the number one attraction is the ducal castle set in an ancient park. No trip to Pszczyna can be complete without paying a visit to the kings of the forest – the European bison roaming statelily just a few steps from the main square and the castle.
With a history going back to the 15th century, the castle in Pszczyna changed hands and appearance many times. It gained its present shape during the reconstruction work carried out in the 1870s, under the Hochbergs. Visiting the castle is like a journey into a hundred-year-old world of wealth and luxury. As much as about eighty percent of the original furnishings from the turn of the 20th century survive, which is rare in this part of Europe. The tour of the castle takes in the opulent halls, imperial suite, drawing rooms, bedrooms, studies, the library and the renowned two-storey Mirror Hall. Military buffs are sure to enjoy the armory in the basement.
A few years ago the exterior of the castle was restored. The renovation highlighted the beauty and finesse of the ornamental details on the facades. The grounds were also tidied up, including the adjacent vast terraces, and facilities for disabled visitors were added.
During excavation work, the castle revealed its ancient secrets. A secret tunnel leading to the Chevalier Lodge rising on the edge of the park was discovered and a 15th-century Gothic entrance was found in one of the walls around the courtyard. It is going to provide access to the cellar where the old castle kitchen is planned to be re-created.
A visit to the ducal residence must be followed by a walk to the Showpiece Bison Farm in the west section of the park. Europe’s biggest mammals were brought here in 1865 by Duke John Henry Hochberg XI to grace the hunting parties attended by European royalty. Later, the Pszczyna line of these animals contributed to the restoration of the endangered species. The residents of the farm can be watched from a path skirting the enclosures or from above, by climbing up to a comfortable deck with benches and picnic tables. Children love the feeding sessions as well as visiting Grandpa Gamekeeper’s Lodge and the 3D film about the forest rulers, shown in the Visitor’s Centre at the farm.
The project of renovating the historic castle complex in Pszczyna was nominated for the main award in the 1st contest Poland Even More Beautiful. Seven Miracles of EU Funds in the Historic Building category.
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