Wałbrzych - one of the most beautifully situated towns in Poland

Walbrzych is situated in the southwest of Poland, in the Province of Dolny slask (Lower Silesia) in the vicinity of the Polish - Czech and Polish - German borders. It lies in the central part of the Sudety srodkowe Mountains at the height of 450-500m above sea level, in a picturesque valley surrounded by wooded ranges of the Walbrzyskie Mountains. Walbrzych has the status of a municipality and its administrative limits encompass the area of 85 sq km inhabited by about 133,500 people.

  

Wałbrzych enjoys an extraordinarily favourable location for transport, as city situated near the motorway crossing between the A4 /40 km/ and the A3 (planned) /29 km/. The town is intersected by the national road No.35 from Wrocław to the border crossing with the Czech Republic in Golińsk.

Distances from border crossings:

Kudowa Słone (Czech Republic) - 90 km,
Golińsk/Mezimesti (Czech Republic) - 17 km,
Lubawka (Czech Republic) - 29 km,
Zgorzelec (Germany) - 120 km.

Distances from European capitals:

• Warsaw - 420 km,
• Prague - 200 km,
• Vienna - 434 km,
• Berlin - 494 km.

The nearest airports:
Wrocław - International Airport - 78 km
Świebodzice - airfield - 10 km

Info, links:

PKP - Polish Railways - http://www.pkp.com.pl/

PKS - Polish Coach Communication - http://www.pks.walbrzych.pl/

Airport Wrocław - http://www.airport.wroclaw.pl/en/index.php

Local Communication - http://www.zdik.walbrzych.pl/

 

 

The picturesque location in the Walbrzyskie Mountains, the proximity of the Kamienne Mountains and the Sowie Mountains, historic monuments, recreational facilities - all these things create unique conditions for practising sports, different form of tourism and recreation all year round. Everybody will find something interesting for themselves here.

• The amateurs of road cycling and mountain biking will find this area ideal for these disciplines. A lot of national and local cycling races are held on the roads and paths of Walbrzych. Several cycling routes have been marked out here and one of the most interesting runs across the Ksiazanski Scenery Park.
• The town is also a starting point for many tourist trails leading to the peaks, viewpoints, commemorating sites and monuments of nature.
• Horse riding enthusiasts can devote themselves to their hobby in the Ksiaz State Stallion Stud where races, driving and dressage contests and international horse auctions are organized.

Besides the attractions connected with the natural location of the town we can also take pride in 700 year history and numerous monuments. The most interesting ones are:

 The Ksiaz Castle in Walbrzych is the third largest castle in Poland. It was erected in the end of the 13th century by Bolko I, swidnicko-jaworski duke. At the beginning it was a small stronghold, with time expanded by its next owners to become a beautiful and majestic castle. Due to the number of rooms - 418 with 200 fireplaces - it is often called the Lower Silesian Versailles. The location of the castle surrounded by the Pelcznica river ravine, among the forests of the Ksiazanski Scenery Park, adds a unique and fairy tale charm to it.

The Ksiaz State Stallion Stud - is situated on premises of the castle complex. It's a historical object which used to be stables and a carriage house of the Ksiaz Castle with one of the most beautiful indoor riding stables in Europe. This is where international driving and dressage competitions as well as horse auctions are held.

The Palm House, one of five in Poland, is situated in the close vicinity of the Ksiaz Castle. It attracts lovers of unique plants and amateurs of tropical flora. About 80 plant species from all over the world grow over the area of about 1900 sq m and the walls inside are covered with volcanic tuff from Etna. Every visitor is welcome to relax here and, if thirsty, have a drink in "Pod Tropikiem" café.

The Walbrzych Market Square is the place where weekly markets were held in the past. In the first half of the 18th century in the middle of the square there was a wooden building of the town hall surrounded by stalls and arcaded tenement houses. The most famous of them till today are the oldest ones:The House under an Anchor, 
The House with Three Roses and The Tenement House under Atlantas.They come from the times of the greatest develop-ment of linen trade and in the tenement houses numbered 5-9 there were wine bars, where great German poet Goethe used to drink wine during his visit in 1790. The present look of the Market Square is the result of renovation works in the years 1997-99.

Former Palace of the Czettritz family built in 1604-1628, now the headquarters of the County Office.

Former Palace of the merchant Alberti family, built in 1801 in the classicist style, now the seat of the Walbrzych Museum with abundant collections in domains of geology, mining, ceramics and the history of the town.

The Church of the Dolorous Virgin Mary built in 1305 and completely rebuilt in the baroque style about 1720, a former burial church. According to a legend it is the place of origin of a forest settlement, which the town of Walbrzych developed from.

The Neo-Gothic Catholic Church of Guardian Angels built in 1899-1904 on the site of a Renaissance church from 1438.

The Classicist Evangelical Church built in 1785-1788 according to a project of J. G. Langhans - the creator of the Berlin Brandenburg Gate.

The Museum of Industry and Technology - a branch of the Walbrzych Museum presenting the mining history of Walbrzych for ages associated with deposits of hard coal. The museum is located in the old mine unit called "Julia".

All those who are eager for healthy effort, active tourism and those who are looking for pause and peace in contact with nature and monuments are welcome to the Walbrzych Land


The information comes from: www.um.walbrzych.pl