Lubań County: Castles, Architecture and Landscapes

Castles and stories from different centuries

Czocha Castle was built in the 13th century by a Bohemian ruler. At the beginning of the 20th century, Bodo Ebhardt had the castle remodelled, giving it some of its fairytale appearance. During a guided tour of the courtyards, you can also visit the castle tower. From there, you can enjoy views of the surrounding area. The visit thus combines the castle’s courtyards with views from the tower, without reducing the castle to a single historical period.

The palace in Nawojów Łużycki belongs to a different period: it was built in 1570–1571 and is one of the most valuable Renaissance architectural monuments in the whole of Upper Lusatia. Biedrzychowice is home to a Baroque palace, one of the most impressive buildings of its kind in western Lower Silesia. Anyone interested in historic architecture will find different styles and regional contexts here. The buildings make a useful comparison: the Renaissance takes centre stage at the palace in Nawojów Łużycki, while the palace in Biedrzychowice is Baroque.

Urban architecture and religious art

The Wieża Bracka in Lubań was built in 1318. The eight-storey structure is 45 metres tall. The tower complex houses the mineralogy section of the Regional Museum in Lubań. Its collection includes minerals from the Kwisa Valley and the Jizera and Karkonosze Mountains. The top of the Wieża Bracka offers panoramic views of the town. Architecture, town views and minerals from several landscapes offer different reasons to visit Lubań.

The Church of the Sacred Heart in Świecie dates from the 14th century. Its wooden coffered ceiling, decorated with portraits of saints, is particularly distinctive. Anyone interested in religious architecture and pictorial details can make this church a cultural destination in its own right. In Świeradów-Zdrój, the spa house has an 80-metre-long larch-wood promenade hall. A mineral-water spring containing radon and iron is located at the main entrance to the hall. The hall and the spring are defining features of the spa house, offering a different focus from the castles and palaces of the region.

Water, trails and a variety of excursion themes

The Leśniańska Dam is 45 metres high and 130 metres long along its crest. It is considered one of Lower Silesia’s most interesting hydrotechnical monuments. The oldest hydroelectric power station in Poland stands at the foot of the dam. Anyone interested in water engineering and technology will find a different subject here from the region’s historic residences. Excursions in the Kwisa Valley pass the river, wooded hills, rock faces and a reservoir. These landscape features give nature outings their own distinctive character.

Lubań County offers five themed excursion routes: covering fortifications, aristocratic residences, remnants of the former criminal justice system, hydrotechnical monuments and religious monuments. This brings together a range of interests, rather than describing the region through a single focus. When planning your day, you can decide whether you would rather focus on architectural history, religious art or technical monuments. In Lubań, a 2.8-kilometre shared pedestrian and cycle path also runs along the DK30. Its specific length makes it easy to factor this route into your plans for a stay in town.

Motopark Olszyna is another distinctive attraction: it has an off-road race track almost 30 kilometres long, described as the largest in Europe. So alongside historic and natural attractions, the region also offers motorised off-road activities. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider which of these different sides of Lubań County you would most like to explore during your holiday.

For further orientation, you can also find the following places here: Świeradów-Zdrój, Wolimierz, Pobiedna, Złoty Potok, Leśna, Lubań, Nawojów Łużycki, Jałowiec, Księginice, Zapusta, Niemstów and Olszyna.

For the broader travel overview: Lower Silesia.