Proskau: Castle History and Arboretum
Accommodation in Proskau
Proskau (Prószków) combines church history and castle architecture with an arboretum whose tree specimens come from various parts of the world. Nearby, there is also a natural attraction with a walking pier and observation tower. This brings different interests together when choosing a destination: historic buildings, blacksmithing tradition, garden culture and an outing to a pond.
Church and castle: two traces of history
The first brick church in Prószków was built in 1578. During the Thirty Years’ War, troops under Field Marshal Lenart Torstensson burned the church down in 1644. Reconstruction was completed in 1687, giving it a Baroque form. The dates thus tell of a major turning point and a later new beginning; its Baroque appearance is part of the history of this reconstruction.
The castle in Prószków offers a different architectural accent. The four-winged building encloses a rectangular courtyard; bastion-like corners and two towers on the front facade define its form. Among the surviving details are the coats of arms of the Prószkowski family, dating from 1563, on the exterior facade. The Knights’ Hall features stucco decorations with ceiling panels, while the courtyard contains a marble fountain basin from the 18th century. The exterior, hall and courtyard thus offer different architectural points of interest, without reducing the castle’s history to a single date.
Arboretum and nature in the surrounding area
The park of the arboretum in Prószków was established in 1866–1867 and today covers about 15 hectares. Its collection includes about 46 oak species; this number may change. Tree specimens come from China, Manchuria, Japan and Europe. These areas of origin give the park a botanical breadth that extends beyond the individual oak species. For nature enthusiasts, the arboretum is a destination in its own right alongside the town’s buildings.
In the Staw Nowokuźnicki nature reserve in the nearby village of Nowa Kuźnia, a wooden walking pier several hundred metres long runs along the eastern shore. At its end stands an observation tower, which offers views over the densely vegetated pond. The nature attraction is in the surrounding area of Proskau, not in the town itself; it is worth bearing this in mind when planning your visit.
Blacksmithing tradition and discoveries by bike
At the Kuźnia w Prószkowie, you can see a blacksmith’s workshop in a condition similar to that of workshops 100 to 150 years ago. Demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing techniques are held at the Muzeum Kowalstwa. During workshops, participants can touch objects made there. If you are planning to attend a demonstration or take part in a workshop, check the arrangements and current availability with the operator in advance.
The municipality of Prószków also invites you to take a cycling tour to see crosses and chapels. These are spread across the municipality’s villages, fields and meadows. The tour thus focuses on a theme across the municipal area and complements the individual buildings and nature attractions with a cycling route through varied landscapes.
Choose the right search location
When searching for a holiday apartment, it helps to distinguish between the locations: the church, castle, arboretum and blacksmithing attractions are in Prószków, while the walking pier is in nearby Nowa Kuźnia.
Discover more destinations: Sławice, Krasiejów, Comprachtschütz, Stare Siołkowice, Zedlitz, Czarnowąsy, Niemodlin, Przysiecz.
For the main travel overview: Opolski.
