DISCOVER SUDETY

Admission: Paid (reasonable prices with discounts available)
Distance from EC: 6 minutes (4 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WTi21WtBKBmoC5789
More: sztolnie.pl

Hidden in the Owl Mountains, the Walim Tunnels are part of Nazi Germany’s secretive “Riese” project from World War II. Built with forced labor between 1943–1945, the site still puzzles historians with its unknown purpose and unfinished construction.

Visitors can choose between two routes: the Historical Route, showcasing vast halls and eerie chambers, or the Adventure Route (seasonal), offering hands-on exploration of narrow tunnels. The dramatic lighting, mysterious architecture, and abandoned equipment enhance the haunting atmosphere. Guided tours reveal stories of the laborers and theories behind the project, making the tunnels both a remarkable engineering feat and a powerful war memorial.

Admission: Paid (various ticket options including family packages)
Distance from EC: 15 minutes (12 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G6y9JirrDxnDj8199
More: kopalnia-muzeum.pl

Visit the Dawna Kopalnia Węgla (Old Coal Mine) in Nowa Ruda to experience underground mining in one of Poland’s most authentic preserved sites. Explore real tunnels, original equipment, and reconstructions that bring the region’s industrial past to life.

The main attraction is a 700-meter underground tour with helmets and lamps, led by former miners who share personal stories and demonstrate vintage machinery. Some tunnels still show 19th-century techniques, while others reflect modern mining methods. Above ground, a museum showcases tools, minerals, and photos. Visitors can try a simulated mine elevator, shop for coal souvenirs, or join special events, including atmospheric night tours.

Admission: Paid (reasonable prices with family/group discounts)
Distance from EC: 20 minutes (12 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oCfcrckdkYBz51Da6
More: osowka.eu

Hidden in Poland’s Owl Mountains, Osówka is the most mysterious part of the Nazi “Riese” project—an unfinished underground complex built with forced labor between 1943–1945. Its purpose remains unknown, fueling theories about secret weapons, factories, or a Führer headquarters.

Visitors can choose between a Historical Tour, featuring vast halls and ventilation systems, or the Extreme Route (seasonal), involving narrow tunnels and steep climbs. Unfinished corridors, strange architecture, and dramatic lighting enhance the eerie atmosphere. Guided tours, led by experts, share wartime stories and recent discoveries, making Osówka both a chilling memorial and a captivating historical enigma.

Admission: Paid (with discounts for families and groups)
Distance from EC: 17 minutes (13 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/w2hiQJ9aHy7czD4D7
More: zamekgrodno.pl

Perched atop Chojna Hill with views over Lake Bystrzyckie, Grodno Castle is a well-preserved medieval fortress dating back to the late 13th century. It blends Gothic and Renaissance styles, inviting visitors to explore centuries of Silesian history.

The castle offers stunning views of the Owl Mountains and lake. Inside, visitors can see the Knights’ Hall with period armor, a dungeon with medieval graffiti, and defensive towers. The 15th-century main tower rewards climbers with panoramic vistas. Grodno Castle’s rich history spans from a Bohemian stronghold to a Renaissance noble residence, with exhibits showcasing medieval artifacts. Visitors can enjoy daytime historical tours or atmospheric lantern-lit evening tours featuring castle’s legends.

Admission: Free access to lake area
Distance from EC: 17 minutes (13 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dLJxhDu8PDEGteMv9

Lake Bystrzyckie, nestled in the Owl Mountains, is a stunning artificial reservoir created in 1917 by damming the Bystrzyca River. Stretching 3.5 km long and up to 38 meters deep, its waters shift colors seasonally from emerald to turquoise.

The lake’s highlight is its massive 44-meter stone dam, an early 20th-century engineering marvel with guided tours inside. Visitors enjoy kayaking, hiking to waterfalls, fishing, and cycling around the lake. Nearby Grodno Castle overlooks the water, while shoreline restaurants serve local trout. The dam was built using prison labor, with legends of secret inmate carvings. Seasonal events include summer water sports and autumn foliage displays.

Admission: Paid (various ticket options including family packages)
Distance from EC: 35 minutes (24 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mDML9PNwYw8M3u7PA
More: starakopalnia.pl

Step into the world of coal mining at Stara Kopalnia (Old mine), a beautifully restored 19th-century complex in Wałbrzych. This industrial heritage site offers interactive exhibits, authentic machinery, and immersive underground tours that bring Poland’s mining history to life.

Once one of Lower Silesia’s largest mines, Stara Kopalnia now serves as a modern museum. Visitors explore reconstructed shafts with atmospheric effects and see exhibitions on mining technology and regional history. Highlights include a working 1911 steam-powered winding engine, an art gallery, craft workshops, and a café in the former director’s villa. The site’s park displays mining equipment and offers panoramic views, while concerts and light shows enhance the cultural experience.

Admission: Paid (modest fee with discounts available)
Distance from EC: 35 minutes (28 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/k5vuggjGfyTFkUnj8
More: kosciolpokoju.pl

The Peace Church in Świdnica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, is a remarkable half-timbered Lutheran church built in 1657 under strict conditions—using only wood, clay, and straw, without nails, and completed in just one year.

Despite these limits, the church impresses with its size and artistic detail. Inside, three levels of wooden balconies feature 78 biblical scenes, a Baroque altar, and a 17th-century organ still used for concerts. Designed for quick dismantling, it has survived nearly four centuries. The surrounding Peace Park and tower offer peaceful grounds and panoramic views of Świdnica and the Sudeten foothills.

Admission: Paid (various ticket options, including combined castle and garden passes)
Distance from EC: 40 minutes (30 km)
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PtKQbMHwXM6AN3wt9
More: ksiaz.walbrzych.pl

Perched on a rocky hilltop and surrounded by forest, Książ Castle is one of Poland’s largest and most beautiful castles. Known as the “Pearl of Lower Silesia,” it has over 400 rooms and blends Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles across 700 years of history.

Once a medieval fortress, it became a grand residence of the Hochberg family. Visitors can explore its ornate halls, underground Nazi tunnels from the “Riese” project, and stunning terraced gardens. The nearby Palm House adds charm with exotic plants and a café. Legends of hidden treasures and wartime secrets still surround the castle, which hosts concerts, festivals, and evening light shows.