Historic parks and gardens

Day 1:

Większyce Palace

The history of this residence is connected with the Heymann (Heimann) family of Wrocław bankers, who acquired the estate with an old wooden manor house in the mid-19th century. Before the palace was built, an extensive landscaped park was laid out here in the then fashionable English style, imitating a natural landscape. The undulating terrain, ponds and carefully selected plantings create a picturesque space conducive to walking. Today, the park covers around 22 hectares and is home to as many as 69 species of trees and shrubs, including exotic ones, as well as a charming spring. After a walk along the park avenues, lunch in the castle restaurant is sure to taste exquisite.

Moszna Castle

The hallmark of the castle park in Moszna is its azaleas, which delight visitors with a riot of colours every spring. It is they that gave their name to the festival held here since 1984 – the Musical Festival of Blooming Azaleas. To see the park in full bloom, it is worth coming here at the beginning of May. The park, however, has much more to offer. It is the largest residential park in the region – it extends over more than one hundred hectares. Traces of the Baroque French garden have been preserved, including the lime-tree avenue leading from the pool in front of the residence to the necropolis of the former owners. In the 19th century, the park was transformed into a landscaped park that merges smoothly with the surrounding meadows, fields and forests, with picturesque ponds, bridges and secluded paths. In summer, an additional attraction is provided by the fountain with its spectacular “water-light-sound” shows. Those tired from exploring the park can rest in the historic interiors, over a cup of coffee in the café located in the castle or over a more substantial meal in the restaurant. And if their strength returns, they can still visit the castle chambers.

Rogów Opolski Castle

The park in Rogów Opolski was created in the 1870s on the site of an earlier 18th-century garden and was laid out in the then fashionable English style. It contains numerous specimens of old trees – oaks, beeches and plane trees, as well as species less commonly seen in Poland, such as ginkgo trees and American tulip trees. Some beeches reach nearly 40 metres in height. Walking through this atmospheric park, you will not encounter crowds of people, but rather find yourself in close contact with nature. You will see wild animals and birds that readily choose this peaceful place as their home. The park also features a historic garden pavilion – a gloriette, the tomb of the Haugwitz family, as well as numerous architectural details and sculptures. In case of bad weather, the castle, which houses a branch of the Provincial Public Library in Opole, offers shelter. Visitors can explore some of the chambers and also learn more about the old prints and other treasures preserved here.

Day 2:

Museum of the Silesian Piasts in Brzeg

W Brzegu warto zatrzymać się w niewielkim, lecz niezwykle urokliwym zamkowym ogrodzie. In Brzeg, it is worth stopping in the small yet exceptionally charming castle garden. It is a rare example of Renaissance garden art, in which the space was shaped according to geometric principles, with decorative patterns and labyrinths cut into the hedges. A walk along the symmetrical paths allows visitors to feel the atmosphere of former residences and appreciate the precision of the design. Just beyond the garden, stretching all the way to the Oder, lies a much younger 19th-century park, created on the site of the filled-in moat that once surrounded the castle.
In the castle itself, one should not miss the impressive decoration of the entrance gate depicting the Piast lineage and the charming Italian-style arcaded courtyard.
It is also worth visiting the museum rooms to see exhibitions on the history of the Piasts, Silesian art, and also the Borderlands roots of today’s inhabitants of Brzeg.

Sulisław Palace

The green surroundings of Sulisław Palace consist not only of the small park directly adjoining the residence, but also of picturesque palace ponds. A charming causeway divides the part of the ponds intended for recreation from the beach area, where a restaurant operates during the season. On the way to the ponds, visitors can also stop by the apiary and orchard, which add rural charm to the place and encourage walks surrounded by nature. If someone is captivated by this place, they can stay here comfortably overnight, choosing between the five-star splendour of the palace chambers and the surprising modernity of the former farm buildings. The palace restaurant will delight the palate, while one of the many treatments in the spa area will provide relaxation for the body.

Tipy v okolí

Places of interest:

Historic park in Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Sławięcice district)
Historic town park in Strzelce Opolskie
Spa park in Głuchołazy
Historic park in Pokój
Village botanical garden in Zagwiździe
Karolinka Golf Park in Kamień Śląski

Tipy na ubytování

Recommended accommodation:

Hotel Hugo in Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Sławięcice district)
Hotel Court Wellness & SPA in Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Dom Artysty in Głuchołazy (near the Spa Park)
Sulisław Palace
Moszna Castle

Tipy na stravování

Recommended restaurants:

Restaurant at Większyce Palace
Zamkowy Młyn Restaurant in Krapkowice
Restaurant at Moszna Castle
Restaurant at Sulisław Palace
Kamieniec Restaurant in Kamień Śląski
Śtantin Restaurant in Stare Siołkowice