Discover Świdnicki County

Churches and architectural history

The Church of Peace in Świdnica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered Europe's largest Baroque timber-framed church. It was built after the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) under an imperial privilege. Świdnica is also home to a cathedral with a Gothic-Baroque interior; its church tower is described as the tallest in Lower Silesia. Around the Market Square, townhouses frame the square, with origins dating back to the Renaissance.

In Strzegom, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is one of Lower Silesia's largest Gothic structures. Its bell tower houses Poland's oldest bell still in operation, dating from 1318. These destinations showcase different periods and architectural styles, from the Renaissance origins of the houses around Świdnica's Market Square to Gothic churches and a Baroque Church of Peace.

The Churches of Peace are also significant across the broader travel destination of Lower Silesia: the churches in Jawor and Świdnica are Europe's largest half-timbered Baroque churches. They were built in the mid-17th century under the terms of the Peace of Westphalia and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. This wider regional context complements the view of attractions in Świdnicki County without equating their individual histories.

Railways and collections

The Railway Museum in Jaworzyna Śląska combines an extensive collection with rides on historic rails. Its open-air grounds cover more than 2.5 hectares; along three kilometers of track, the museum displays more than 150 historic railway vehicles. The museum also offers rides in historic rolling stock on weekends. When planning a ride, it is worth checking the current timetable. Among the historic vehicles in working order is Poland's oldest active diesel locomotive.

The Museum of Weapons and Military Equipment in Witoszów Dolny offers a different kind of collection. It holds more than 1,000 military objects, including around 150 firearms, machine guns, and anti-tank weapons. The collection's scale and the range of weapon types give a visit a different focus from the railway exhibition.

Places of remembrance and history

During the Second World War, Krzyżowa was a site of early anti-Nazi resistance. Another important milestone followed on November 12, 1989: the Mass of Reconciliation led to the founding of the Kreisau Foundation for European Understanding and the start of restoration work on the palace complex and other buildings.

The Gross-Rosen Museum in Rogoźnica offers visits to the former camp site and the historic quarries where prisoners were forced to work. Both places bear witness to the camp's history and the prisoners' forced labor. They provide a somber, distinct counterpoint to the churches, collections, and excursion options in the county.

Wine and cycling routes

Winnica Świdnicka welcomes individual visitors from May to October and hosts wine tastings in the vineyard during this period. It offers wine-only tastings as well as wine and cheese tastings. Advance arrangements by telephone or email are required. So if a tasting fits your travel plans, be sure to get in touch beforehand.

Cycling is another way to explore the county: cycling routes on the Świdnica Plain and in the Strzegom Hills are recommended for families with children. International cycle route R9, from the Adriatic to the Baltic, also passes through the county. These two details offer different points of reference when choosing a route.

More places in the county

For further orientation around the area: Lubachow, Jugowa, Świdnica, Bystrzyca Górna, Świebodzice, Modliszów, Boleścin, Zebrzydów, Marcinowice, Jawor, Złoty Las, Strzegom, Żarów.

For the broader travel overview: Lower Silesia.