Discover Świdnica County: Churches, Railways and History

Świdnica County lies at the foot of the Owl and Wałbrzych Mountains. Highlights for visitors include historic railway vehicles, church architecture, memorial sites, wine tasting and cycling routes. When planning your trip, you can treat cultural visits, railway history and outdoor activities as distinct points of interest.

Cycling routes at the foot of the mountains

The county has a diverse range of cycling routes. Routes across the Świdnica Plain and the Strzegom Hills are recommended for families with children. The international R9 Adriatic–Baltic cycling route also runs through the county. The regional routes explicitly recommended for families and the international route are distinct reference points for planning your rides. Check the current condition of the routes and their signage before setting off.

Railway history in Jaworzyna Śląska

The Railway Museum in Jaworzyna Śląska covers more than 2.5 hectares of open-air grounds. Across three kilometres of track, it displays more than 150 historic railway vehicles. These include historic vehicles in working order, among them Poland’s oldest operational diesel locomotive. The museum runs rides with historic rolling stock every weekend. As timetables may change, check the current schedule before your visit.

Churches, squares and architecture

The Church of Peace in Świdnica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered Europe’s largest Baroque timber-framed Protestant church. It was built after the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) under an imperial privilege. In the wider destination of Lower Silesia, the Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica were built in the mid-17th century in accordance with the provisions of the Peace of Westphalia. They were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.

Świdnica Cathedral has a Gothic-Baroque interior; its tower is considered the tallest church tower in Lower Silesia. The Market Square is lined with townhouses whose origins date back to the Renaissance. In Strzegom, the Minor Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul is among the largest Gothic buildings in Lower Silesia. Its bell tower houses Poland’s oldest bell still in operation, dating from 1318.

History and memorial sites

In Rogoźnica, the Gross-Rosen Museum offers visits to the former camp site and the historic quarries. Prisoners were forced to work in the quarries. The camp site and the places of forced labour therefore offer distinct perspectives on the history of the former camp.

During the Second World War, Krzyżowa was a site of early resistance to Nazism. On 12 November 1989, the Mass of Reconciliation led to the founding of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe and the start of restoration work on the palace complex and other buildings. The two milestones—resistance history and the events of 1989—offer insight into different chapters in the history of the place.

Wine and collections

Winnica Świdnicka welcomes individual visitors from May to October. During this season, tastings are held at the vineyard: either wine tastings or wine and cheese tastings. Tastings must be arranged in advance by telephone or email. So if you’re planning a visit, get in touch beforehand.

The Museum of Weapons and Military Equipment in Witoszów Dolny has more than 1,000 military objects. These include around 150 firearms, machine guns and anti-tank weapons. The approximately 150 weapons form part of the larger collection. For those interested in military history, this collection offers a different perspective from the historic sites in Rogoźnica and Krzyżowa.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Boleścin, Zebrzydów, Groß Merzdorf, Jawor, Złoty Las, Strzegom, Jugowa, Świdnica, Bystrzyca Górna, Świebodzice, Modliszów, Lubachów, Żarów.

Go to the wider travel overview: Lower Silesia.