Frankenstein: Cycling Routes, Churches and Historic Buildings

Ząbkowice County lies between the Góry Złote, the Góry Bardzkie, the Góry Sowie and the Wzgórza Niemczańsko-Strzelińskie; the Nysa Kłodzka flows through it. In the Frankenstein destination, attractions range from marked routes to historic buildings and religious heritage. Rafting and kayaking trips are also organised on the Nysa Kłodzka in the Góry Bardzkie. When planning your trip, you can choose between outdoor activities and visits focused on history or religion.

Cycling and Walking Routes

There are around 450 kilometres of marked cycling routes in the Ząbkowice region. Around 40 kilometres of EuroVelo 9, the Amber Route, also run through this region. These figures refer to different scales: the first describes a network of marked routes, while the second refers to the regional section of a named route. The European Cistercian Route ER 8 is 45 kilometres long and starts in Henryków. The “Between Gold and Silver” cycling route is around 45 kilometres long.

You can also follow a walking route by its specific stops: a yellow-marked trail connects Bardo, Ząbkowice Śląskie, Stolec and Kamieniec Ząbkowicki railway station. This gives you the option of choosing between an extensive network of marked cycling routes, individual named routes and a walking route with listed places. For the organised rafting and kayaking trips on the Nysa Kłodzka in the Góry Bardzkie, it is advisable to check the dates in advance, as providers and schedules may change.

Buildings and History

Ząbkowice Śląskie is home to a Renaissance castle built between 1522 and 1532. Admission to the Leaning Tower is by guided tour every 30 minutes; the first admission is at 9:30 a.m. The “In Frankenstein’s Footsteps” tour also runs every 30 minutes, with the first admission at 9:45 a.m. Note the different first admission times and check the times before your visit.

The present-day basilica in Bardo was built between 1686 and 1704. It houses the Madonna of Bardo, considered Poland’s oldest wooden religious sculpture. The sanctuary’s miraculous statue in Bardo stands on the main altar above the tabernacle. In Henryków, the Cistercian monastery complex was founded in 1222 as a daughter house of Lubiąż Abbey. These buildings reflect different historical periods, from the Renaissance to a medieval monastery and a later basilica.

The palace in Kamieniec Ząbkowicki is a Neo-Gothic palace belonging to the princes of Hohenzollern. Srebrna Góra Fortress is one of the largest mountain fortresses in Europe; it was built between 1765 and 1777 near Srebrna Góra in Lower Silesia. Together with the castle in Ząbkowice Śląskie, these sites offer a chance to include Renaissance and Neo-Gothic architecture and fortification design in your travel plans.

Lower Silesia in a Wider Context

The wider destination of Lower Silesia also includes the Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica. 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. The two churches are the largest half-timbered Baroque churches in Europe.

If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, you can first decide which themes you want to shape your stay: cycling routes, religious architecture, historic sites or organised river trips. The route lengths, construction dates and admission times give you specific points of reference; check admission times and river trip dates in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bardo, Budzów, Srebrna Góra, Frankenstein, Kamieniec Ząbkowicki, Złoty Stok, Jawor, Kamiennogórski.

Back to the main travel overview: Lower Silesia.