Botanical Garden in Wałbrzych
If you yearn for greenery, a slightly warmer climate, love tropical vegetation, and... lemurs, the Palm House in Wałbrzych should be on your list of places worth visiting. It is worth adding that this facility is over 100 years old and is one of the oldest of its kind in Poland. A trip to this place is a great complement to a walk around the Książ Castle, especially since a single ticket is valid for both sites. You can get to the palm house by car or by following the red walking path from the trail junction near Książ Castle.
The Establishment of the Palm House
The initiator of the creation of this winter garden was Jan Henryk XV, one of the last representatives of the Hochberg family, who lived in Książ Castle. The Palm House was a beautiful symbol of love and a gift for the prince’s beloved wife – Daisy, who was a great lover of flowers, especially unusual ones. It is worth mentioning a certain curiosity - the palm house also served as a source of fruits and vegetables for the princely kitchen.
Visiting
At the very beginning, we must prepare for the humidity, which is an inseparable element of the tropical forest that we enter. Huge palms and leaves, for which one has to tilt their head upwards to see their expanse, greet us right after passing through the main gate. As we stroll through the subsequent green corridors, we can see a volcanic tuft from Etna protruding among the leaves, specially brought from Sicily. Here and there, the sounds of streams and small waterfalls can be heard flowing among the flowers – in some places, turtles lazily rest. Animal lovers can also encounter exotic fish, lemurs, and peacocks here. Currently, the palm house grows over 250 species of plants from various climatic zones: Asian figs and bamboos, African perennials, citrus from the Mediterranean, Australian eucalyptus, as well as agaves and cacti from Central America. A particularly special place in the palm house is the permanent exhibition of Bonsai trees, which has a remarkable specimen, a juniper that is 200 years old. Coffee lovers can unwind during their walk at the charming café "Under the Palms", where homemade cake can be purchased to accompany aromatic coffee.
Key Information
The Palm House is located at 158 Wrocławska Street in Wałbrzych. The ticket price for Książ Castle also includes entrance to the palm house; interestingly, we do not have to use it immediately as it is valid all year round. If you do not like standing in queues, tickets can also be purchased online.
Photo and text author: Ewa Bandyk
