A CASTLE just a few hours from the UK is rarely known by holidaymakers - despite once being home to a British princess. Książ Castle in Poland attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year thanks to its long history , sprawling garden and underground tunnels. The Polish castle has over 700 years of history beginning back in the 13th century when it was built by Duke Bolko I the Strict.
In the centuries that followed, the castle underwent several modifications and reconstructions. It also had several royal and noble families call the castle their home over the years, including British aristocrat Mary Theresa Olivia Cornwallis-West, who is better known as Daisy von Pless. Daisy von Pless married Hans Heinrich XV of the Hochberg dynasty in 1891.
Hans Heinrich XV also happened to be the Prince of Pless, making Daisy a princess. The somewhat forgotten princess helped to transform the region with social reforms like free pasteurised milk stations for children as well as special needs schools for younger children. Holidaymakers can learn more about Daisy von Pless and her legacy at the castle.
Located in northern Wałbrzych, Książ Castle is the third-largest castle in Poland , with more than 400 rooms. While two floors aren't open to visitors, there are plenty of other areas to discover, including the impressive two-storey Maximilian Hall with its black marble fireplace, decorative ceiling, and three small balconies. One of the castle's main features is its undergrou.
