Most visitors come here for one day. They arrive in the morning from Karpacz or Jelenia Góra, visit up to two palaces, take a few photos, and leave feeling like they haven’t seen even half of it, because there are many more charming palaces here.
Summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces and Gardens is not a one-day trip. It’s several days in a land that for over a hundred years was the summer capital of the Prussian aristocracy. Within an area of merely 102 square kilometers, at the foot of the Karkonosze Mountains, there are about thirty palaces, castles, and residences—such a concentration can be found nowhere else in this part of Europe. It’s not for nothing that it’s called the Polish Loire Valley. And in summer, this valley shows its best side.
Summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces and Gardens - why specifically in summer?
The palaces can be visited year-round. But they were built together with parks—and the parks are half the story here. These look the most beautiful precisely in the summer.
The nineteenth-century owners did not place their residences in open fields. They surrounded them with extensive landscape parks, laid out avenues, planted lindens and oaks, and composed sightlines so that from a window or terrace you could see the snowy Śnieżka. In winter, you can only experience part of this concept. In summer—you see the whole idea.
In July and August, the old parks are in full splendor. Tree crowns form natural naves, ponds reflect the sky, and the air smells of linden and freshly cut grass. The days are long enough to leisurely visit two or even three palaces a day—and still have the evening left to rest.
The historic name for this area was "Silesian Elysium"—the Silesian paradise. In summer, you don’t need to search for the origin of the name; it’s visible everywhere.
Summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces and Gardens - what to see and in what order?
Good news: the palaces are close to each other, often just a few minutes’ drive. Bad news: that’s exactly why it’s easy to fall into a checklist mentality. The order below is designed to prevent that—each of these sites shows something different.
Łomnica Palace - two palaces and a working farm
Start here because Łomnica explains best what this valley was. The complex consists of two buildings: the Baroque Large Palace from the 18th century and the Neoclassical Widow’s House, both with characteristic yellow facades, hidden in a nine-hectare park by the Bóbr River.
The Large Palace houses a museum with an exhibition "Three centuries of life at Łomnica Palace." Next to it is a restored farmstead where you can find a linen shop and regional products, a bakery, a blacksmith’s forge, a restaurant in the old stable, and animal enclosures. Łomnica was rebuilt by the descendants of the pre-war owners, the von Küster family, who bought back the ruin after 1990.
Wojanów Palace – a king’s gift to his daughter
Just a few minutes further, on the other side of the Bóbr River. Wojanów is a Neogothic residence that King Frederick William III gave to his daughter Louise. Prussian and Russian rulers, and future queens of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark visited here.
Previously, a panorama of the river and snowy Śnieżka stretched from the terrace. Today, the view is blocked by tree crowns—but the summer park on the Bóbr more than makes up for it.
Karpniki Castle – at the foot of the Eagle Mountains
Karpniki belonged to the Schaffgotsch family until the end of the 18th century, and in 1822 entered the hands of the younger brother of the Prussian king, Prince Wilhelm. This purchase started the fashion for the Basin among the Prussian aristocracy—the rest of the royal family simply followed him.
The castle stands at the foot of Krzyżna Mountain, with a former moat and high walls. In summer, the courtyard impresses.
Bukowiec – Silesian Arcadia
If you’re to see one park, let it be Bukowiec. Count Friedrich von Reden and his wife Friederike created here one of the first and largest sentimental landscape parks in Silesia—over one hundred hectares with ponds, viewpoints, and romantic buildings.
There are artificial ruins of the Abbey and the Temple of Athena—a pavilion built for the countess, with a library and a view that effectively distracts from reading. You can also visit the Gardener’s House with a collection of minerals, butterflies, and beetles. The tea salon once had twelve flower paintings—one for each month of the year. That was the eighteenth-century idea of living in harmony with nature.
Bukowiec was visited by Izabela Czartoryska, who described this area in "By Stagecoach Through Silesia." The place earned the name: Silesian Arcadia.
Mysłakowice – Alpine houses in the Karkonosze
Passing through Mysłakowice, you see wooden houses with carved porches, as if someone transplanted a Tyrolean village here. And that’s exactly what happened: in the 1830s, King Frederick William III settled Protestant Tyroleans here who fled religious persecution. The houses still stand.
Summer 2026 in the mountains – Śnieżka and the Karkonosze complement the Valley of Palaces
The valley has one advantage that is rarely mentioned: it ends exactly where the mountains begin.
Summer 2026 in the Karkonosze combines touring historical heritage with hikes into high mountains without any logistical gymnastics. Śnieżka—the highest summit in the Sudetes at 1602 meters—is accessible by trails from Karpacz or by cable car. In Karpacz itself stands the Wang Church: a wooden temple from the late 12th and early 13th centuries, moved from Norway in 1842, bought by Frederick William IV. The entire structure was built without a single nail, using wooden carpentry joints.
On the other side, in Szklarska Poręba, there are the Kamieńczyk and Szklarka waterfalls. In summer, these are the most pleasant places in the Karkonosze—the gorges are cool even in heat.
Mountains in summer and the Valley of Palaces – cycling between residences
You can also discover the Valley of Palaces and Gardens by bike. The distances between the palaces are short, connected by a dense network of local roads with excellent scenic qualities. You can create a loop: Łomnica – Wojanów – Bukowiec – Karpniki, with a coffee stop at the farmstead.
For more demanding cyclists, the mountains offer longer routes toward the Rudawy Janowickie and Karkonosze. On the way: Podgórzyńskie Ponds, the Bukowiec reserve, and kayaking on the Bóbr River.
Bikes can be rented at some of the valley’s sites.
Summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces – Pakoszów Palace as a base for several days
And here we come to the essence. The Valley of Palaces and Gardens can be explored as a series of sites to visit—or you can stay in one of its palaces and discover pieces of its history every day.
Pakoszów Palace, formerly Schloss Wernersdorf, is one of the valley’s sites—and one of the few where you can stay for several days. It was built in 1725 as the residence of a linen merchant: linen was bleached on the ground floor, and the representative rooms were upstairs. Frederick the Great stayed here, and around 1800 John Quincy Adams, later President of the United States. More about Pakoszów Palace can be found on the website.
Today it is a five-star hotel with 45 rooms, surrounded by an 18.5-hectare park with three ponds. Staying here means you don't just view the valley from outside—you sleep in one of its palaces.
What Pakoszów Palace offers in summer
A summer day in the valley has its natural rhythm: a calm breakfast in the morning, sightseeing by car or bike during the day, evening on site.
The Stara Bielarnia restaurant in Pakoszów Palace—the name is no decoration, it’s located in the former linen bleaching house—serves regional and Mediterranean cuisine. In summer, the Rose Terrace opens with a mountain view where dinner is served at sunset. Check the Stara Bielarnia Restaurant menu and start visualizing your stay there.
After a day on the trail or sightseeing, you can relax at the palace’s SPA with a pool and sauna: an indoor pool made of Greek marble, a Finnish sauna from Canadian cedar, and a relaxation room with windows onto the Karkonosze. Intimate, without queues or crowds by the loungers.
And if you have half an hour before dinner left, it’s worth visiting the Tile Room in the Blue Tower—the walls are covered with eighteenth-century tiles from Dutch Delft, each one different.
Summer 2026 in the Karkonosze – what else is worth seeing near the Valley of Palaces?
A few days in the valley is also an opportunity to see more than palaces:
Jelenia Góra – market square with arcades, one of the prettiest in Lower Silesia
Cieplice (formerly Warmbrunn) – Poland’s oldest spa, spa park and the Schaffgotsch Palace; guests like Goethe and John Quincy Adams visited here before the valley became popular
Kowary – former mining adits and the Lower Silesian Miniature Park, where you can see the whole region at a 1:25 scale in one afternoon
Szklarska Poręba – Julia Glassworks with glass blowing shows and workshops
Choose something for yourself from the list; the rest you can visit on your next trip to Lower Silesia.
Valley of Palaces and Gardens – Historic Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate
This valley is not a local curiosity. In 2012, eleven palace and park complexes in the valley were listed as Historic Monuments by the President of Poland—the highest distinction a monument can receive in Poland. Among them are Bukowiec, Wojanów, Łomnica, Karpniki, Staniszów, and the Schaffgotsch complex in Cieplice.
The Valley of Palaces and Gardens Foundation is working towards UNESCO World Heritage status. If successful, the site will be ranked alongside the Loire Valley.
In other words: come now, before it gets crowded.
Book summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces and Gardens at Pakoszów Palace
Śnieżka outside the window, romantic parks beyond the gate, history at breakfast. A few summer days in the Valley of Palaces and Gardens—with a base in the palace that itself belongs to this history.
Check summer packages and book your stay → Pakoszów Palace packages
FAQ – summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces and Gardens
What is the Valley of Palaces and Gardens and why is it worth discovering in summer?
The Valley of Palaces and Gardens is a 102 km² area at the foot of the Karkonosze, with about 30 palaces, castles, and residences—compared to the Loire Valley. In summer, the landscape parks around the palaces are fully green, and the long days allow visiting two or three sites daily at a leisurely pace. Eleven complexes in the valley are listed as Historic Monuments by the President of Poland.
How to plan summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces and Gardens for several days?
An optimal plan is 3-4 days. Day one: palaces near Jelenia Góra (Łomnica, Wojanów). Day two: Karpniki, Bukowiec, and Mysłakowice. Day three: Karkonosze and Śnieżka. Day four: Cieplice, Kowary or Szklarska Poręba. With a base at Pakoszów Palace, every route starts and ends at the valley’s palace.
Can the Valley of Palaces and Gardens be explored by bicycle?
Yes. Distances between palaces are short and connected by a dense network of scenic local roads—it’s one of the best places for bike trips in Lower Silesia. You can create a relaxed loop between residences or a longer route toward the Rudawy Janowickie and Karkonosze. Bikes can be rented at some valley sites.
Why is Pakoszów Palace a good base for summer 2026 in the Valley of Palaces?
Pakoszów Palace (formerly Schloss Wernersdorf) itself belongs to the Valley of Palaces and Gardens—it’s an authentic palace from 1725, frequented by Frederick the Great and John Quincy Adams. Today it operates as a five-star hotel with a restaurant in the former linen bleaching house, SPA with pool, and an 18.5-hectare park. All main valley palaces are within short driving distance.
What to see near the Valley of Palaces and Gardens in summer 2026?
Śnieżka (1602 m) – by trails from Karpacz or by cable car. Wang Church in Karpacz, moved from Norway in 1842 and built without a single nail. Julia Glassworks in Szklarska Poręba with demonstrations. Cieplice—formerly Warmbrunn—with a spa park. And the Kamieńczyk and Szklarka waterfalls.
How to get to the Valley of Palaces and Gardens and Pakoszów Palace?
Pakoszów Palace is located in Piechowice, between Jelenia Góra and Szklarska Poręba, in the heart of the valley. From Wrocław it’s about 1.5–2 hours by car; from Dresden via Görlitz about 2.5 hours.