Cultural Heritage

Castles and Palaces

There are over ten castles and palaces in Silesia, once defensive or representative. It is the palace & park complex of the Pszczyna Dukes in Pszczyna that is a real pearl among them and which houses the Castle Museum. The object, erected in the French neo-renaissance style with its magnificently preserved interiors, is surrounded by a vast landscape park. Nearby, in Promnice, the is the charming Shooting Lodge, the former residence of the Pszczyna Dukes, where currently there is a luxurious hotel and a restaurant.

The region’s cross-border nature is documented by over ten defensive castles erected on the Kracow-Częstochowa Upland, located on the Route of Eagle Nests. Many objects have been preserved in the form of ruins. The most picturesque ones are made up of the remains of the castle in Ogrodzieniec, not far from Zawiercie, as well as those of the castle in Olsztyn, Bobolice and Mirów.

In the past, the Silesian palaces, erected in 18th and 19 century, were the representative seats of the land gentry and factory and coal-mine owners. Nowadays, they function as hotels, museums or schools. On Zadnie Gronie in Wisła, after the alterations had been completed, the Presidential Castle was open for use that before the World War II functioned as the mountainous residence of Ignacy Mościcki, the President of the Republic of Poland. Currently, it is the seat of the Head of the State. The venue is also available for tourists. 

Folk Culture

The folklore of the Beskidy Highlanders, the inhabitants of the Upper Silesia and the Coal Basin is cultivated by numerous amateur folk groups, whereas in Koszęcin, there is a domicile of the renowned, not only in Poland, the Song and Dance Ensemble “Śląsk”. The numerous folk events provide the opportunity for presenting old customs, songs and dances. The most popular are: “The Żywiec Festivities”, “The Beskidy Highlanders’ Week of Culture” as well as “The International Students’ Festival of Folklore”..