It can be summer in the middle of winter in Lower Silesia.

Only 2 kilometers from the well-known Książ Castle, there is a place that will please everyone in autumn and winter. A place where you can rediscover summer, feel the warmth, and recharge the batteries by the proximity of lush vegetation. The Wałbrzych Palm House, because we are talking about it, invites us all year round and guarantees us to capture the summer aura even for a moment.

The story of the Wałbrzych Palm House is a story of romantic love. Built in the years 1911-1913, the building, according to legend, was a gift from the last aristocratic owner of Książ Castle, Jan Henry XV, for his beloved wife Maria Teresa Cornwallis-West, known as Daisy. For the recipient of the Duchess, the Palm House from the very beginning became a special place. Daisy, as a great lover of flowers, personally brought new species of plants to the Palm House, also participating in their planting. From the very beginning, the Duchess wanted the gift to please not only her, but also the local residents. That is why the Palm House has been open to visitors almost from the beginning of its existence.

The cost of building the Palm House consumed a huge amount of money for those times – 7 million gold marks. What was the reason for the high price of this building? For example, the unusual building material used in its interior. The frozen lava from the Etna volcano was brought to the Palm House from Sicily itself. It was used to create grottoes, waterfalls and walls with pockets for plants.

It can be said that investing such an exorbitant amount to build a romantic gift has paid off after all. The Wałbrzych Palm House is today the only conservatory in Poland preserved in its historical structure. The 15-meter-high building is mainly made of metal and glass, and is dominated by date palms, a Japanese garden, a rosarium or a cactus garden. An interesting attraction is also the permanent bonsai exhibition, which has already gathered over 400 of these miniature trees.

Currently, in the Palm House, you can admire about 200 species of plants from around the world, which cover an area of ​​1900 m2. The animals in the Palm House are also a big attraction. Among the volcanic rocks, we can meet turtles resting, and in the corridors we can see aquariums with many species of fish or pass by multi-colored peacocks. The latest curiosity is the fact that from December the Palm House gains new residents, who will be charming lemurs.

The Palm House can be visited all year round, and sightseeing takes place without a guide. Among the paths and alleys, we can spend as much time as our heart desires, until we are completely saturated with warmth and greenery. Because for this purpose the Wałbrzych Palm House seems to be an ideal place.

For more inspiration to visit the region, please visit FB Dolny Śląsk and Instagram.