Tours from Wrocław to Kłodzko Fortress are a real treat for all lovers of military history. The fortress occupying 30 ha is the largest one in the country. In 1960, the fortress was declared a historical monument and opened to the public. Kłodzko Fortress guides invite you to see it with them!
The origin of Kłodzko Fortress dates back the IX-th century, when there was a fortified city surrounded by wood-and-earth fortifications. In the XII-th century, a Castellan was established there, it was extended and finally it became a comfortable residence with a chapel. In the XVI-th century, a middle and lower castle were added to the high one, and at the end of the next century five bastions (Jabłonki, Ludmiła, Wacław, Alarmowy and Dzwonnik) and Orzeł half-bastion were added to the fortified complex. In this way, fortifications surrounded the castle on the hill. Soon more fortifications were built on neighbouring hills, there was also built a complex system of underground corridors and galleries, as well as anti-mine sidewalks that were meant to prevent fortifications from being blown up. In 1769 the castle was demolished and its place was taken by a donjon (the central point of defence) surrounded by a ring of bastions, redoubts, tenaille and internal moats. In donjon, there were warehouses and three levels of casemates with the armoury, lab, pharmacy and staff area. Stronghold was surrounded by a 10 m deep dry moat. With time, a defensive and military role of this object has decreased, until the late XIX-th century, when the idea of its further development was abandoned and warehouse and a prison were placed there. During the World War II Kłodzko Fortress was a prison for political prisoners and a labour camp.
If you have decided to visit Kłodzko Fortress, you can choose one of the possible forms of sightseeing – by day or by night. Night tours mean light and sound show played by amateur actors.
Only 1/10 of the whole fortress is open for tourists, in this part guides in historic costumes are telling about the history and mysteries of the largest fortress in Poland. Tourists come to donjon, and you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of Kłodzko from the bastions. Among the attractions of Kłodzko Fortress there is also a kilometre long walk along underground galleries.
Srebrna Góra Fortress is a unique monument of the XVIII-th century fortified architecture. The object is the only mountain fortress in our country, and it is also the largest in the Old Continent fortification with the highest bastion in Europe. Enjoy a trip from Wrocław to Srebrna Góra Fortress!
While visiting Srebrna Góra Fortress, you have a unique chance to see an art of defensive architecture that is almost 300 years old. It was built with stone that was exploited on the site, but its interior is made of bricks. The construction of this huge complex ordered by Frederick the Great of Prussia lasted only 12 years, between 1765 and 1777 and approximately 4 thousand workers and local population were employed there.
The complexity of this defence complex, makes visiting Srebrna Góra Fortress very interesting. Donjon surrounded by several bastions is a centre of the fortress, it consists of a six forts. The fortress has 151 casemates spread over three levels (8 gates leads to them) as well as warehouses, an armoury, a gunpowder magazine, a prison, a hospital, a chapel, a bakery, a brewery and craftsmen workshops. Almost 3,8 thousand soldiers with a supply of ammunition, food and fuel could reside in such a large object at the same time. The designer of the object- Ludwig Wilhelm Regeler, Prussian lieutenant colonel also took care of an instant access to water – the soldiers in Srebrna Góra could use 8 wells, including the deepest in Ostróg Fort (84 meters). The fortress was therefore completely self-sufficient, equipped with 264 cannons and it has never been conquered. Although it was a close shave – the Prussians clashed here with the French during the Napoleonic wars (1806-1807), although de facto on June 28-th, 1807 stronghold was taken by the French Emperor’s army, formally it has never taken a control over it, which was due to the arrangements of Treaties of Tilsit signed less than two weeks later.
At the end of the XIX-th century, the Prussians decided to open the fortresses to tourists. Although in 2004 the facility was added to the list of Historical Monuments in Poland, only a small part of Srebrna Góra Fortress is available for tourists. The entire fortification is in a poor condition, but it is being renovated and it is slowly regaining its former beauty. This Europe’s largest mountain fortress can be visited all year round.