The construction of these underground tunnels began in 1944 on the command of Adolf Hitler himself. Thousands of prisoners from the Gross-Rosen concentration camp were sent to Książ. They worked in inhumane conditions and beyond their means, with many of them dying as a result.

The construction continued until 6 May 1945, when the fate of World War II was already sealed. When the Red Army invaded Poland, many underground structures were destroyed. All tunnels leading to them were either masked or blown up.

To this day, the real purpose of these massive constructions that lie 50 metres deep remains a mystery. Some say they were going to be a shelter for Hitler and his relatives. Others suggest they were a location for chemical and biological laboratories. There are also those who believe it’s the hiding place of the legendary Gold Train, filled to the brim with gold stolen by the Nazis. However, in 70+ years, no one has been able to prove that it really existed.

UNDERGROUND TOURIST ROUTE

For the first time in history, the basement of Książ Castle is open to the public! Join the tourists who descended into the tunnels carved 50 meters deep under the castle.

The underground tourist route is a half-kilometer long section that will certainly intrigue you with its diverse structure, both in terms of geology and history. During the walk, visitors will see a huge concrete hall, corridors carved in raw rock and side chambers of the bunker.

The route runs along the terraces (near the site of the search for the alleged underground railway station) towards the main building of the castle. The end of the first half of the route is located at the embankment - the entrance to a buried elevator shaft, the exit from which was supposed to be in the Courtyard of Honor. During the tour, tourists will learn about, among others: the secrets of the Książ undergrounds, theories about the purpose of their creation and the tragic story of the prisoners whose hands these tunnels were drilled.

The basement of Książ Castle was concreted with very durable Portland cement. According to the notes of Hitler's favorite architect, Albert Speer, and other available documents, it is possible that the tunnels once again have an area as large as the one known to us today, i.e. 3,200 m 2 (which was measured on the basis of concrete that was brought to castle).

Go into the basement of Książ Castle, one of the most mysterious buildings in Poland, and see what has been hidden for over 70 years.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The number of groups visiting the underground on a given day and the number of places in each group are limited. We do not guarantee the availability of places on selected dates.

Please arrive at the meeting point (entrance to the basement) 15 minutes before the planned tour time. The time to reach the underground from the gate building is approximately 15 minutes. Failure to arrive at the designated place at the specified time may result in the inability to provide the service without compensation.

The underground route is not recommended for people with circulatory disorders or reduced respiratory and circulatory capacity, suffering from claustrophobia or in advanced pregnancy.

Visiting the underground is not possible for people with limited mobility or in wheelchairs.

Due to the special route and high air humidity, participants are required to wear comfortable, flat shoes. Please do not wear high heels or footwear that limits your mobility.

The air temperature underground is between 6°C and 12°C, so it is advisable to have warm clothing.

For safety reasons, children under 4 years of age are prohibited from entering the underground part.

Pets are not allowed on the Underground Tourist Route.

Please read the full regulations for visiting the underground, available here .