The history of the castle dates back to the late 13th century, when duke Bolko I the Strict raised his residence in the Silesia region (today Poland). The Hochberg family owned the castle until the 1941. Due to the global economic crisis and extravagant lifestyle, they fell into debt and the German government seized the property.
In 1944, the Książ Castle became part of the Nazi project code name “Riese”. Historians speculate, that the extensive works in the castle suggest that it was a future Nazi military headquarters. Using slave labor, new staircase and elevator shaft were built here to improve evacuation routes. Two levels of underground tunnels were excavated to provide protection from air strikes. The castle rooms suffered as well, where most of the decorative elements were removed and destroyed. After WWII, during the Soviet occupation of the castle, numerous artefacts that survived were stolen or demolished.
