Srebrna Gora Fortress

Srebrna Gora was built between 1765 and 1777 on the orders of Frederick II to block the pass through the Sowie mountains against Austria, and its scale is the point: a chain of forts and redoubts strung along the ridge over about a kilometre and a half, centred on a donjon of six connected bastion towers, with casemates, magazines and covered ways. It is generally described as the largest mountain fortress in Europe. Its one real test came in 1807, when a Napoleonic force besieged it and the garrison held; the fortress was never taken by assault and was decommissioned in 1867. It is now open in parts, with guided routes through the donjon and casemates, night tours, and a via ferrata and climbing routes on the walls. Below, the village was served by a steep railway with a rack section, of which the viaducts survive and part of the route is walked.

History

Frederick II of Prussia had the fortress built in 1764-1777, with Ludwig Wilhelm Regeler overseeing the design; it spans three hills, with the Donjon on Warowna Góra at its centre, and could hold a garrison of 4,000. Its only engagement came on 28 June 1807, when it withstood a siege by Napoleonic forces; it was declared obsolete by 1860, left military use in 1867 and was named a Historic Monument on 1 May 2004 (Wikipedia, Fort Srebrna Góra).

What's there

• A ridge of linked forts - a kilometre and a half of works above the pass.
• The six-tower donjon - the connected bastion core with its casemates.
• The 1807 siege ground - the fortress held and was never stormed.
• Railway viaducts below - remains of the steep rack line through the village.

When to go

May to September. Half a day.

What to expect

Only part of the complex is open and it is by guided route. Casemates are cold and unlit in places - bring a layer and a torch. The approach is steep. Winter access is limited.

Nearby

The Sowie mountains and Klodzko are nearby; Zabkowice is north.

Key facts