Mysłakowice

Mysłakowice is a remarkable village in the Jelenia Góra Valley, at the foot of the Karkonosze Mountains, offering a wealth of history and unusual attractions. Its centerpiece is the palace – a former summer residence of Prussian King Frederick William III, redesigned in the 19th century by Friedrich Schinkel. Today it houses a primary school. Adjacent lies an extensive English-style park covering 13 hectares, with a picturesque pond and two islands. At the park's edge stands Villa Liegnitz, built for the Duchess of Legnica in Tyrolean style. In the park, you can see a replica of a gate made from a Greenland whale jaw – the original is displayed in the local gallery. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also designed by Schinkel, was built between 1836 and 1840. The site blends Italian Pompeii, Austrian Tyrol, and the North Atlantic – hence its nickname 'Polish Pompeii'. Admission to the park and palace exterior is free. Mysłakowice is an excellent base for exploring the Valley of Palaces and Gardens and the town of Karpacz.