Osowka, Ksiaz Castle & Gross-Rosen: WWII tour Lower Silesia

Three Nazi headquarters and a concentration camp in one day across Lower Silesia

This nine-hour guided tour visits three sites central to Nazi Germany's operations in Lower Silesia: the Osowka underground complex (Project Riese), Ksiaz Castle where Hitler's organization began constructing a main headquarters, and Gross-Rosen concentration camp where approximately 40,000 prisoners perished. An English-speaking driver and guide lead the route. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned minibus transport are included, with drop-off at your accommodation at the end of the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore WWII sites in Lower Silesia

• Visit Gross-Rosen concentration camp
• Tour Ksiaz Castle
• Discover Osówka Complex

The experience

Gross-Rosen in Rogoźnica was the largest Nazi concentration camp in Lower Silesia, built around the motto "Vermichtung durch Arbeit", annihilation through work. Prisoners, mostly Poles, Jews, Russians, French and Hungarian, were forced into penal labor in the quarries under conditions so severe that around 40,000 died there. The tour gives you access to the site and its history without having to navigate the logistics of getting there yourself.

Ksiaz Castle sits 395 meters above sea level on a majestic rock cliff beside the Pelcznica River, surrounded by forest: the third largest castle in Poland and sometimes called the Pearl of Lower Silesia. In 1943, Hitler's paramilitary organization Tod began constructing one of his main quarters here, part of the broader Riese complex that stretched across the region near Osowka and Wlodarz. The castle's scale and position are uncommon in Europe, and the tour connects it to the larger Nazi infrastructure project unfolding around it.

The Osowka Complex itself is the centerpiece of Project Riese, an ambitious Nazi operation between 1943 and 1945 whose full purpose remains unclear. The underground structure, sometimes called "The Underground City", is the biggest and most complex of Hitler's headquarters in Lower Silesia. You walk through the tunnels and chambers that were never fully completed before the war ended, encountering a monument to ambition that the Nazis abandoned unfinished.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned minibus.
• nine hours of guided sightseeing with an English-speaking driver and live guide.
• entry to Gross-Rosen concentration camp, Ksiaz Castle, and the Osowka Complex.
• no additional charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (3 to 15 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Day Tours

Is this one for you?At nine hours, this tour fills most of a day and requires moderate fitness for walking the camp grounds and underground tunnels, so it suits travelers with a full morning or afternoon free and an interest in WWII history deep enough to spend the time at three separate sites rather than a quicker overview.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 15 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What was Project Riese and what can I see at Osowka?

Project Riese was a massive Nazi construction project between 1943 and 1945 in Lower Silesia, centered on an underground complex at Osowka sometimes called "The Underground City." The site contains tunnels and chambers Hitler's organization built as one of his main headquarters, and much of its original purpose has never been fully revealed. You walk through the incomplete structure itself.

How many people died at Gross-Rosen concentration camp?

Approximately 40,000 prisoners died at Gross-Rosen in Rogoźnica, the largest Nazi concentration camp in Lower Silesia. The camp operated under the motto "Vermichtung durch Arbeit" (annihilation through work), forcing prisoners into penal labor in the quarries under brutal conditions.

Why did Hitler's organization build at Ksiaz Castle?

Ksiaz Castle's location (395 meters above sea level on a cliff beside the Pelcznica River, surrounded by forest) made it strategically valuable. In 1943, Hitler's paramilitary organization Tod began constructing one of his main headquarters there, integrating it into the larger Riese complex that included Osowka and other sites nearby.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, nine hours of transport in an air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking driver, and a live guide in English at each site. There are no additional charges beyond the ticket price.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness, as you walk through the concentration camp grounds, explore Ksiaz Castle, and navigate the Osowka underground complex. Children from age 3 are welcome and can be accompanied by an adult. Specialized infant seats and prams are available for younger children.