On 8 April 2015, at 1 p.m. at the National Museum in Wrocław, a historic event for Książ Castle took place. It was exactly here that an agreement was signed between the castle and the museum, related to the “Metamorphoses of Książ Castle” exhibition.

Metamorphoses of Książ Castle

This is, without a doubt, the most important event in the post-war history of Książ Castle. After several decades, works from the former collection of Hans Heinrich XV von Hochberg, and his wife Princess Daisy, have returned to the castle. In all 38 such works, from the National Museum in Wrocław, have been chosen to grace the castle’s rooms.

“Although today we talk of a few dozen works of art that we wish to present to the public in the famous interior of this charming castle, we share an awareness that we have made a certain breakthrough. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong of the Apollo 11 crew, I dare say that this really is a small step for our museum, but a giant step for museology,” said Dr. Piotr Oszczanowski, director of the National Museum in Wrocław. “The mission of a museum is to collect and safeguard our artistic heritage. It falls to us to conserve this heritage, carry out related academic study and, in the end, to make it generally accessible. However, yet another particular obligation is increasingly making a claim on us: to learn to share the artistic wealth that we are protecting. This is not of course sharing only in a material sense, but a common responsibility to promote this heritage, and make it accessible. Only in this way may a work of art regain its original value: when we admire it, we commune with it.”

The exhibition features 38 paintings and two sculptures from the collection of the National Museum in Wrocław. They include ten paintings from the Hochberg collection, four Baroque portraits of members of various branches of this dynasty, and other works selected to enhance the castle interior. Preparations for the exhibition opening took place over several months, as it was necessary to ensure suitable conditions for such valuable works of art – very precise conditions, established according to principles of art conservation – and to meet all standards of safety and protection. We should bear in mind, however, that this is only the first stage in the “metamorphoses” of Książ Castle!

We are grateful for the considerable support of the Patrons of Książ Castle, PGNIG Retail Division and Śnieżka-Inest; the firms have supported the castle’s initiatives as well as its cultural development.