Tworków Palace

The Tworków Court Brewery, launched in 1839 as the first Bavarian-style brewery in Upper Silesia, thrived under the management of the Saurma-Jeltsch family and underwent modernization, producing a variety of beers, including Pilsner from 1874 onwards. Special trains transported guests to local taverns, a unique solution in Silesia, but the brewery ceased operations at the turn of the 20th century due to competition. The history of the palace, situated on the grounds of a medieval stronghold, began in 1567 when judge Kasper Wiskota von Wodnik initiated the construction of a family residence. It passed through the hands of various owners, including the Eichendorff and von Saurma-Jeltsch families, who modernized it in the Neo-Renaissance style between 1872 and 1874. After a fire broke out in 1931, the palace was never fully rebuilt, and it was further damaged by another fire in 1945. The ruins have been preserved in relatively good condition, particularly the tower and wings of the building. Since 2004, the complex has been owned by the Krzyżanowice municipality, which has carried out preservation work and invested in revitalizing the ruins and the tower, opening them to visitors in 2020. The palace is an example of three-winged architecture, with three floors in the main wing, a round tower, and a distinctive entrance portal bearing the coat of arms of the von Saurma-Jeltsch family. Additionally, a moat once surrounded the former castle but was filled in during later renovations. Today, the Tworków Palace, as a historic ruin, remains an important part of the local cultural and tourist heritage.