Opole Region: Small is Beautiful. Land of 99 Towers, Dinosaurs, and Silesian Cake

It is said that the Opole region (Opolskie) is a transit region – you pass it on the A4 highway on the way to Wrocław or Krakow. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a compact land where history mixes with legends, and the pace of life is clearly calmer.

We take you to a province that proves you don't have to be big to make a big impression. Here is Opolskie in a slow rhythm – perfect for a weekend reset.

1. Moszna: A Fairy Tale Castle

The castle in Moszna is an absolute phenomenon. It has 365 rooms (as many as days in a year) and 99 towers (as many estates as Count Tiele-Winckler supposedly owned). It looks like a set for a fantasy movie. The eclectic architecture combines styles from Baroque to Neo-Gothic. It is best to come here out of season or early in the morning to walk around the huge park with centuries-old oaks and azaleas. It is a place where every adult feels like a child again.

2. Opole: Capital of Polish Song and... Venice

Opole is an intimate and extremely green city.

• Opole Venice: A walk along Młynówka, the old riverbed of the Oder, is a mandatory point of the program. Tenement houses rising straight from the water, illuminations, and silence in the city center create a romantic atmosphere.
• Bolko Island: These are the green lungs of the city. A huge park, a zoo, and bicycle paths right by the Oder River. The perfect place for a picnic.
• Opole Village Museum: The open-air museum in Bierkowice (just outside Opole) is a journey to a former wooden Silesian village. Old mills, cottages, and churches delight with the smell of wood and history.

3. Opawskie Mountains: Mountains for Everyone

If the Tatras terrify you, and the Karkonosze are too crowded, choose the Opawskie Mountains. This range of the Sudetes is gentle but scenic. The highest peak, Biskupia Kopa, offers a beautiful panorama of Poland and the Czech Republic. The trails are empty here, the forests dense, and the air – one of the cleanest in the region (that's why the health resort Głuchołazy is located here). These are ideal mountains for the first trekking with children or a relaxing walk with a dog.

4. Paczków and Brzeg: Silesian Wawel and Carcassonne

Opolskie stands with monuments.

• Paczków: Called the "Polish Carcassonne" due to perfectly preserved medieval defensive walls with towers. The city looks as if time stopped here in the 16th century.
• Castle in Brzeg: A Renaissance pearl, called the "Silesian Wawel". The cloisters in the courtyard deceptively resemble those in Krakow, and the richly decorated entrance gate with portraits of kings and dukes is a masterpiece of stonemasonry.

5. JuraPark Krasiejów: Eye to Eye with a Dinosaur

It was here, in a clay pit, that the remains of "Silesaurus opolensis" were found – one of the oldest ancestors of dinosaurs. Today, one of the best dinosaur parks in Europe operates in Krasiejów. But these are not just plastic models. It is a real paleontological site, where in a museum pavilion you can watch fossils at the place of their discovery, walking on a glass floor.

6. Silesian Cuisine: Roulade and Kołacz

A visit to Opolskie doesn't count without a Sunday dinner.

• Silesian Heaven: A traditional dinner is broth with noodles, followed by beef roulade, Silesian dumplings (those with a hole!), and red cabbage. This cuisine is filling, fatty, and delicious.
• Silesian Kołacz (Kołocz): Yeast cake with poppy seeds, cheese, or apples, necessarily with crumble. It is on the EU list of regional products. It tastes best bought in a small, local bakery.

Summary

Opolskie is a compact region. Everything is close, and the variety of attractions means that in one weekend you can be in the mountains, at a castle, and in a prehistoric oceanarium. It is the perfect destination for those who do not like to waste time commuting and want to get the best out of their journey.