History

The castle in Chobienia (Köben a.O. until 1945) probably existed already since the 13th century; from early 14th century it was in the possession of the von Dohn family, who in the 14th and 15th centuries had ducal rights over the town. The family did not live in Chobienia; the local administrator had his seat in the castle. In 1504 the rights were assigned to the von Kottwitz family, and in 1638 to the von Seidlitz family. In 1691 the Chobień estate was purchased by the Reich Count Christian Wentzel von Nostitz und Rieneck from the Silesian line of the family residing in the Czocha (prior to 1945: Tzschocha) castle. In 18th-19th centuries the castle changed hands many times; after 1933 it became the property of the town, and in 1943-1944 it was used as a school.

The current castle, originally surrounded by a moat, was built in the 15th century. The Renaissance reconstruction of the castle was performed using a phased-out approach, with a start date of approx. 1530. The south wing, flanked by bowers with a centrally located gate tower, is probably the earliest built part of the castle. Between 1583 and 1584 the castle was extended and converted into a Renaissance palace by Georg von Kottwitz the Younger. Painted ceilings and heraldic wall paintings date back to that time. The castle received its final shape in the 1620s. during the expansion carried out by Leonhard von Kottwitz. The western wing with a grand hall on the second storey was built at that time; it was also the time when the elevation was decorated with window bands, gables, and bulbous helmets of the towers. The castle burned down in 1722, but was rebuilt in its previous shape. Around mid-18th century the castle was partially converted, for example, a portal was added to the south wing, a terrace and stairs to the garden were made in the western wing; the roof gables were torn down. After 1759, the east-facing Renaissance portal and staircase were demolished. In the 18th century, the moats were filled in, the drawbridge removed, and a brick bridge built. In 1905 and in 1933 restoration works were carried out at the castle. The castle was damaged in 1945 during hostilities. Between 1983 and 1990, conservation activities took place at the palace.

Description

The castle and park complex in Chobienia is located in the central part of the village, east of the market square. The palace in its present form goes back to a late Renaissance building, four-winged, established around a rectangular inner courtyard, two-storey, with three corner cylindrical towers (bowers) covered with conical helmets in the corners and a rectangular tower in the axis of southern wing. The palace wings are covered with gable roofs. The façades have no architectural divisions, irregularly spaced window axes; in the southern façade a balcony portal preceded by stairs and bearing the coats of arms of Carl Sigismund von Gellhorn and his wife of 1759 has survived; from the courtyard a portal leading to the chapel has survived. The courtyard walls comprise also a piece of a portal leading to the crypt arranged in 1607 for Leonhard von Kottwitz. On the first floor the preserved rooms are covered with barrel vaults with lunettes, with floral and geometric stucco decorations. In the north-west wing relics of the original, 15th century castle building are preserved. 

From the east, next to the castle, a utility garden was established in the 1630s, transformed into an ornamental garden in 3rd quarter of 18th century, and in 2nd half of 19th century, a naturalistic park was set up in the Baroque utility garden.

Currently, the castle remains unused and has been secured. 

Monument secured, not accessible to the visitors. 

Complied by Bogna Oszczanowska, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Wrocław, 24 November 2015.

Bibliography

• Zabytki sztuki w Polsce. Śląsk (Art Monuments in Poland. Silesia), Warsaw 2006, pp. 192-193.