Schronisko „Pod Fortami”
A historic mountain hostel in Srebrna Góra, Poland, that operated as a PTTK shelter and now continues as the private Villa Hubertus guesthouse.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Schronisko „Pod Fortami” is a historic mountain hostel and guesthouse in Srebrna Góra, in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of Poland, situated on the Srebrna Pass in the Central Sudetes, in the Owl Mountains (Góry Sowie), at an altitude of about 600 metres above sea level. The building stands near the road leading to the Donjon fort of the Srebrna Góra Fortress. It occupies a small, heritage-listed villa built in a Swiss style, originally constructed in the early 20th century. The building was erected by Hermann Scherwat, chairman of the local branch of the Eulengebirgsverein and tenant of the restaurant at the Donjon. It existed at least from 1910 under the name "Villa Hubertus". In 1913 it was owned by Julius Nitschke, who ran a luxury pension there with few but large and expensive rooms. That same year the villa was purchased by the Silesian authorities of the Jungdeutschlandsverband (Young Germany Association) and renamed "Villa Jungdeutschland"; it served as a rest place for the association's leaders and as reception and service space for a youth hostel located in Fort Ostróg. During World War I it quartered Captain Rittweger of a mountain reserve machine-gun unit. In 1920 Baron Ernest Albert Adolf von Seckendorf Götz took over the property and converted it into an ordinary dwelling house under the name "Haus Hohenstein". After 1945 the building was adapted for forestry purposes, and a northern extension was added in a different architectural style. In 1957 it was taken over by the local PTTK (Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society), which opened a mountain hostel there in 1959. Around 1960 the first seismic station in Lower Silesia, belonging to the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, was opened next to the hostel. By the late 1960s the hostel was in poor technical condition and was closed in 1969. After devastation and while renovation was still ongoing, it reopened in 1974 as Schronisko PTTK w Srebrnej Górze "Pod Fortami" im. kontradmirała Stefana Frankowskiego, with 38 beds. Later the admiral ceased to be its patron, and in the 1980s the hostel was closed again. After 1989, in 1991 the building was leased to private individuals. In 1994, during renovation, the historic roof tiles were replaced with wood shingles. In 2007 the facility was closed once more, ending its operation as a mountain hostel. Today it houses a private guesthouse that has revived the historic name "Villa Hubertus", with a restaurant on the ground floor. From 2008 the manager of the building was Grzegorz Fajdek of Kraków, who also managed Fort Ostróg; during his management an aerial bomb was discovered nearby. In 2011 the manager changed again, to the company TDK Transport from Skiereszewo near Gniezno. The current guesthouse offers accommodation, a restaurant serving traditional, vegetarian and vegan dishes, school trips, group and corporate events, access to a small ski station, bicycle storage and repair facilities, and other attractions. According to its website, Villa Hubertus in Srebrna Góra is developing its offer under a project financed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Krajowy Plan Odbudowy i Zwiększania Odporności).
History
The building that became Schronisko „Pod Fortami” was constructed in the early 20th century by Hermann Scherwat, chairman of the local branch of the Eulengebirgsverein and tenant of the restaurant at the Donjon in the Srebrna Góra Fortress. It existed at least from 1910, when it was known as "Villa Hubertus". In 1913 the owner was Julius Nitschke, who operated a luxury pension with few sleeping places; the rooms had to be large, as were the prices. The building was then somewhat smaller and built on a plan resembling a cross. Stone, brick and wood were used, and the roof was covered with red tiles. A small utility building stood next to it. Also in 1913 the villa was purchased by the Silesian authorities of the Jungdeutschlandsverband (Young Germany Association) and renamed "Villa Jungdeutschland". It served as a rest place for the association's leaders and as service and reception space for a youth hostel located in Fort Ostróg. The interiors remained richly furnished and overnight stays were possible. During World War I the building quartered Captain Rittweger of a mountain reserve machine-gun unit, which arrived in Srebrna Góra in 1915. In 1920 Baron Ernest Albert Adolf von Seckendorf Götz took over the property and turned it into an ordinary dwelling house under the name "Haus Hohenstein". It is not known whether the Seckendorfs lived there during World War II; military authorities, who ran an oflag in the nearby fortress, may have taken it over. After 1945 the building was adapted for forestry purposes, and during this period the northern part of the building was added in a completely different architectural arrangement. In 1957 it was taken over by the local PTTK (Polskie Towarzystwo Turystyczno-Krajoznawcze), which opened a mountain hostel there in 1959. Around 1960 the first seismic station in Lower Silesia, belonging to the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, was opened next to the hostel. By the late 1960s the hostel was in poor technical condition and was closed in 1969. After devastation and while renovation was still ongoing, it reopened in 1974 and was named Schronisko PTTK w Srebrnej Górze "Pod Fortami" im. kontradmirała Stefana Frankowskiego. At that time it had 38 beds. Later the admiral ceased to be its patron, and in the 1980s the hostel was closed again. After 1989, in 1991 the building was leased to private individuals. In 1994, during renovation, the historic roof tiles were replaced with wood shingles. In 2007 the facility was closed once more, ending its operation as a mountain hostel. Today it houses a private guesthouse that has revived the historic name "Villa Hubertus", with a restaurant on the ground floor. From 2008 the manager of the building was Grzegorz Fajdek of Kraków, who also managed Fort Ostróg; during his management an aerial bomb was discovered nearby. In 2011 the manager changed again, to the company TDK Transport from Skiereszewo near Gniezno. The current guesthouse offers accommodation, dining, school trips, group and corporate events, access to a small ski station, bicycle storage and repair, and other attractions. According to its website, Villa Hubertus in Srebrna Góra is developing its offer under a project financed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Krajowy Plan Odbudowy i Zwiększania Odporności).
- 2011
Management changed to TDK Transport from Skiereszewo near Gniezno.
- 2008
Grzegorz Fajdek of Kraków became manager of the building; an aerial bomb was discovered nearby during his management.
- 2007
Facility closed again, ending its operation as a mountain hostel.
- 1994
During renovation, historic roof tiles were replaced with wood shingles.
- 1991
Building leased to private individuals.
- 1980
Hostel closed again during the 1980s.
- 1974
Reopened as Schronisko PTTK w Srebrnej Górze "Pod Fortami" im. kontradmirała Stefana Frankowskiego with 38 beds.
- 1969
Hostel closed due to poor technical condition.
- 1960
The first seismic station in Lower Silesia, of the Institute of Geophysics PAS, opened next to the hostel.
- 1959
PTTK opened a mountain hostel in the building.
Products and positioning
Historic mountain guesthouse and tourist base in the Owl Mountains, combining heritage accommodation with dining and outdoor activities.
Accommodation in historic rooms
Rooms designed for guest needs, in a historic building.
Restaurant and bar
Traditional cuisine with vegetarian, vegan and seasonal options.
School trips
Variants adapted to age and skills of participants.
Group and corporate events
Conference room available free of charge to groups staying at the property.
Ski station access
Small ski station on the northern slope at the foot of the Owl Mountains.
Bicycle facilities
Bicycle storage, repair station and washer, with rental via ROMET.
Sources4 sources
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