It is probable that there was a duke’s stronghold in the location of the present castle ruins. The stronghold, which could have been a hunting castle, was a place where the Opole dukes’ hunters settled. In 1323, during the reign of Duke Albert (son of Duke Boles?aw I), the place was fortified. It is true that Duke Albert was in his stronghold in Strzelce – all the documents issued by the Duke in the first half of the14th century are annotated as made out in the Strzelce castle. In the times of John George, Elector of Brandenburg from the House of Hohenzollern, the castle fell into ruin. Between 1562 and 1596, renovation works were started. J. von Redern Sr rebuilt the castle thoroughly. In 1848, when Count Andrzej Maria Renard was master in Strzelce, a brewery was set up in the castle. The count made more investments in that period – in mid 19th century, he built a tower and part of the castle outbuildings located by the road to K?dzierzyn-Ko?le. As the castle was thoroughly rebuilt, it lost its characteristics. Its last owners were Counts Castell-Castell who had it in the interwar period. There were no major changes to its structure then. At the end of January 1945, the rear of the Soviet army, while burning the town, totally destroyed the castle. In December 2003, the ruins of the castle were sold to the Agrocentrum company owned by a well known local agricultural entrepreneur. The renovated castle is to house a restaurant, hotel and offices. The owner also plans to make available the tower as a vantage point. It was announced that the first renovated part would be opened in 2007. The historic castle in Strzelce Opolskie is surrounded by a beautiful 62 ha park. It is exceptional for botanists, historians and tourists alike. The charming place is an attraction of the town and the entire Strzelecki region. The park’s history dates back to early 19th century when the castle was owned by Count Andrzej Maria Renard. The Count sent his gardener, Schmidt, to London in order for him to make plans of the English gardens and study their landscape design. The works on the park in Strzelce were started in 1832. Trees were uprooted in the nearby forests which were part of the property and transported to the park. The more beautiful specimens were brought from as far as the forests of Lublin. Because of excellent soil conditions and good care after planting, most of these trees still grow today. The park covers an area of 62 ha. Setting up the alleys, planting young tree stands – all of the work that went into establishing the park – took from 25 to 30 years. At first, the so-called small park was created to the south of the castle ruins. Parkowa Street separates it from the much younger area called the big park. There are many valuable tree species in the small park such as the red beech, silver maple, large-leaved lime, yew, tulip tree, ginko, and the platanus. There are also more common species including pines, oaks, maples, hornbeams, white beeches and white poplars. In the big park, on the other hand, one can find chestnuts, white beeches, willows, white American firs and other species. The park pond has an island where flocks of wild fowl rest. A little farther, there is a forester’s lodge. Near the castle is a hill, the so-called chestnut mountain. It was created at the same time as the park ponds. Earth excavated when digging the ponds was used to form the hill. Hundreds of workers transported the earth in their barrows creating both the hill and the ponds in the process. Another elevation, the so-called shrine mountain (today called the hill of the three benches) is also artificial. Decades ago, the area was flat. On the so-called Kaska mountain there used to be a Greek styled pavilion with the monument to Goddess Ceres. Today, it can be used as a vantage point from which tourists can look at vast meadows and groups of groves. The big park ends with a narrow park path leading south in the direction of the Duke’s Forest behind which there is a motorway. At the end of the forests one can find ruins of a vantage tower called Ischl from early 20th century. It was a four storey structure with an observation deck on top which has a balustrade and a small steeple. It used to be possible to admire the beautiful surrounding area of Strzelce Opolskie and St. Anna Mountain. For a few years now, efforts are made to develop the park. Paths are repaved and a playground has been built. In 2003, students of the Kraków Polytechnic and the Kraków Agricultural School thoroughly took stock of the trees and shrubs in the park.