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Świdnica(German: Schweidnitz) is a city in Poland in the southwest Lower Silesian Voivodeship. The historic place has an old town that is well worth seeing. The baroque Protestant Church of Peace made of half-timbered houses is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
background
Świdnica / Schweidnitz is one of the oldest and most historic cities in Lower Silesia. In the Middle Ages it was an important trading center in the Piast Duchy of Silesia. It was first mentioned as a town in 1243. Already in the late 13th century, Schweidnitz had its own right to mint and a mint. The market square (ring) and a first forerunner of the town hall also go back to this time.
After the division of the Duchy of Breslau, Schweidnitz became the residence of an independent branch principality in 1290/91, which was consequently called the Duchy of Schweidnitz. In addition, Schweidnitz was a center of beer brewing as early as the beginning of the 14th century. Schweidnitzer beer was z. B. served in the Breslauer Ratskeller and delivered to Prague, Thorn and Budapest. However, the Duchy of Schweidnitz only existed for 77 years until the last Duke Bolko II died childless in 1368. His niece Anna von Schweidnitz became Queen of Bohemia, Roman-German Queen and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire through her marriage to Charles IV.
The Duchy of Schweidnitz fell hereditary to the crown of Bohemia. During this time the territory was administered by provincial governors. From 1522 the Reformation spread in Schweidnitz, almost all of the city's churches became Protestant. With the Kingdom of Bohemia, Schweidnitz also belonged to the rulership of the Austrian Habsburgs from 1526 to 1740. In the middle of the 16th century, Schweidnitz was the second most important city in Silesia in terms of population and economic importance after Wroclaw. During the Thirty Years' War Schweidnitz was badly destroyed and plundered, from which the city recovered only with difficulty and lost its importance in the long term. In addition, the Habsburgs carried out a forced re-Catholicization from 1622/24, the evangelical faith was suppressed.
However, the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 allowed Protestants in Silesia to build a small number of places of worship under a number of conditions: They were not allowed to be made of stone, but only of perishable materials, not to look like a real church (especially none Tower) and had to be erected within just one year. As a result, the three so-called Peace Churches were built as half-timbered structures made of wood, clay and straw, one of which is in Świdnica.
After the First Silesian War, Schweidnitz - like most of Silesia - came to Prussia in 1741. Most of the city's churches were then Protestant again. Frederick the Great had the city expanded into a fortress. In the Seven Years' War (1756–63), Schweidnitz was fiercely contested between Prussia and Austria and changed hands several times, Prussia finally prevailed.
Schweidnitz experienced a renewed boom at the time of industrialization in the 19th century. In 1844 the city received a railway connection. Furniture and toy factories as well as companies from the machine, electrical and radio industries settled here. This gave the city a level of prosperity that can still be seen today in many splendid town houses and representative urban buildings in the Wilhelminian style. The city fortifications were razed in 1867 and replaced by a promenade ring with green spaces.
After 1945 the German population was almost completely expelled. Some of the new Polish residents were displaced from the areas in eastern Poland that were annexed by the Soviet Union. During the socialist period, a large prefabricated housing estate was built on the western outskirts of the city. In the center, on the other hand, the historical cityscape was largely retained; even if the state of preservation of many old buildings is not the best.
Probably the best-known personality from Schweidnitz was the fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen (1892–1918), called "The Red Baron". His family moved here when he was 9 years old. A plaque commemorates him on the residential building at 19 Sikorskiego. Other important Schweidnitzer are or were the doctor Albert Neisser (1855–1916; discoverer of the gonorrhea pathogen), CDU politician Manfred Kanther (* 1939; former Federal Minister of the Interior) and the cultural sociologist Henning Eichberg (1942–2017).
getting there
By plane
The nearest international airport is a good 50 km away Wroclaw Nicolaus Copernicus Airport
(IATA: WRO).
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By train
At the 1 Świdnica Miasto Railway Station Regional trains of the stop eight times a day in each direction Koleje Dolnośląskie (KD) on the line Legnica–Kamieniec Ząbkowicki–Kłodzko. The drive from Legnica takes 1:15 hours, from Kłodzko around 1½ hours. There are also six direct connections to / from every day Wroclaw (Travel time one hour).
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The 10 km distant one has a larger number of connections 2 Jaworzyna Śląska on, which is on the more frequented Wroclaw–Wałbrzych–Jelenia Góra and which is also where Intercitys stop. From Jaworzyna Śląska you can - if there is no suitable connecting train - take a taxi or minibus (both can be found in front of the train station) to Świdnica.
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From Dresden / Görlitz you can change in Legnica to Świdnica, from Berlin / Cottbus or Vienna with change in Wroclaw.
By bus
PKS Świdnica offers a couple of connections per day with Wroclaw, Yes, Legnica, Strzegom, Wałbrzych. Once a week there is also a direct bus connection with Krakow and Poses.
In the street
Świdnica is on the fairly well-developed trunk road 
between Breslau (Wrocław) and Wałbrzych.
Coming from Berlin / Cottbus or Dresden / Görlitz, you can take the A4 motorway in the direction of Breslau to the junction Budziszów drive. Then there are still 33 km on the provincial roads 345, 374 and 382 via Strzegom. Świdnica is not signposted from the motorway exit, so good maps and navigation systems are recommended here.
mobility
All sights in Świdnica are within walking distance. There are also a few bus routes within the city and a few bus connections with neighboring villages. A ticket for travel within the city costs 2 zł.
Tourist Attractions
Świdnica was one of the most important cities in Silesia in the Middle Ages and early modern times, as evidenced by many Gothic churches and baroque town houses around the market square.
Churches
- 1 Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and Wenceslaus (Katedra św. Stanisława i św. Wacława), Pl. Jana Pawła II. Tel.: 48 (0)74 852-27-29.
The city's Gothic parish church was elevated to the status of cathedral of the Świdnica diocese in 2004. It was built in the 14th century when Schweidnitz was still the capital of its own duchy. Particularly noteworthy is the 103 meter high tower, one of the highest church towers in Poland (only recently has it been surpassed by church towers in Stettin and Stary Lichen). The baroque interior is also very splendid, including the painting Death of St. Wenceslas by the baroque painter Michael Willmann.
- 2 Evangelical Church of Peace to the Holy Trinity (Kościół Pokoju pw.Świętej Trójcy), Plac Pokoju 6. Tel.: 48 74 852 28 14.
One of the two preserved peace churches in Silesia. As a concession by the (Catholic) Emperor Ferdinand III. After the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the Protestants in Silesia were allowed to build three houses of worship, which were not made of stone, but only of perishable materials (wood, clay and straw) and were not allowed to look like a "real" church, outside and inside the city walls had to be completed one year. However, since the Silesian Protestants were numerous and some were quite wealthy, the largest half-timbered church in Europe was built between 1656 and 1657. While the outside hardly looks like a typical Christian church, but more like an oversized stable or a very large half-timbered house, the inside is extremely splendidly designed in the Baroque style, with exclusive boxes for the noble families, painted ceiling vaults and a large organ. Originally, towers and bells were also forbidden, but this requirement was relaxed by the Altranstadt Convention in 1707, so that a bell tower was then added. Together with her "sister" in Yes the Friedenskirche has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.Open: April – October: Mon-Sat 9 am–6pm, Sun 12pm – 6pm; November-March: Mon-Sat 9 am-3pm, Sun 12-3pm.
- The Friedenskirche is surrounded by a walled area, called Friedensplatz (Plac Pokoju), "Lutheran Enclave" or "Baroque Angle". These include the former rectory (today the Lower Silesian Evangelical Institute), the former Protestant grammar school, the bell ringer house, guard house and the Protestant cemetery.
- 3 Church of the Holy Cross (Kościół Świętego Krzyża), ul. Westerplatte.Catholic parish church, belongs to the monastery complex of the Kreuzherren. Started in the 13th century; rebuilt after a great fire in 1712; Substantially redesigned from 1865–68, it now has a classicist facade.
Buildings
- 4 town hall (Ratusz), Rynek 37 / ul. Wewnętrzna 2.Built 1329–36, originally Gothic. It was heavily rebuilt and redesigned in 1717-20 and has had a baroque appearance ever since. The town hall tower (wieża ratuszowa) can be climbed.Open: Tue-Sun 10 am–6pm.Price: ascent tower 2 zł, children 1 zł.
- Remains of the Fortress from the time of Frederick the Great (Twierdza Świdnica).The Schweidnitz fortress was built in 1747-53 after Silesia came to Prussia. It had to prove itself repeatedly in the Seven Years' War. It was razed in 1866/67 and replaced by a ring of green spaces. In some places, however, remains of the former forts and fortress walls can still be seen.
- 5 Richthofen's house, ul.Władysława Sikorskiego 19. Apart from a memorial plaque, nothing reminds of the "Red Baron", who grew up here from the age of 9 (no museum or similar). Unfortunately, the villa is not in a particularly good state of preservation.
Monuments
- 6 Maria Cunitz monument, Rynek (in front of the merchant museum).In memory of the astronomer Maria Cunitz (1610–1664), who spent her youth in Schweidnitz. Cunitz spoke seven languages, wrote poetry, was musical. However, she was particularly interested in the orbits of the planets, where she developed pioneering calculation methods. The bronze sculpture shows the figure of the astronomer sitting on a bench, her most important work in one hand Urania propitia ("Auspicious Urania" - the muse of astronomy), in the other an armillary sphere (astronomical device for representing the movement of celestial bodies).
Museums
- 7 Merchant Museum (Muzeum Dawnego Kupiectwa), Rynek 37 (in the city Hall). Tel.: 48 (0)74 852-12-91.Museum of the History of Merchants. Exhibition rooms on the old merchant system (old scales, cash registers, company signs, packaging, facilities of a restaurant, a grocery store and a pharmacy), old weights and measures, the history of Świdnica (in the late Gothic councilor's hall) as well as science and education.Open: May-September: Tue-Fri 10 am–5pm, Sat Sun 11 am–5pm; October-April: Tue-Fri 10 am-4pm, Sat Sun 11 am-5pm.Price: Entry 6 zł, reduced 4 zł, free on Fridays.
- 8 Arms and Military Museum (Muzeum Broni i Militariów), Witoszów Dolny 7A (3 km southwest of the city center). Tel.: 48 791 376 320.Collection of weapons and militaria, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries.Open: daily 10 am–6pm.Price: entry 3 zł, reduced 2 zł.
Streets and squares
- 9 Plac Świętej Małgorzaty (Margarethenplatz). Generous, park-like space. There is a fountain in the middle. Some of the square is still lined with elegant residential and commercial buildings from the 19th century, and some with newer buildings from the 1960s and 70s.
Parks
The city center is surrounded by a belt of parks and green spaces that were created in the 19th century instead of the demolished fortress:
- 10 Park Centralny (between plac Ludowy, ul.Pionierów Ziemi Świdnickiej and ul.Śląska)
- 11 Park in. Jana Kasprowicza or Park Pionierów (between ul.Romualda Traugutta, Sprzymierzeńców and Pionierów Ziemi Świdnickiej)
- 12 Młodzieżowy Park (west of the train station, north of Armii Krajowej Street)
- 13 Park in. Generała Sikorskiego (at ul.Władysława Sikorskiego)
- 14 Ułanów Park (north of the Peace Church, between ul.Łukasińskiego and ul.Parkowa)
activities
Hiking, cycling and winter sports in the southern Sudeten.
shop
There are large supermarkets and small mom and pop shops in the village.
kitchen
- 1 Rynek 43, Rynek 43, 58-100 Świdnica (Located right in the old town). Tel.: 48 74 856-8419.facebook url used
Located in the middle of the old town, the restaurant has been offering original dishes with unusual combinations of flavors and aromas since 2011. Very nice inner courtyard with a view of the town hall tower invites you to linger, especially in summer. Changing menu with many regional specialties, including wild boar goulash, Zisternsiner carp soup, strudel with regional black pudding on a salad. During the week tasting menu with three courses for 43zl.Feature: regional cuisine.Accepted payment methods: no card payment.
- 2 Wieża, Nauczycielska 3, 58-100 Świdnica (5 minutes walk from the old town). Mobile: 48 537 857 160, Email: [email protected].facebook url usedWieża (The Tower) restaurant is a family restaurant set in an old water tower from 1876, the cuisine of which is inspired by the colors, flavors and atmosphere of Naples.Open: Sun.-Thu. 12: 00-22: 00, Fri-Sat 12: 00-23: 00.
- 3 Karczma Zagłoba, Wrocławska 46, 58-100 Świdnica. Tel.: 48 74 851 22 36, Email: [email protected].facebook url usedAn old Polish restaurant in the style of a Polish inn. Traditional Polish cuisine, specialty including goose stuffed with mushrooms with juniper Korytko Zagłoby (three different types of meat served on a board).Open: Mon.-Sun. 12: 00-22: 00.
- 4 7 Niebo, Plac Pokoju 7 (next to the entrance to the grounds of the Friedenskirche). Tel.: 48 534 065 609.facebook url usedVery cute and cozy café in the former guard house (former name Baroccafe). Large selection of coffee and chocolate specialties, homemade cakes (e.g. szarlotkaApple cake), small slow-food specialties from local producers, also hearty snacks and lunch options, beers from the region, mulled wine in winter. In the summer, an idyllic garden for sitting outside.Open: daily 10 am–8pm.
nightlife
The nightlife is concentrated in the old town.
accommodation
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- 1 Hotel Fado, Marii Konopnickiej 6, 58-100 Świdnica. Tel.: 48 74 666 63 70, Email: [email protected].facebook url used
A small family hotel with 25 rooms. The Fado i Wino restaurant combines the flavors of the Iberian Peninsula and Lower Silesia. Conference area and wellness & spa relaxation zone.
- 2 Red Baron Hotel, Lwa Tołstoja 2, 58-100 Świdnica. Tel.: 48 74 856 48 00, Email: [email protected].facebook url usedFour-star hotel with an attached restaurant in a restored villa is located in the green belt northwest of the city center, 200 meters from the parents' house of the “Red Baron” Manfred von Richthofen. A total of 30 rooms in different categories, conference area.
- 3 Barokowy Zakątek, Plac Pokoju 6, 58-100 Świdnica. Tel.: 48 734 150 059, Email: [email protected].facebook url usedRight next to the Friedenskirche, located in one of the historical buildings - the former Protestant middle school from 1708 - a unique guest house was built. The historical setting and decoration give it a unique atmosphere. Six cozy guest rooms.
- 4 Pałac Gruszów (Birkholz Castle), Gruszów 10, 58-124 Marcinowice. Tel.: 48 601 899-477, Email: [email protected].facebook url usedJust outside the city gates, in a small village, there is a special residence. The renovated manor house from 1830 offers 12 guest rooms, some with antique furniture and old tiled stoves. Anyone who wants to withdraw from the hectic environment for an hour of leisure and feel the aura of bygone times will find an ideal place here.
trips
- impressive old hospital / sanatorium in Mokrzeszów (9 km west)
- Świebodzice (Freiburg in Silesia; 13 km to the west) - historical city with remains of the medieval city fortifications, early classical town hall, parish church of St. Nicholas, restored historical train station building
- 15 Grodno Castle (Kynsburg) at Bolków, Ruins of a hilltop castle from the 13th century (14 km southwest)
- Dzierżoniów (Reichenbach; 17 km southeast, 20 minutes by train) - the old town is well worth seeing with the Gothic St. George's Church, the classicistic St. Mary's Church, the historic town hall, synagogue and Jewish cemetery
- Wałbrzych (Waldenburg; 22 km to the west) - Fürstenstein Castle, Palmengarten, porcelain and mining museum
- Tunnel systems of the "Giant" project at Walim - During the Second World War, the Nazis had widely ramified tunnel systems built in the Owl Mountains; Presumably these were supposed to serve as safe alternative locations for the Führer Headquarters, High Command of the Army and the Air Force, Reich Foreign Minister and Reichsführer SS. 20,000 prisoners from the Groß-Rosen concentration camp were used to build it, 5,000 died in the process. In particular, the tunnels on the 16 Wolfsberg (Włodarz; 23 km south of Świdnica) and the 17 Osówka underground city (Drunkard Heights; 29 km south)
- 18 Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp Memorial, at Strzegom (27 km northwest)
- Yes (Jauer; 33 km northwest, 45 minutes by train) - the other of the two Silesian peace churches
- Wroclaw (55 km to the north-east; 1 hour by train) - capital of Lower Silesia, a very interesting city with a rich cultural offer
literature
See article too Poland.
Web links
- http://www.um.swidnica.pl - Official website of Świdnica
