Gross Rosen
Gross Rosen was a German concentration camp, located in Gross-Rosen in Lower Silesia – now Rogoznica. It was located directly on the rail line between Jawor and Strzegom. Gross Rosen was a German concentration camp set up in 1940 and became an independent camp on May 1, 1941. Its prisoners were destined for hard work in the local granite quarry which belonged to the SS DEST firm. In October 1941 the SS transferred about 3,000 Soviet POWs to Gross-Rosen for execution by shooting.
One of the most tragic periods of this camp’s history was the evacuation. During the transports, some of which lasted even several weeks, died many thousands of prisoners. Prisoners of the main camp in Rogoznica were evacuated in February 1945. The last transport left on 13th of February and abandoned camp was taken by the Russian Army. In March 1947 it was officially handed to polish authorities, which got down setting the post- camp grounds in order and guarding the camp remains. The State Museum Gross- Rosen was founded in 1983 by the power of the Decree of Art and Culture Minister. Goal of the Museum is to accumulate source materials to the history of Gross- Rosen complex, conduct research works and disseminating historical knowledge, protect post- camp remains and make them available for visitors. Works are conducted in three basic departments: Accumulation of Files, Scientific- Research-, and Educational. In the Museum in Rogoznica visitors may see the post-camp territory, the granite quarry- a place of prisoners’ work and another exhibitions like e.g. „KL Gross-Rosen 1941 – 1945″, “Lost Humanity” or „French Barrack”. Very important for Museum’s activity is popularization of issues connected with camp’s history among youth. Every year on first Sunday of September on the former camp grounds are organized anniversary ceremonies with formal field mass in intention of murdered ones. Visiting the territory of the former concentration camp and exhibitions in the Museum takes minimum 2 hours. According to the disposition of the Minister of the National Education, children to the age of 13 years are not permitted to visit Memorial Sites. Pupils should be visiting the Museum under the adults’ care.
Klodzko
Klodzko is a district town on the Nysa Klodzka in the middle of the Klodzko Basin, 88 kilometres south of Wroclaw. It is one of the most precious historic urban complexes in Silesia. Klodzko is the main commercial centre as well as an important transport and tourist node for the area. For its historical monuments it is sometimes referred to as “Little Prague”. Klodzko has the perfect communication position, centrally in the Valley of Klodzko, in the neighbourhood of well-known health resorts, excursion terrains, touristic attractionsand the Polish-Czech borderland.
One’s unique character Klodzko owes unusually stormy and fascinating over 1000 – years history. The numerous relics of architecture define the climate of city – former inhabitnts’ historical property as well as cultural heritage. The main monuments of Klodzko are the fortress of Klodzko, the museum of the Land of Klodzko, the underground touristic Trail, Old Town in Klodzko, The Gothic St. John’s Bridge and the Parish church of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Klodzko is the perfect excursion base for tourists traverse nearby mountain routes. Rocky areas and beautiful sceneries stretching from mountain tops are the best place for desirous people who want to detach for a moment from municipal turmoil and hurry. The Land of Klodzko is an ideal place for those who like silence and intercourse with nature. To birds’ lovers and music lovers Klodzko propose excursions with binoculars in vicinity of fast mountain streams where their nests have the numerous species of best bird’s singers’.The followers of angling will not bore also. Near Klodzko there are many vivid fisheries. In local rivers and bright streams swim rare fish species. The land of Klodzko is called “Trout land”, and the royal trout is a regional dish. Klodzko and neighbourhood offer lots of attraction for people who like actively spend their free time. In summer you can go for the mountain-climbing in or rest in the saddle. The net of paths and bicycle routes is very good developed. In winter you can run on ski slopes in Zieleniec, Jamrozowa Polana or Czarna Gora. The Table Mountains is the attractive terrain for lovers of gear skiing. Very good provided routes for gear round Szczeliniec Wielki assure active rest and exquisite winter panoramas. From Klodzko is close to health resorts, which climate and unrestricted possibilities of relaxation guarantee a relaxing atmosphere. Health resorts pulsate of life during the whole year and numerous restaurants, cosy little cafes and pubs create a sociable excellent climate to meetings.
Ksiaz
Ksiaz is a castle situated in the Pelcznica River bend, from 1973 within the city boundaries of Walbrzych, about 6 kilometres north of the city centre. Ksiaz Castle is the biggest in Lower Silesia, the third biggest in Poland after Malbork and Wawel and it is one of the biggest castles in Europe and is also known as the Pearl of Lower Silesia. Ksiaz castle company was established in 1991. Its founder and sole proprietor is the District of Walbrzych.
Ksiaz Castle, the Pearl of Lower Silesia, is undoubtedly one of the greatest tourist attractions of the region. It was erected in the 13th century by Bolko I, the prince of Swidnica and Jawor. The castle was repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and reconstructed. Throughout the course of history, it belonged to numerous owners. A wide view extends from the castle tower. New Year’s Eve balls in the grandiose Baroque scenery of the Maximilian Hall are very popular. What is more, films are shot here. There is a hotel and guest house. The castle is encircled by 12 terraces on different levels. The whole area is surrounded by the wooded hills of Ksiaz Landscape Park. The Ksiaz castle offer includes visiting of the castle and park complex for individual tourists and organized groups. Moreover, the company organizes scientific conferences, symposiums, occasional events, balls, banquets and fairs, making the castle chambers available for the visitors.
Swidnica
Swidnica is a district town, 53 kilometres southwest of Wroclaw in the south-west Poland, in the Lower Silesia Voivodship. Swidnica is a town with over 800 years of history whose community has been shaped by people from different nations – and as a result representing different cultures, religions and customs. It is being recognized as one of the most valuable towns in the Lower Silesia.
The list of relics in Swidnica includes over 1000 elements, with the Church of Peace entered in 2001 into the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List as the biggest European temple of a wooden frame construction. Huge amount and rank of cultural events (particularly musical) enabled Swidnica to bear a name of significant cultural – entertainment centre. Thanks to a tremendous activity of the local government Swidnica has a strong economy, based on the town’s ancient merchant traditions, the strength of native enterprises and new investments of companies from Europe, US and Japan. Swidnica is an investor – friendly town and its modern monitoring system makes it also a safe town for citizens and tourists. The town of Swidnica today is a strong administrative – economical centre of the sub-Sudeten region based on the industry, tourism and trading traditions. While sightseeing Swidnica it is worth to start from the Duke’s Route which leads through the most interesting corners of our beautiful town. The modern equipment – multimedia Info-Kiosks placed in 6 points in Swidnica, tourist information signs including model of the town, audio guides for individual sightseeing (available in Tourist Information Centre in the Market Square) as well as mini maps and folders describing the route (available for free in Tourist Information Centre) – will certainly facilitate the sightseeing. The walk through the Duke’s Route allows for individual sightseeing of the most interesting places and furthermore you can devote as much time as you want to. Swidnica has also a new private museum of arms and military equipment. It is worth to see the Museum of Old Trade features an interior of an 18th c. pharmacy, a turn-of-the-20th c. grocer’s, a collection of scales, measures and leaden seals.
Nysa
Nysa used to be called the “Silesian Rome” or “Silesian Athens”. It was one of the best-known and the most important Polish towns. Its name appears in Hartmann Schedl’s “World Chronicles” just after those of Krakow and Wroclaw. For almost 500 years of its history Nysa was the capital of the bishop’s principality, due to which it flourished economically and culturally, despite diverse historical adversities such as invasions and fires.
Under the Prussian rule, the town was converted into a stronghold, which hindered its further growth for nearly 200 years. Yet, the worst disaster occurred during WW2, when almost 80 percent of the town was virtually destroyed. Its inhabitants put continuous effort into the meticulous reconstruction and renovation of the remaining fragments of the town’s former glory. The unique character of the town is revealed both in historical buildings full of various treasures and in old parks and fortifications, as well. The adjacent Nyskie Lake and the vicinity of the Opawskie Mountains help make it into the most attractive tourist area in the Opolskie Province and one of the best-known such areas in Poland. Despite suffering massive destruction during World War II, Nysa retains a number of interesting buildings. The town centre is dominated by the Gothic Church of Saints James and Agnieszka, with a separate belfry dating from the early 16th century. The well beside it, covered with unusual wrought ironwork, is known as the Beautiful Well and dates from 1686. Of Nysa’s many churches, the finest are the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Jesuit Church of the Assumption. Also of interest are the bishop’s palace and manor, which sand beside a group of Jesuit buildings. The palace houses a local history museum.
Otmuchow
Otmuchow is a town in Nysa County in Opole Voivodeship with 5,317 inhabitants. Otmuchow has a picturesque setting between two lakes, Lake Glebinowskie and Lake Otmuchowskie. In spring and summer the town is filled with flowers, partly as the result of the spring flower festival that is held here.
From the 14th century until 1810, Otmuchow belonged to the bishops of Wroclaw. In Otmuchow is a castle, situated on a hill, earlier separated from the town by a moat and walls. The castle is Gothic-Renaissance, with baroque elements, originally three-winged. Inside there are rarely seen broad stone stairs (so-called horse stairs). In the courtyard – a medieval well (reaching the foot of the castle hill). A wall enclosing the courtyard with a Gothic entrance gate from the 15th century. A vast landscape park surrounding the castle.
Klodzko Valley
The Klodzko Valley (Kotlina Klodzka) is the largest mountain valley in the Sudety (about 500 km2). It spreads out along the downstream flow of the Nysa Klodzka and the lower parts of its branches – the Scinawka and Bystrzyca Dusznicka. It is bordered by the Gorna Nysa Gorge, the Table Mountains to the south-west, the Wlodzickie Hills (Wzgorza Wlodzickie) from the west, the Bardzkie Mountains from the north, the Zlote Mountains (Gory Zlote) from the east, and the Krowiarek Ridge (Grzbiet Krowiarek) including the Snieznik Massif, from the south-east.
The climate of the valley is quite mild with frequent thaws, in contrast to the severe climate of the mountains surrounding it. The Klodzko Valley came into being as a result of Alpine orogeny, when the surrounding ranges were forced upwards. The bottom of the valley is formed from late Palaeozoic sedimentary rock, marl loam and calcium, which settled on older metamorphic rock. A gently folded surface is covered with a thick layer sediment, from which single hardened hillocks protrude. The whole valley is wood-less, except for small forests on the tops of some hills. The Klodzko Lands, whose capital is Klodzko, are widely regarded as one of the most attractive tourist regions in Poland. You can find here:
- wonderful mountains, fabulous landscapes, a huge abundance of rock formations, crevices, labyrinths, mountain rock formations such as the Errant Rocks (Bledne Skaly)
- mountains such as: Wielki Szczeliniec, the snieznika Massif, the Table Mountains, the Orlickie, Bystrzyckie, Zlote, Bialskie, Sowie and Bardzkie Mountains;
- natural attractions, caves, picturesque waterfalls, the Batorowskie Peat Bog (Torfowisko Batorowskie) and long snow cover in Zieleniec;
- dozens of mountain trails of different levels of difficulty, numerous cycling routes, sightseeing, walking and therapeutic routes;
- health resorts with mineral water springs such as: Polanica Zdroj, Kudowa Zdroj, Duszniki Zdroj, Ladek Zdroj;
- well-known places, but also small and picturesque villages ‘lost’ among the mountains, very popular health resorts with well developed tourist facilities e.g. – hotels, pensions, guest rooms, argrotourism farms and mountain hostels;
- numerous ski routes, among which is the Czarna Gora complex;
- places of worship, holy sites, an oasis of silence and prayer, the well-known sanctuaries of Our Lady of Wambierzyce, and Our Lady of the Snows in Bardo;
- rich history, castles, fortifications, architectural landmarks, museums with abundant collections and living history museums