Bolesławiec

Overview

Bolesławiec is situated on the Bóbr River in western Lower Silesia. It is known for its pottery market and numerous workshops producing ceramics that are exported to many countries. The railway line between Wrocław and Dresden in Germany goes through the city, across its famous railway viaduct. In the beginning, Bolesławiec was a small settlement claimed by the Kingdom of Poland in the late 10th century. Over the next 400 years, Bolesławiec grew into a small Polish town on the western frontier. In the 14th century, it came under rule of the Duchy of Silesia and Jawor. Some of the oldest stoneware artefacts discovered in Bolesławiec Old Town originate from this time period. The Bohemian Crown ruled the town after annexing the Duchy of Jawor in 1392. During this time, the local economy developed, and new walls were built to strengthen the town’s defenses. In 1429, however, Bolesławiec was burnt down during a Hussite raid, and the subsequent reconstruction took many years. The geographic location of the town made it part of major trade routes going from Warsaw and Wrocław in Poland to Dresden in Saxony. In 1526, the Bohemian Crown was absorbed by the Habsburg Monarchy. In 1742, the majority of Silesia, including Bolesławiec (renamed Bunzlau), was claimed by the Kingdom of Prussia following its victory over the Habsburg Monarchy in the First Silesian War. Bunzlau was strategically important to the French and Russian armies during the Napoleonic Wars, especially in 1813. In 1845, the first railway line and station were built as part of Prussia’s industrialization. One year later, the city’s famous railway viaduct, one of the oldest in Europe, was constructed over the Bóbr River. It was during the 19th century that Bunzlau’s growing pottery industry gained international recognition. New technologies, emerging markets and large deposits of clay in the area made ceramics a defining feature of the city. By the end of the century, Bunzlau ceramics were sold around the world, famously known as “Bunzlau pottery”, and had been established as a key aspect of the Silesian economy. A significant portion of Bunzlau’s old town was destroyed in the final year of the Second World War. The changes to the German and Polish territories after the war put Bunzlau, now Bolesławiec, within Poland. The population was transformed as well. Most of the German inhabitants were expelled, replaced largely by Polish citizens from the former eastern Poland in addition to Polish immigrants from countries such as Yugoslavia. However, many of the city’s potteries were retained and eventually restored by the newly arrived Polish potters and business owners. Some of them even adopted Polish design elements, creating ceramics that are associated with modern day Poland. At this time, Bolesławiec also was one of Poland’s main copper producers and began hosting numerous sports events and organizations, developing the local tourist industry.

Bolesławiec Rail Viaduct

Bolesławiec has one of the oldest and longest railway bridges in Poland and Europe. This stone bridge stretches across the Bóbr River and is an important part of the railway infrastructure of Lower Silesia, including travel to Germany.

The rail viaduct was built between 1844 and 1846 when railway construction had begun in the city, then called Bunzlau. At this time, Silesia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and undergoing rapid industrialization and economic growth, supported strongly by Breslau close to Bunzlau. In the 19th century, railway transportation became vital for the economic development and unification of the country. Moreover, the railway network greatly increased the military power of Prussia, and later Germany, allowing for fast movement of troops and supplies. The rail viaduct in Bunzlau was an important component of this due to the city’s close proximity to the borders with Austria and Russia. Over the years, it has become one of the most recognizable structures in Bolesławiec.

In 2009, Polish State Railways (PKP) renovated and upgraded the viaduct as part of its process of modernizing Poland’s railway network.

Bolesławiec Ceramics Museum

One of the most important markets of Bolesławiec is ceramics. The Bolesławiec Ceramics Museum (pl. Muzeum Ceramiki w Bolesławcu), established in 1950, on Zgorzelecka 28/29 has a multitude of exhibitions detailing the history, production and evolving aesthetics of pottery products made in the city and neighboring towns. Historical periods covered by the museum include the Middle Ages, the Prussian and German Bunzlau periods and modern Bolesławiec. From each epoch, a wide selection of ceramic products is displayed like Bunzlau pottery, Parowa porcelain and contemporary Polish pottery. Many of these have been exported around the world, greatly contributing to the historical importance of the city.

A highlight of the museum is a vessel from the second half of the 13th century, which is regarded as the oldest ceramic artefact in Bolesławiec. Other unique objects displayed include recent archeological findings, such as relics of the Lusatian culture that were discovered in 2005 as well as antique pottery and tools excavated in Bolesławiec market square in 2007.

Aside from ceramics, the museum has many history sections in addition to collections of memorabilia from different periods of time that present the history of Bolesławiec and its people. For example: historical artefacts from the Napoleonic Wars, artworks of Bunzlau, the societal changes that occurred in 1945 as well as social life during the 1970s and 80s. It also features traditional art made by artists from the city.

Centre of Old Pottery Techniques

Administered by the Bolesławiec Ceramics Museum, the Centre of Old Pottery Techniques is simultaneously an extension of the ceramics museum and a workshop. It is located south of the Market Square on Kutuzowa 14.

Visitors may participate in the workshop in order to learn about the art of pottery and make their own ceramics.

In the courtyard before the entrance stands a preserved traditional ceramic kiln along with a chimney from the 19th century. The museum section inside the building contains ceramics made by contemporary Polish potters from Bolesławiec and Lower Silesia. Additionally, documentaries about the pottery making process are shown, explaining each step in detail from clay preparation to decoration alongside the tools used.