Świdnica

Located just under 55 km. south-west of Wrocław on the river Bystrzyca, Świdnica is one of Lower Silesia’s largest and oldest cities. Świdnica is famous for its arts and architecture from the Middle Ages, such as the numerous Gothic and Baroque churches in the old town square The oldest restaurant in Poland is Piwnica Świdnicka in Wrocław; it was established in 1273 and named after the famous beer from Świdnica it served. Świdnica was part of the Kingdom of Poland, ruled by the Piast dynasty, from the 11th to late 14th century. During this period, the town grew into a regional commerce center with many guilds, merchants and fashion artisans. It also became one of Poland’s major beer brewing centers; a reputation that spread across Central Europe over time. Świdnica was the capital of the titular Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor from 1291 to 1392, when Poland fragmented into smaller duchies. Bolko II the Small, who served as Duke of Świdnica from 1326 until his death in 1368, was the last duke of the Piast dynasty in Silesia. The Kingdom of Bohemia annexed the Duchy of Świdnica in 1392. The epoch of Bohemia brought great economic prosperity; the city excelled as a regional marketplace, exporting its famous beer and goods to the Czech lands. At the same time, new businesses like mint and cattle created opportunities for further growth. The city was eventually commonly referred to by its German name Schweidnitz. In 1526, the city became part of the Duchy of Schweidnitz of the Habsburg Monarchy. A large number of German speaking immigrants settled in the city, enlarging its population and territory. The Thirty Years War had a profound effect on Schweidnitz not only because of the enormous damage inflicted on the city during the war but also what happened afterwards: The construction of the Church of Peace in Świdnica. The Kingdom of Prussia seized Schweidnitz and most of Silesia during the First Silesian War. Throughout the 19th century, Schweidnitz underwent industrialization, becoming a major textile and machinery manufacturer; its industries grew further when the railway line to the nearby Breslau was constructed. In 1803, the city was visited by Polish poet Józef Wybicki, the author of the Polish national anthem. In 1945, Świdnica was integrated into Poland. The population became largely Polish again as a result of the expulsion of Germans and arrival of Poles from the eastern regions Poland lost. Destruction during the Second World War was relatively minor, a sharp contrast to many other places in Silesia. As Poland recovered from the war, Świdnica returned to being one of its most economically developed cities, particularly in the areas of industry and entrepreneurship. In recent decades, the tourist sector has been growing exponentially, driven in a large part by regional infrastructure development.