Polanica-Zdroj

Polanica-Zdrój, a spa town located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of Poland, has a population of around 6,500 inhabitants within an area of 17.22 square kilometers. Situated in Kłodzko County, this gorgeous location provides a special mix of historical heritage and natural beauty that has attracted both tourists and health-conscious guests.

Geographical location of the town is very amazing. Polanica-Zdrój is found at the foot of the Piekielna Góra mountain, in the valley of Bystrzyca Dusznicka, marking the southeast end of the Table Mountains. The Sokołówka district in southern the city spreads along the slopes of the Bystrzyckie Mountains close to Kamienna Góra. With elevations between roughly 370 and 560 meters above sea level, this varied geography adds to the appeal of the town.

Polanica-Zdrój is laid longitudinally, following the topography of the area. Above Bystrzyca Dusznicka in the city center, the town’s lowest point is found; Sokołówka has the highest point. Among the several natural features covered by the city borders are Piekielna Góra, Wyski Kamień, Piekielna Dolina, Wolarz, and Wietrznik—the last being the highest elevation within the city boundaries.

Like its terrain, Polanica-Zdrój’s past is varied and rich. Originally known as Heyde and under the Kingdom of Bohemia, the town first comes into recorded notice in 1347. The settlement passed hands several times over the ages, each owner leaving their imprint on its growth. The village grew mostly under the direction of the Jesuits, who co-owned it from the end of the 16th century.

The path the town followed through history presented difficulties as well. Swedish troops left a path of devastation behind them in 1645, during the Thirty Years’ War. Polanica-Zdrój proved strong, nevertheless, and in the 18th and 19th centuries its fortunes started to shift. The Kingdom of Prussia acquired the village in 1742, therefore launching a new chapter.

For Polanica-Zdrój, the 19th century brought forth fast expansion. Its development into a well-known health resort in the 1870s came at the same time Prussia started to be a component state of Germany. The establishment of a rail link to Glatz (now Kłodzko) in 1890, therefore increasing the town’s accessibility to guests looking for its healing waters, helped to support this development.

As a spa town, Polanica-Zdrój kept growing in early 20th century. But the turbulent events of the two World Wars did not spare it either. The town’s sanatoria were converted into military hospitals throughout both wars, serving injured troops instead of health-seeking residents.

In Polanica-Zdrój’s history, the end of World War II marked still another major turning point. The town joined Poland as part of the post-war territory revisions. Polanica-Zdrój was given town rights in 1945 under appreciation for its significance and growth; Kazimierz Dąbrowski was designated first mayor.

The spiritual life of the community changed also in the years following war. The Catholic parishes of Polanica-Zdrój were moved from the conventional Hradec Králové diocese to the Archdiocese of Wrocław on June 28, 1972, therefore matching the ecclesiastical governance of the municipality with its new national character.

Polanica-Zdrój is still a dynamic community today that honors its past as well as current. POL-8, an amateur film festival held in the town, presents local and worldwide cinematic talent. Most famously, Polanica-Zdrój has been the honored host of the yearly Akiba Rubinstein Memorial chess tournament since 1963. Honoring the legendary Polish Grandmaster Akiba Rubinstein (1882–1961), this esteemed event regularly draws a top class field of players from all around the world, therefore securing the town’s position on the international chess map.

Polanica-Zdrój’s appeal and character depend much on its natural surroundings. Among the other surrounding municipalities the town welcomes are Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Kłodzko, and Szczytna. Its borders go from Wolany to the north, Szczytna to the west, Pokrzywne and Starków to the south, and Starków, Stary Wielisław, and Szalejów Górny to the east. Polanica-Zdrój’s unique identity is preserved while its function as a regional hub is strengthened by this closeness to other towns.

Polanica-Zdrój’s fate as a spa town has been much shaped by its geological and hydrological characteristics. Not only enhances the natural splendor of the Piekielna Dolina canyon before merging with the Nysa Kłodzka, but the Bystrzyca Dusznicka river is also extremely important for the local ecology. The Table Mountains and the Bystrzyckie Mountains among the neighboring mountains create an amazing backdrop and present lots of chances for outdoor sports and appreciation of the surroundings.