Dolnośląskie ([dɔlnɔˈɕlɔ̃skʲɛ]) is a voivodeship (administrative province) in southwestern-Poland, encompassing much the historic region of Lower Silesia, from whose Polish name (Dolny Śląsk) its name is derived.
- Wrocław. (German: Breslau) — a perfect mixture of Gothic and baroque architecture, it was also destroyed and successfully rebuilt
- Bielawa.
- Bolesławiec. — gothic and baroque town
- Głogów. (German: Glogau)
- Jawor. (German: Jauer)
- Jelenia Góra. (German: Hirschberg) — a big baroque city at the foot of the Karkonosze
- Kłodzko. (German: Glatz) — baroque town in Lower Silesia in the Polish spa area.
- Legnica. (German: Liegnitz)
- Lubin. (German: Lüben)
- Lwówek Śląski. — gothic and baroque town in Lower Silesia
- Malczyce.
- Środa Śląska.
- Świdnica. — gothic and baroque town in Lower Silesia
- Wałbrzych. (German: Waldenburg) - large city in the region of the industrial and cultural traditions
- Złotoryja.
- Cieplice-Zdrój. — spa in the Karkonosze
- Długopole-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
- Duszniki-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
- Jedlina-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
- Karpacz. (German: Krumhübel)
- Kowary.
- Kudowa-Zdrój. (German: Bad Kudowa) — spa in the Sudetes
- Lądek-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
- Polanica-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
- Świeradów-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
- Szklarska Poręba.
- Wambierzyce.
Cieplice-Zdrój. — spa in the Karkonosze
Długopole-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
Duszniki-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
Jedlina-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
Karpacz. (German: Krumhübel)
Kowary.
Kudowa-Zdrój. (German: Bad Kudowa) — spa in the Sudetes
Lądek-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
Polanica-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
Świeradów-Zdrój. — spa in the Sudetes
Szklarska Poręba.
Wambierzyce.
Wrocław. (German: Breslau) — a perfect mixture of Gothic and baroque architecture, it was also destroyed and successfully rebuilt
Bielawa.
Bolesławiec. — gothic and baroque town
Głogów. (German: Glogau)
Jawor. (German: Jauer)
Jelenia Góra. (German: Hirschberg) — a big baroque city at the foot of the [[Karkonosze]]
Kłodzko. (German: Glatz) — baroque town in Lower Silesia in the Polish spa area.
Legnica. (German: Liegnitz)
Lubin. (German: Lüben)
Lwówek Śląski. — gothic and baroque town in Lower Silesia
Malczyce.
Środa Śląska.
Świdnica. — gothic and baroque town in Lower Silesia
Wałbrzych. (German: Waldenburg) - large city in the region of the industrial and cultural traditions
Złotoryja.
- Giant Mountains.
- Karkonosze National Park. — national park in the Sudetes around the Śnieżka Mountain with beautiful waterfalls
- Stołowe Mountains National Park. — national park in the Sudetes around the Szczeleniec Mountain with bizarre rocks
Giant Mountains.
Karkonosze National Park. — national park in the Sudetes around the Śnieżka Mountain with beautiful waterfalls
Stołowe Mountains National Park. — national park in the Sudetes around the Szczeleniec Mountain with bizarre rocks
In the early second millennium Lower Silesia started out as a part of Poland. In the 12th and 13th century Silesia fell apart into several duchies of with Wrocław, Głogów, Wschowa and Świdnica in Lower Silesia. In the 14th century Wschowa became again a part of Poland, while the others came under Czech or Bohemian rule. During this time the region was largely settled and or became German-speaking. Bohemia was also ruled at this time by the German Luxembourg, later the Polish Jagiellonians and finally by the Austrian Habsburgs. In 1741 Lower Silesia became a part of Prussia after Austria lost a decisive war over Silesia. After World War II Lower Silesia was annexed by Poland and almost all of its population (entirely German) was expelled and the area was resettled by Poles.
Some of the geographic regions include:
- Giant Mountains (Polish - Karkonosze, Czech - Krkonoše, German - Riesengebirge), divided between Poland and the Czech Republic. Note that originally Germans lived on both sides of this border, still visible on old cemeteries on the Czech side - the Poles cleared all German tombstones when they annexed this part of Germany after WWII.
- Snow Mountain (Polish - Śnieżka, Czech - Sněžka, German - Schneekoppe), the highest mountain in the Giant Mountains, 1602 m. high.
- Jeleniogórska Valley (Polish - Kotlina Jeleniogórska) - a valley north to the Giant Mountains with Jelenia Góra (German Hirschberg) agglomeration.
- Kłodzko County (Polish - Kotlina Kłodzka, German - Grafschaft Glatz), a valley surrounded by several mountain ranges,main city Kłodzko (German: Glatz), contains several health resorts - Polanica-Zdrój (German: Bad Alteheide), Duszniki-Zdrój (German: Bad Reinerz), Kudowa-Zdrój (German:Bad Kudowa).
- Trzebnica Hills
- Barten River Valley (Polish: Dolina Baryczy)includes:
- Milicz Ponds, a perfect place for bird watching
[[Giant Mountains]] (Polish - Karkonosze, Czech - Krkonoše, German - Riesengebirge), divided between Poland and the Czech Republic. Note that originally Germans lived on both sides of this border, still visible on old cemeteries on the Czech side - the Poles cleared all German tombstones when they annexed this part of Germany after WWII.
Snow Mountain (Polish - Śnieżka, Czech - Sněžka, German - Schneekoppe), the highest mountain in the Giant Mountains, 1602 m. high.
Jeleniogórska Valley (Polish - Kotlina Jeleniogórska) - a valley north to the Giant Mountains with Jelenia Góra (German Hirschberg) agglomeration.
Kłodzko County (Polish - Kotlina Kłodzka, German - Grafschaft Glatz), a valley surrounded by several mountain ranges,main city Kłodzko (German: Glatz), contains several health resorts - Polanica-Zdrój (German: Bad Alteheide), Duszniki-Zdrój (German: Bad Reinerz), Kudowa-Zdrój (German:Bad Kudowa).
Trzebnica Hills
Barten River Valley (Polish: Dolina Baryczy)includes:
- Milicz Ponds, a perfect place for bird watching
Like everywhere else in Poland, all residents of Lower Silesia speak Polish. However, frequently you will find information boards also in German and English. Most young people know some English. Older people quite often understand basic German or Russian. As everywhere knowledge of a few words in Polish will be warmly welcome.
- Jawor Peace Church (German: Friedenskirche Jauer) and Świdnica Peace Church (German: Friedenskirche Schweidnitz) built only of wood, with very simple exterior but overwhelming Baroque interior.
- Centennial Hall (original name Jahrhunderthalle, now Hala Stulecia) in Wrocław - huge hall from the beginning of the 20th century.
- Wałbrzych Industrial city with a rich industrial buildings and the medieval city buildings. The most interesting is Stara Kopalnia - Centrum Nauki i Sztuki ( Old Mine - Center for Science and the Arts ) and Zamek Książ ( Castel Książ ). Mine - Center for Science and the Arts
Lower Silesian Voivodeship borders three other Polish provinces:
- Lubuskie,
- Wielkopolskie,
- and Opolskie,
as well as the Czech Republic and Germany.