Duszniki-Zdrój (; ; ), often simplified to Duszniki, is a

spa town A spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath, Somerset, Ba ...

in Kłodzko Valley and

Kłodzko County __NOTOC__ Kłodzko County () is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on 1 January 1999 as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed ...

Lower Silesian Voivodeship Lower Silesian Voivodeship (, ) in southwestern Poland, is one of the 16 Voivodeships of Poland, voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divided. It covers an area of and has a total population of 2,899,986. It is one of the wealthiest ...

, in southwestern

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

. As of December 2021, the town has a population of 4,329. Situated on the Bystrzyca River, it attracts tourists from Poland and around the world.

History

The settlement was mentioned in 1324. The town was colonized by Germans an the name Reinerz likely refers to the place Reinhards in

Hesse Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...

. It was granted

town rights Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...

in 1346. Until 1595 it remained in private hands. A trade route connecting

Silesia Silesia (see names #Etymology, below) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at 8, ...

and

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...

ran through the town, contributing to its development. Weaving and paper production developed, as well as the iron industry, but the local iron deposits quickly depleted. In 1584 a town hall was built, and in 1605 a paper mill, now housing the Museum of Papermaking. The town's development was stopped by the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...

(1618-1648). In 1669 Polish King

John II Casimir Vasa John II Casimir Vasa (; ; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 to his abdication in 1668 as well as a claimant to the throne of Sweden from 1648 to 1660. He was the first son of Sigis ...

stopped in the town after his abdication. In 1748 the first research on mineral springs was carried out, and in 1751 spa treatments began. In 1769, the town obtained the status of a

. In 1822 a pump room was founded. In 1826, 16-year-old

Frédéric Chopin Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 181017 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period who wrote primarily for Piano solo, solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown ...

visited the spa. He was cured there and gave his first concert outside of the

Russian Partition The Russian Partition (), sometimes called Russian Poland, constituted the former territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that were annexed by the Russian Empire in the course of late-18th-century Partitions of Poland. The Russian ac ...

of Poland, which was also his first charity concert. In 1877 a palm house was built with a concert hall and a reading room, and after 1881 many guesthouses were built. In 1896 or 1897, a monument was unveiled commemorating the 60th anniversary of Chopin's stay. In 1949, 1,500 Greek refugees of the

Greek Civil War The Greek Civil War () took place from 1946 to 1949. The conflict, which erupted shortly after the end of World War II, consisted of a Communism, Communist-led uprising against the established government of the Kingdom of Greece. The rebels decl ...

, mostly women and children, were temporarily admitted in Duszniki-Zdrój before new homes were found for them in other towns. The town suffered in the

1997 Central European flood The 1997 Central European flood or the 1997 Oder Flood of the Oder and Morava (river), Morava river basins in July 1997 affected Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany, taking the lives of 114 people and causing material damages estimated at $4. ...

Economy

The town's economy is based on tourism, with several hundred thousand people visiting the town and the area every year. In addition, there are several

mineral water Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. It is usually still, but may be sparkling ( carbonated/ effervescent). Traditionally, mineral waters were used or consumed at t ...

bottling plants, traditional paper works and a crystal jewellery producer. The

Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój The Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój () is a historical museum located in the spa town of Duszniki-Zdrój in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, southwestern Poland. It was founded in 1968 in an old 16th-century paper mill on the Bystrzyca Dus ...

is located in the town.

Spa

Although the area was known for its healthy waters at least since the late

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, the

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa health treatments are known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters and hot springs goes back to pre ...

was officially founded in 1769. The natural sparkling waters of Duszniki are used in the treatment of a variety of illnesses, including cardiac problems, gastrical problems. In addition, there is a number of facilities for

balneotherapy Balneotherapy ( "bath") is a method of treating diseases by bathing, a traditional medicine technique usually practiced at spas. Since ancient times, humans have used hot springs, public baths and thermal medicine for therapeutic effects. While ...

located in Duszniki and an

osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to more porous bone, and consequent increase in Bone fracture, fracture risk. It is the most common reason f ...

treatment centre.

Sights

Duszniki-Zdrój most recognizable landmark is the Museum of Papermaking established in an old 17th century

paper mill A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags, and other ingredients. Prior to the invention and adoption of the Fourdrinier machine and other types of paper machine that use an endless belt ...

. It is listed as an official Historic Monument of Poland. Other significant places include the Saints Peter and Paul church, which contains a unique

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

whale Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully Aquatic animal, aquatic placental mammal, placental marine mammals. As an informal and Colloquialism, colloquial grouping, they correspond to large members of the infraorder Cetacea ...

-stylized

pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, accesse ...

, and the Fryderyk Chopin Theatre, established in the place where in 1826, 16-year-old

Fryderyk Chopin The Fryderyk is the annual award in Polish music. Its name refers to the original Polish spelling variant of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin's first name. Its status in the Polish public can be compared to the US Grammy and British BRIT Awar ...

played his first concert outside of the

of Poland and his first charity concert. The annual International Chopin Festival is held here since 1946.

International relations

Duszniki-Zdrój is twinned with: * Audun-le-Tiche, France * Bad Sulza, Germany * Deštné v Orlických horách, Czech Republic * Hoya, Germany *

Nové Město nad Metují Nové Město nad Metují (; ) is a town in Náchod District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 9,200 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#M ...

, Czech Republic * Olešnice v Orlických horách, Czech Republic * Orlické Záhoří, Czech Republic * Sedloňov, Czech Republic * Trzcianka, Poland

Gallery

File:2014 , Centrum Dusznik-Zdroju, 01.JPG, Panorama of the town File:2015 Otoczenie papierni w Dusznikach-Zdroju 01.JPG, Museum of Papermaking File:2013 Duszniki Zdrój, dworek Chopina.jpg, Fryderyk Chopin Theatre File:2024 Duszniki-Zdrój, kościół Świętych Apostołów Piotra i Pawła (6).jpg, Saints Peter and Paul church File:Duszniki-zdroj june 2014 051.JPG, Chopin memorial from 1897 File:2024 Duszniki-Zdrój, hotel Fryderyk (1).jpg, The Fryderyk Hotel File:2024 Duszniki-Zdrój, park zdrojowy, pijalnia (1).jpg, The spa park File:Duszniki Zdrój, Rynek 1, 02.JPG, Place of stay of King

File:2014 Kościół św. Anny w Zieleńcu.jpg, Saint Anne's Church in the district of Zieleniec File:2018 Duszniki-Zdrój, ul. Sudecka 6 1.jpg, A historic townhouse on Sudecka Street

References

External links

Duszniki-Zdrój On-line

Official site

Jewish Community in Duszniki-Zdrój
on Virtual Shtetl
Tourists attractions
{{Authority control Cities and towns in Lower Silesian Voivodeship Cities in Silesia Kłodzko County Spa towns in Poland