Szczawno - Zdrój

Szczawno-Zdrój is one of the oldest health-resorts in Lower Silesia. The healing properties of the mineral waters found there has been used for several centuries, but it was the court physician of the Hochbergs, Caspar Schwenckfeldt, who as the first one in 1598 examined them and confirmed their healing properties. Szczawno was mentioned for the first time in “Księga Henrykowska” (Henry I the Bearded’s document) in 1221. At the end of 13^th century the settlement was included to the Książ castle. lts lot changed together with the history of the castle. At the beginning it belonged to the Duchy of Wrocław.  In 1392 after the death of princess Agnieszka - the wife of Bolek ll, Szczawno became the property of the Czech king - Wacław. In 1410 it was purchased from two brothers - Conrad and Albrecht Salzborn by Janko from Chociemice. From 1464 Szczawno and Książ were again the property of the Czech king. In 1509 the estate was purchased by Conrad von Hochberg, whose descendants betrothed Szczawno and governed it till 1931. Szczawno Zdrój revoked a town charter in 1945 - it was named Solice Zdrój at that time. That name was used between 1945 and 1946.

From 1816, August Zemplin took the initiative to intensively develop the health resort. A pump room, theatre, pavilion for the orchestra, hotels and inns were built. The following years showed the development of spa treatment.

European fame of the health resort attracted many well-off and famous people for spa treatment with the use of mineral water. It was here that such well-known people as Zygmunt Krasiński, Henryk Wieniawski, who also gave concerts here (thus annual Wieniawski festivals has taken place here from 1966), Winston Churchill and also Iwan Turgieniew were staying. It is worth-mentioning that Szczawno is the place of birth for Gerhart Hauptmann, the Nobel prizewinner of 1912.

The health resort has been operating till nowadays, and thanks to the cooperation of the inhabitants and local authorities its look and attractiveness is still improved. Health Resort Municipal Community Szczawno-Zdrój is situated in the South-West of Poland in Lower Silesia in the Middle Sudeten Mountains. It lies at the height of approx. 410m above the sea level at the foot of the Chełmiec Mountain (851m above the sea level) in the valley of the mountain stream Szczawnik. From the Northern-West it borders with Stare Bogaczowice community from North, East and South-East with Wałbrzych and from South-West with Boguszów-Gorce. The climateof Szczawno is submontane, slightly stimulus, mild and refreshing and it is defined as the climate of mountain valleys and basins which results from the location - from the South-East Szczawno is sheltered from the winds blowing from Walbrzych by Góra Parkowa (the Park Mountain), hills of Biały Kamień and many woods.

Szczawno-Zdrój is an attractively located town of rich flora. Wood slopes of surrounding hills and quite deeply cut small valleys make landscape and holiday areas attractive. Around 60% of the surface is covered with green areas: forests, pastures, meadows and orchards. There are also two English-lite parks (Zdrojowy Park and Szwedzki Park - 26.5 ha) with rich local and hardened-off greenery (around 180 species), including many trees and bushes which are the natural feature of historic importance (130). Special attention should be paid to rhododendrons and azaleas - with beautiful spring blossoms. The parks were built at the turn of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The restoration of Zdrojowy Park and Szwedzki Park was finished. The purpose of the restoration was to rebuild the character of the park from the end of19^th century when its popularity was the biggest.

Such amount of abundant and varied greenery and interesting configuration of the terrain encourages to visit and stay in Szczawno. However,  the greatest advantages of the town are the healing acidic waters containing bicarbonates, sodium, calcium and magnesium and named: “Mieszko”, "Dąbrówka”, “Młynarz” and “Marta”. Other virtues are: the location, landscape, the pure air, architectural sights, all of which complement the health and tourist services and influence the attractiveness of the place. Szczawno health resort is the place for treating the diseases of motor organs, respiratory tract, digestive system, urinary tract and ENT and the light form of diabetes (1^st and 2^nd type).