Walbrzych is a town in southwestern Poland. The population is 120,197 as estimated.
Located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, it was formerly the capital of Walbrzych Voivodeship from1975 until 1998. It is also one of the largest cities in Poland.
The Polish name Walbrzych originates from the German name Waldenburg. The term Waldenburg means “forest castle“. Coal mining was the first mentioned industrial activity in 1536. It transformed into a thorough industrial center at the beginning of the 19th century, when coal mining and weaving came much into focus. Glasswork and large china cutlery manufacturing plants, which are still in operation today, were built in the early 20th century.
The Second World War, fortunately, did not affect the city drastically as others, and hence the city of Walbrzych developed pretty fast. At the beginning of the 1990s, the social and economic conditions forced them to make a decision of closing down the town’s coal mines. A Museum of Industry and Technology was set up in the facilities of the oldest coal mine in the area, KWK THOREZ in 1995.
The popular places worth visiting in Walbrzych are:
- Alberti Castle
- Chelmiec Mountain
- Protestant Church
- Market square
- Czettritz Castle
- Ksiaz Castle, the largest Silesian castle
- St. Mary’s
- Palmiarnia
New Walbrzych Headlines, Tygodnik Walbrzyski and www.walbrzych.info are the media guides of Walbrzych. The Universities of Walbrzych are:
- Hugo Kollataj High School
- Mikolaj Kopernik High School
- Wroclaw Technical University in Walbrzych
- Ignacy Paderewski High School
- Oskar Lange Economical University in Wroclaw
- Angelus Silesius State University in Walbrzych
Walbrzych is a completely newborn city retaining its original old self. The city has undergone an entire process of metamorphosis over the years after the closing of the infamous coal mines and the implementation of pollution control regulations. Walbrzych is known for its clean, healthy, tourist-friendly, green, atmosphere.