Pieszyce

Pieszyce, formerly known as Peterswaldau, is a town located in Lower Silesia, within the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, with a rich history dating back to the 13th century, when the settlement was first mentioned in a document by Bishop Thomas I. Nestled at the foot of the Owl Mountains, the town boasts numerous architectural monuments, including the Gothic Church of St. James from the 14th century and the Neo-Gothic Church of St. Anthony, built in the 19th century. It is also distinguished by a castle-palace complex from the 16th to 18th centuries, which in the 17th century was sometimes referred to as the Silesian Versailles. The palace, surrounded by a park, now requires renovation after years of neglect, including its use as a concentration camp during World War II. Pieszyce is also home to the ruins of a Piast castle from the second half of the 13th century, which was strategically positioned to defend the border of Silesia. In the 19th century, the flourishing textile industry brought dynamic development to the town, but over time, a crisis emerged, leading to the Silesian Weavers' Uprising in 1844, where weavers protested their poor working conditions. In the post-war years, Pieszyce underwent further changes, resulting in the establishment of the State Technical Fabrics Factory in 1946, and in 1947, the town was officially renamed Pieszyce. The Millennium Flood of 1997 caused enormous losses, submerging part of the municipality, which also left a mark on its history. Pieszyce is also characterized by active religious communities, including Roman Catholic parishes and other religious associations. The town is also part of international cooperation, notably with the German town of Schortens. Today, Pieszyce covers an area of 63.6 km², with a population of 6,827 residents according to data from early 2023.