| Świdnica | |||
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| Old town | |||
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Świdnica
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Poland | ||
| Voivodeship | Lower Silesian | ||
| County | Świdnica County | ||
| Gmina | Świdnica (urban gmina) | ||
| Established | |||
| City rights | 1267 | ||
| Government | |||
| • President | Wojciech Murdzek | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 22 km2 (8.5 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 250 m (820 ft) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| • Total | 60,354 | ||
| • Density | 2,743.4/km2 (7,105.3/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 58-100 to 58-106 | ||
| Area code(s) | +48 74 | ||
| Car plates | DSW | ||
| Website | http://www.um.swidnica.pl | ||
Świdnica [ɕfidˈnit͡sa] (German: Schweidnitz; Czech: Svídnice) is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. It has a population of 60,317 according to 2006 figures. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in that voivodeship. From 1975–98 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship. It is now the seat of Świdnica County, and also of the smaller district of Gmina Świdnica (although it is not part of the territory of the latter, as the town forms a separate urban gmina).
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About 990 the territory on which Świdnica was later founded became part of Poland. Świdnica became a town in 1250, although no founding document has survived that would confirm this fact. In the beginning, the town belonged to the Duchy of Wrocław (Breslau) and experienced two important privileges conducive to its development. By 1290, Świdnica had city walls and six gates, crafts and trade were blossoming, and it had become the capital of the Duchy of Świdnica. City was in 1291-1392 capital of Duchy of Świdnica.
At the end of the 14th century the city was under rule of the Kingdom of Bohemia, and a long period of growth began. The last Piast duke was Bolko II of Świdnica, and after his death in 1368 land was held by his wife until 1392; after her death they were incorporated into the lands of Bohemia by Wenceslaus, King of the Romans. In 1493, the town is recorded by Hartmann Schedel in his Nuremberg Chronicle as Schwednitz[1]
In 1471, there were 47 trade guilds in operation, nearly 300 homes had the rights to brew beer, and large cattle and hops fairs were organized. The beer was distributed in many European cities, including Breslau, Prague, Heidelberg, Kraków, and Pisa. The beer was offered in pubs.
In 1526, all of Silesia, including Schweidnitz, came under the rule of the Habsburg Monarchy. The city of Schweidnitz was in the surrounding Duchy of Schweidnitz. The Thirty Years' War (1618–48) ravaged the Duchy. The town was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia during the First Silesian War early in the Seven Years' War. It was subsequently turned into a fortress by Frederick II of Prussia's army.
Schweidnitz was captured again by Austria in late 1762, but remained Prussian after the end of the Seven Years' War. Subsequently Schweidnitz became part of the Prussian-led German Empire in 1871 during the unification of Germany and stayed within Germany until the end of World War II.
The town was placed under Polish administration according to the post-war Potsdam Conference in 1945 and renamed Świdnica. The German population who had not fled during the war were subsequently expelled and forced westward into post-war Germany and replaced with Poles, many of whom had been expelled themselves from Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union.
The Gothic Church of Ss. Stanislav and Vaclav from the 14th century has the highest tower in Silesia, standing 103 meters tall. The Evangelical Church of Peace, a UNESCO Heritage site, was built from 1656–57. The 16th century town hall has been renovated numerous times and combines Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural elements. The Baroque Church of St. Joseph and the Church of St. Christopher are from the same era. One remaining element of the former defensive works is the Chapel of St. Barbara. Other sights include the old town and the Stary rynek square.
Świdnica is home to a College of Data Communications Technology (Wyższa Szkoła Technologii Teleinformatycznych).
In 2003 Świdnica hosted a session of the Warsaw-based International Chapter of the Order of Smile, when a Child Friendship Centre was established. Świdnica was officially titled the "Capital of Children's Dreams".
Świdnica is twinned with:
Media related to Świdnica at Wikimedia Commons
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