History of the Mieroszów Commune

The Mieroszów Commune owes its uniqueness to its fascinating and often stormy, history. The peculiar location at the meeting point of Polish, Czech and German influences sculpted the most important historical events and set the development trends of the region.

First settlers came to the area at the turn of the 11th century. In those times, the crucial part was played by the fortified Radosno Castle, which had control over a significant portion of the today’s commune. The castle was a component of the line of border fortifications that guarded the trade route running from Świdnica to Bromov. In the area of the Obniżenie Mieroszowskie valley, the route converged with the trade route that led to Krzeszów and Kamienna Góra. Mieroszów was founded at the junction of these routes and earned the title of the most important settlement in the region, obtaining town privileges in 1326. Dynamic development of Mieroszów and the surrounding area was brought to a halt by the Hussite Wars since the entire region was plagued by raids and plunders.

 The Thirty Years’ War brought another period of misery to the town. Many villages were depopulated, while Mieroszów itself struggled with devastating fires on multiple occasions. In the 16th century, most of the area was incorporated into the property of the Hochberg family, which resided in the Książ Castle. The development of the weaving industry allowed the region to flourish once again. At that time, Mieroszów was a trade hub, where goods were exchanged and traded, while the neighbouring villages began to build numerous craft businesses.

 Despite the storminess of historical events in this part of Europe, Mieroszów was regarded as a peaceful place. Its former name, Friedland, which means ‘peaceful land’, is an unquestionable proof of that. The excellent climate conditions along with the astonishing beauty of the region contributed to the foundation of the first European health resort, located several kilometres from Mieroszów in the former Görbersdorf (today’s Sokołowsko), after which the Swiss Davos would be later modelled. This event shaped the image of the region for many years to come.

Autor: Katarzyna Matuła