Świebodzice

Świebodzice
Saints Peter and Paul Church

Flag
Coat of arms
Świebodzice
Coordinates: 50°52′N 16°20′E / 50.867°N 16.333°E / 50.867; 16.333
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Lower Silesian
County Świdnica
Gmina Świebodzice (urban gmina)
Government
 • Mayor Bogdan Kożuchowicz
Area
 • Total 30.45 km2 (11.76 sq mi)
Population (2014)
 • Total 23,175
 • Density 760/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 58-160
Car plates DSW
Website http://www.swiebodzice.pl

Świebodzice ([ɕfjɛbɔˈd͡ʑit͡sɛ]; German: Freiburg) is a town in south-western Poland with 23,175 inhabitants (as of 2014). It is situated in Świdnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship (from 1975–1998 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship).

The town is situated close to Książ Castle, which during World War II, together with the cave complex, was expanded to create private quarters for Adolf Hitler.

Prior to 1945 the town was in Germany and known as Freiburg in Schlesien. After World War II the region was placed under Polish administration by the Potsdam Agreement under territorial changes demanded by the Soviet Union. Most Germans fled or were expelled and replaced with Poles recently expelled from Eastern Poland according to Molotov Ribbentrop pact.

Old fortifications from around 1279, the year the town was founded, still remain.

Notable residents

  • Gustav Becker, German clockmaker
  • Paweł Fajdek (born 1989) 2013 World Champion in the Hammer Throw
  • Hartmut Kilger (born 1943), President of the German Lawyer's Association (2003–2009)
  • Martin Kirschner (1842–1912), Mayor of Berlin
  • Emil Krebs (1867–1930), German scientist, noted polyglot who spoke a total of 68 languages at the time of his death.
  • Wilhelm Niepelt (1862–1936), German scientist
  • Alfred Zucker, German architect
  • Anna Zalewska, (born 1965) politician, Minister of National Education of Poland.

Coordinates: 50°52′N 16°20′E / 50.867°N 16.333°E / 50.867; 16.333


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