Piechowice
{{see also|Piechowice, Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Piechowice
| image_flag = POL Piechowice flag.svg
| image_shield = POL Piechowice COA.svg
| image_skyline = 2018 Pałac w Pakoszowie 5.jpg
| image_caption = Baroque palace
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{POL}}
| subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
| subdivision_name1 = Lower Silesian
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Karkonosze
| subdivision_type3 = Gmina
| subdivision_name3 = Piechowice (urban gmina)
| established_title = First mentioned
| established_date = 1305
| coordinates = {{coord|50|51|20|N|15|37|08|E|region:PL_type:city|display=title,inline}}
| pushpin_map = Poland
| area_total_km2 = 43.22
| population_density_km2 = auto
| elevation_max_m = 480
| elevation_min_m = 360
| population_total = 6194
| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| registration_plate = DJE
| blank_name_sec2 = National road
| blank_info_sec2 = File:DK3-PL.svg
| website = http://www.piechowice.pl
}}
Piechowice {{IPAc-pl|p|J|e|h|o|'|w|J|i|c|e}} is a town in Karkonosze County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.{{TERYT}} It lies approximately {{convert|10|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south-west of Jelenia Góra, and {{convert|104|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west of the regional capital Wrocław.
{{As of|2019}}, the town has a population of 6,194.
History
File:Piechowice - Neoromański kościół św. Antoniego Padewskiego 7.jpg
The area became part of the emerging Polish state in the 10th century. Initially it was administratively part of the Wleń castellany.{{cite book|last=Staffa|first=Marek|year=2001|title=Karkonosze|language=pl|location=Wrocław|publisher=Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie|page=40|isbn=83-7023-560-3}} It was first mentioned in a document of the Wrocław cathedral chapter from 1305, when it was part of fragmented Piast-ruled Poland.Staffa, p. 56
During the Thirty Years' War, Czech Protestant refugees founded the present-day district of Michałowice.Staffa, p. 70
In 1891, a rail connection with Jelenia Góra was opened, and in 1902 a rail connection to Szklarska Poręba and Harrachov was opened.Staffa, p. 219
During World War II, the Germans operated three forced labour camps in the town. The first camp was established in the winter of 1941–1942 and held Polish, French and Ukrainian prisoners, both men and women, the second was established in 1943 and held Italian prisoners-of-war, and the third was founded in 1944 and held Polish women and children.{{cite magazine|last=Bartkowski|first=Zbigniew|year=1972|title=Obozy pracy przymusowej i obozy jenieckie na Ziemi Jeleniogróskiej w latach 1939–1945|magazine=Rocznik Jeleniogórski|language=pl|publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich|location=Wrocław|volume=X|pages=98–99}} Conditions of all three camps were poor, the prisoners were subjected to mistreatment and abuse and several died, also by executions. Some Polish women and children were eventually relocated to forced labour camps in Jelenia Góra.{{cite magazine|last=Łaborewicz|first=Ivo|year=2004|title=Ludność stolicy po Powstaniu Warszawskim 1944 roku w obozie w Piechowicach|magazine=Rocznik Jeleniogórski|language=pl|location=Jelenia Góra|volume=XXXVI|page=162|issn=0080-3480}}
In 1961, town limits were expanded by including Górzyniec and Michałowice as new neighbourhoods.{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 28 listopada 1961 r. w sprawie zmiany granic niektórych osiedli w województwie wrocławskim.|year=1961|volume=54|number=306}}
Transport
There are two railway stations in Piechowice, the main Piechowice station and the Górzyniec station in the Górzyniec district.
Sights
Cultural heritage sights of Piechowice include the Baroque Pakoszów Palace, the Gothic-Baroque Corpus Christi church and the Romanesque Revival Saint Anthony of Padua church.
Natural sights within the town limits include the Szklarka Waterfall and the Wielki Szyszak mountain, the fourth highest peak of the Giant Mountains and the entire Sudetes. The Kochanówka mountain hut of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society is located near the waterfall.
Twin towns – sister cities
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland}}
Piechowice is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Linki|url=http://www.piechowice.pl/linki|website=piechowice.pl|publisher=Piechowice|language=pl|access-date=2020-02-28}}
- {{flagicon|CZE}} Úpice, Czech Republic
References
{{reflist}}
{{Karkonosze County}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cities and towns in Lower Silesian Voivodeship