Świebodzice
Świebodzice is a town in south-western Poland with 22,793 inhabitants. It is situated in Świdnica County, Lower Silesian 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.
The town dates back to the medieval Kingdom of Poland. It was granted town rights by 1279. Its old fortifications from around 1279, still remain.
From the Late Middle Ages until 1945, the town had a predominantly German population and was known as Freiburg.
During World War II, the Germans established a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp in the town.
In 1957 Pełcznica, and in 1973 Ciernie, were included within the town limits as its new districts.Sports
football club is based in Świebodzice.Notable people
- Gustav Becker, German clockmaker
- Martin Kirschner, Mayor of Berlin
- Jan Mikulicz-Radecki, Polish surgeon, one of the pioneers of antiseptics and aseptic techniques
- Alfred Zucker, German architect
- Wilhelm Niepelt, German scientist
- Emil Krebs, German scientist, noted polyglot who spoke a total of 68 languages at the time of his death
- Hartmut Kilger, President of the German Lawyer's Association
- Anna Zalewska, politician, Minister of National Education of Poland
- Krzysztof Stelmach, former Polish volleyball player with 274 games played for the Poland men's national volleyball team
- Jarosław Krzyżanowski, retired Polish footballer
- Eliza Surdyka, Polish Olympic cross-country skier
- Marcin Kokoszka, Polish footballer
- Paweł Fajdek, Polish hammer-thrower
Świebodzice is twinned with:
