Mirsk

Mirsk
Flag Coat of arms
Mirsk
Coordinates: 50°58′9″N 15°22′58″E / 50.96917°N 15.38278°E / 50.96917; 15.38278
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lower Silesian
County	Lwówek Śląski
Gmina	Mirsk
Area
- Total	14.66 km2 (5.7 sq mi)
Elevation	350 m (1,148 ft)
Population (2006)
- Total	4,136
- Density	282.1/km2 (730.7/sq mi)
Website	http://www.mirsk.pl

Mirsk [mirsk] (German: Friedeberg) is a town in Lwówek Śląski County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Mirsk, close to the Czech border. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany.

Town hall

The town is situated on the upper Kwisa river north of the Jizera Mountains, approximately 22 kilometres (14 mi) south-west of Lwówek Śląski, and 118 kilometres (73 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław. As at 2006, the town has a population of 4,136.

History

The settlement arose in the 13th century where the medieval trade route from Jelenia Góra to Zittau crossed the border with Upper Lusatia. In the course of the German Ostsiedlung, it received town privileges by the Silesian Duke Henry I of Jawor in 1337. Upon the death of his successor Duke Bolko II the Small in 1368, it passed to the Bohemian Crown and was enfeoffed to the noble House of Schaffgotsch in 1425.

With most of Silesia, Friedeberg was annexed by Prussia in 1742 and incorporated into the Silesia Province. With the implementation of the Oder-Neisse line in 1945 it passed to the Republic of Poland.

Former names

German names, 1201-1945: Eulendorf, Fridberg, Friedeberg; Friedeberg am Queis to distinguish it from Brandenburgian Friedeberg (Strzelce Krajeńskie), Friedeberg/Isergebirge from 1934; for a short period after World War II literally translated as Polish: Spokojna Góra meaning "peaceful mountain". The present name adopted in 1947 is derived from Russian: Мир, "peace".

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Twin towns — Sister cities

Mirsk is twinned with:

• Nové Město pod Smrkem, Czech Republic
• Herford, Germany
• Świeradów-Zdrój, Poland

External links

• Official town webpage

Coordinates: 50°58′9″N 15°22′58″E / 50.96917°N 15.38278°E / 50.96917; 15.38278