Krzeszów, Lower Silesian Voivodeship

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Krzeszów
settlement_type = Village


image_shield =


subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lower Silesian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Kamienna Góra
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Gmina Kamienna Góra
latd = 50
latm = 44
lats = 03
latNS = N
longd = 16
longm = 03
longs = 51
longEW = E
pushpin_

elevation_m =
population_total = 1400
website =

Krzeszów ( _de. Grüssau) is a village in the Middle Sudetes in south-western Poland. It is part of the administrative district of Gmina Kamienna Góra, within Kamienna Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship (formerly in Jelenia Góra Voivodeship, and prior to 1945 in Germany).

The village lies approximately convert|10|km|mi|0 south of Kamienna Góra, and convert|82|km|mi|0 south-west of the regional capital Wrocław. It has a population of 1,400.

Krzeszów boasts one of the most valuable relics of Baroque architecture in Europe, namely the complex of the former Cistercian Abbey: the Church of the Graceful Blessed Virgin, the Mausoleum of the Świdnica-Jawor Piasts, the Church of St. Joseph, the abbey buildings, the Guest House called the House of the Abbott, numerous chapels of the Calvary and household buildings.

History

The beginnings of the Abbey date from the 13th century. In 1292, the Prince of Świdnica and Jawor, Bolko I, a grandson of Henry the Pious, brought the Cistercians from nearby Henryków and endowed them with suitable estates.

The 14th century was marked as a period of impressive development and vast influence of the Abbey in Krzeszów, while the time of Świdnica's and the Jawor Piast line's extinction started its decline. During the Czech Hussite invasions and later during the 30 Years War, the abbey was totally destroyed and plundered. With the end of the war, a new prosperous period for the Abbey began.

External links

* [http://fotokrzeszow.republika.pl Picture of Krzeszow]
* [http://marian.gabrowski.eu/ Krzeszów and suburbs]