Bystrzyca Kłodzka. Attractions worth seeing in the royal city
Bystrzyca Kłodzka is a charming town in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, located in the picturesque Kłodzka Valley. The city has a beautiful, unique terrace layout. This means that it is arranged in layers at different heights, which from the river side gives a beautiful panorama with rows of houses with red roofs and towers and gates protruding above them. The lofty fortification barriers were created from the fourteenth century thanks to King John of Luxembourg, the Czech ruler. Well-preserved, they make Bystrzyca referred to as the "Silesian Carcassonne". "Śląski" administratively, because the Kłodzko Land historically did not belong to Lower Silesia. What else is worth seeing? Certainly a unique Philumenistic Museum, and in the vicinity of the Bystrzyckie Mountains. Check out our guide to Bystrzyca Kłodzka!
Bystrzyca Kłodzka. Location and access
Bystrzyca Kłodzka is located in the Kłodzka Valley, in the southern part of the Kłodzka district, at the mouth of the Bystrzyca river to Nysa Kłodzka. This is the Lowering of Bystrzyca Kłodzka, located at an altitude of about 350 m above sea level, between the Bystrzycka Mountains and the Idzikowska Upland. It is about 18 km from Kłodzko, and about 100 km from Wrocław. The easiest way to get here is by car, from Upper Silesia on the A4 motorway, in the vicinity of Niemodlin, turn to road No. 46 and then via Otmuchów, Paczków and Złoty Stok, and then via national road No. 33 almost to Bystrzyca itself. Road No. 388 will lead to the center. Trains run on the Wrocław – Kłodzko – Międzylesie line to the Bystrzyca Kłodzka station. You can get here by bus from Kłodzko.
Monuments and attractions in Bystrzyca Kłodzka. What is worth seeing? Map of attractions in Bystrzyca Kłodzka
The Old Town has preserved the medieval layout with terraced buildings and defensive walls, erected since the fourteenth century. The panorama includes the Water Gate, the Kłodzko Tower and the Knight's Tower, as well as the powerful Town Hall and the Church of St. Michael the Archangel. Noteworthy is the unique Philumenical Museum with the largest collection of match labels in Poland. Here are the best attractions in Bystrzyca Kłodzka!
Medieval city walls. Silesian Carcassonne
The city has a unique cascade layout with rows of houses and city walls with gates and towers. Arranged in layers at different heights from the river side, they give a beautiful panorama. They look impressive when you enter the city from the south. The construction of city walls and lofty fortification barriers began in 1319. This was due to King John of Luxembourg, the Czech ruler, who granted the centre city rights. Like Świętokrzyski Szydłów or OpolePaczków, this city is also called Carcassonne. Due to the wonderfully preserved city walls and gates. Address: ul. Międzyleśna, Smotera Square between ul. Sienna and ul. Wojska Polskiego
Water
Gate and Kłodzko Tower. Observation towers and elements of defensive walls
From the south, the Water Gate led to the city, because it led to Nysa Kłodzka. It is the only surviving city gate of the three standing here in the past. It dates back to the 14th century and is located on Podmiejska Street. Next to it there is also Wójtostwo - a remnant of a former residential tower. The highest of the fortifications is the Kłodzko Tower. Initially from 1319, but later rebuilt in the 16th and 19th centuries. Both facilities are available for sightseeing for a fee. A common ticket (also for the Underground Tourist Route) can be purchased in the Tourist Information on the Market Square. Viewpoints were created at the top of both. The panorama from the Kłodzko Tower is more spectacular, while a model of the city is also available at the Water Gate. Address: Brama Wodna i Wójtostwo, ul. Podmiejska Kłodzko Tower, Okrzei Street
Knight's Tower in Bystrzyca Kłodzka
The Knights' Tower, also called the Butcher's Tower, is a stone tower from the beginning of the 16th century. In 1843, it was converted into a bell tower built next to the Evangelical church with a school, which has housed the Philumenical Museum since 1964. Two bells hang at the top of the tower. They can be seen during the tour behind a separate ticket. Due to the lack of stairs, there are only ladders, the facility is available to people from 10 years of age. The bells date back to the 19th century, the larger one is 95 cm high, the smaller one is 75 cm. They were funded by the Prussian king Frederick William IV.
Interestingly, during conservation works carried out in 2013, a time capsule was discovered on the helmet of the Knight's Tower. The copper tube was inscribed with the inscription 1928, and its interior contained documents, a photograph, banknotes, postage stamps, as well as a newspaper. These curiosities are presented in the Philumenist Museum standing next to it. Address: Rycerska Street
Philumenical Museum in Bystrzyca Kłodzka. Museum with matches, lighters and fire
The unique Philumenist Museum was founded in 1964 in the former Evangelical church on the Small Market Square. The building was built in the 1920s According to the design of the famous architect Schinkel. And what is philumenism? It is a science dealing with the history of fire and the use of fire, and the hobby is the collection of matchstick labels. Both of these aspects are thoroughly discussed here. The subject of fire is as old as the world, but it turns out that matches are not as old anymore. In the 6th century AD, the first matches appeared in China, the so-called dipped ones, but they were not very safe. Specially prepared sticks with sulfur were soaked in concentrated acid and there was a fiery reaction that ignited the wood. Such matches were expensive and there were frequent burns.
Such more modern safe matches appeared only in the mid-nineteenth century in Sweden. Later, they were mass-produced throughout Europe. This is how the sticks that ignite after rubbing were created, hidden in boxes with a drawer. These began to be decorated with labels, which over time took on various patterns. Some can be compared to tasteful posters. In this museum you will find thousands of designs from around the world, because there are the largest collections on this subject in Poland. And why was such a museum created here? Because there used to be several matchmaking factories in Bystrzyca. Today, there is not a single one in Poland. Address: Mały Rynek 1
Pillow in the Small Market Square
In the middle of the Small Market Square there is a historic pillory from 1556. Initially, it stood on the main Market Square, and since the 19th century it has been decorated with a smaller square. It is said to be the best preserved, or at least one of the best preserved in this part of Europe. It shows an inscription in Latin Deus Imprios Punit, which in translation means "God punishes the wicked". It is the so-called pillar of shame, at which people violating the law and good manners were forced to stand. When this practice was abandoned, it served, for example, as a lamppost pole or to tie horses. Address: Mały Rynek
Underground Tourist Route
Under the old town there is an underground city, hollowed out for centuries as basements and underground corridors. In 2023, the Underground Tourist Route was organized here, the entrance to which is located on the Small Market Square. On the spot, you will learn many interesting facts from the teacher. For example, the fact that beer was once very famous in Bystrzyca. They were weighed and, most importantly, the city, as a royal, received a special privilege, i.e. the right to a mile. It was a kind of monopoly. Only townspeople could sell their products within a mile of the city walls. So in different places it was about 7 kilometers. You walk here and listen to stories in an authentic brewery, which was run here in the 19th century, and next to it there was a city prison. Address: Kupiecka 4
Market Square. Tenement houses, the Holy Trinity Column and the Town Hall in Bystrzyca Kłodzka
The heart of the Old Town is the market square, the former market square, and today Freedom Square. In its central place, the town hall with a Renaissance tower from the middle of the 16th century was established. He was unlucky, because the city was hit by fires so big that they were recorded in the chronicles as many as 8 times. One of them was described in his letters by John Quincy Adams, later President of the United States, who travelled here.
Next to the town hall, there is a magnificent baroque column of the Holy Trinity measuring as much as 10 meters. It stopped in 1736 and it was a kind of propaganda. In this way, the founder wanted to strengthen Catholicism, because the city somewhat flirted with Protestantism. At the top is Christ, while below is Michael the Archangel, who tramples the devil, and some historians see this fall of the Reformation. In one of the tenement houses, very nicely maintained, there is a Tourist Information point, operating throughout the year. Address: Freedom Square
Crystal Avenue of Stars and City Plants
Behind the tower, you can see a series of city walls with charming plantations. You will stroll along the Crystal Avenue of Stars, in the excellent company of Kazimierz Kutz, Krzysztof Zanussi or Jerzy Hoffman. This is probably the nicest alley of stars we have seen so far. On the other hand, it is quite short. An interesting fact is that in Bystrzyca, one of the sections of 4 armoured vehicles and a dog were shot. In the 18th episode, Szarik with "pants" ran into the city through the Water Gate. Other well-known films that were filmed here include God's Lining, Pokot or Girl with a Needle. Address: Priest Monsignor Smoter Square
Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Bystrzyca Kłodzka
The Gothic church of St. Michael the Archangel is the oldest temple of the city and an architectural treasure of this city. The origins date back to the Middle Ages, and the first certain mentions come from 1336. The building resisted many wars and fires. Today, it is powerful and has been rebuilt many times, but it has preserved the original presbytery and the historic, Baroque interior design. The real gem is the 16th-century baptismal font with impressive bas-reliefs. Unfortunately, we did not see it because the entrance to the temple was barred. Address: ul. Kościelna
Parkowa Mountain. Observation deck overlooking the city and the Bystrzyckie Mountains
Parkowa Mountain is an interesting place for walking, towering above the city. The park and forest complex was created here in the middle of the 17th century, and at the end of the 19th century it was transformed into an urban garden, ideal for recreation for the inhabitants of Bystrzyca Kłodzka. In addition to the beautiful vegetation, numerous paths and landscape, you will appreciate the observation deck on the mountain with a beautiful panorama of the city and the Bystrzyckie Mountains in the background. In good weather, there is also the Śnieżnik Massif. You'll climb the stairs to the top. Address: Kolejowa Street, Floriańska Street
A Brief History of Royal Bystrzyca
The city was founded before 1253 by the castellan of Kłodzko, Gawło of Lemberk, on the basis of German law. In 1319, they were raised to the royal rank in the Czech Republic. It developed thanks to trade and craftsmanship. Thanks to the beer mile law, the townspeople had a monopoly on the sale of a golden drink within a mile of the city walls, or about 7 km. The city survived the destruction of the Hussites in the fifteenth century, the Thirty Years' War and numerous fires, including in 1475 and 1646. In the nineteenth century, the match industry developed here and several match factories were established. In 1945, the city was incorporated into Poland, and the German inhabitants were displaced. In 1946, the name was changed from Habelschwerdt to Bystrzyca Kłodzka. The earlier name came from the German founder, Castellan Gawł. The Polish name, on the other hand, came from "smart" water. Unfortunately, residents did not avoid it, because in recent decades the city has been struggling with flooding several times, the last time in 2024, when it suffered greatly.
Bystrzyca with potential
Bystrzyca is an underestimated city. Royal and adorable, but today also a little neglected. It is with great heartache that we notice that the residents probably do not want to boast about it very much. Of course, the flood of September 2024 did its part. It can be seen that the city itself is trying, valuable monuments are not badly maintained, made available for sightseeing and even an underground tourist route was created. The unique Philumenical Museum also holds its own. But all private buildings do not encourage, they are scratched, patchy with stains like Dalmatians. The isthmus with arches, as in other cities, are often charming alleys, with umbrellas or vegetation, here is just a sad passage. It's a pity, it's an untapped potential. Huge! Here we see a gem on the map of Europe, but more with the eyes of the imagination!
Where to eat and sleep in Bystrzyca?
On the main square, we recommend Kawiarnia Pudrowa. It is a nice and pleasant place to relax after sightseeing and taste tasty delicacies. Cakes and cookies, desserts, various coffees and other sweets are recommended for a nice break. We did not sleep in Bystrzyca itself, but in the Eliza Manor in the nearby Długopol Zdrój. Not only comfortable beds, but also games and fun await here. We were reminded of the time when ping-pong was played at school. We also had a pleasant relaxation in the pool and sauna, and there is also a SPA area for those who want to relax. In Eliza's Manor, they feed very tasty and serve in a delicious way. We tasted delicious, mouth-watering trout from the Kłodzko Basin and traditional cakes with Hungarian sauce.
Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.
Other attractions of the Kłodzko Land. Wilczki Waterfall, Gorzanów Palace and other interesting places
In the vicinity, it is also definitely worth visiting the unique Renaissancepalace of Gorzanów with a long history and original decorations. For views, we recommend the tower on Jagodna fromthe Crown of the Polish Mountains. Międzygórze, which is a Tyrolean-style village with the Wilczek waterfall, is climatic. The old Lądek-Zdrój health resort with a wonderful pump room - Wojciech Zdrój - is very nice, although a bit sluggish. A much younger health resort is Długopole-Zdrój. And of course, the capital of the region is recommended - Kłodzko!
Our video about Bystrzyca
Finally, we encourage you to see our film about this atmospheric town.
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What's worth seeing in the area?
You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.
Hi! My name is Anna Piernikarczyk. We have been blogging and wandering around Poland since 2005. We bring back a lot of wonderful memories and experiences from family trips, which I am happy to share with you. Today it is more than just a passion, Our mission is to debunk the myth "You praise other people's things, but you don't know your own"!
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