Karpacz

History

The first settlements in the area of Karpacz are noted by the official website of the city as being of probable Celtic origin and date to the 4th or 3rd century BC when they inhabited the region as part of gold-digging taking place in the area. The area was part of medieval Poland, after the establishment of the state in the 10th century. In the early 12th century the area was generally uninhabited, as mentioned in the oldest Polish chronicle Gesta principum Polonorum. The first mention of permanent location within the current boundaries of the town is dated to the beginning of 15th century and connected to the destruction of a village called Broniów, whose inhabitants moved to settle the area currently located at the altitude of the town's railway station.

The settlement was mentioned around the year 1599 because of lead and iron mining in the region. It was then part of the Habsburg-ruled Bohemian Crown. During the Thirty Years' War, many Czech Protestants settled at the site of today's town.

In 1742 it was annexed by Prussia and, subsequently, it was part of unified Germany between 1871 and 1945. Since the construction of the settlement's first railway connection in 1895, its history was connected with the development of metallurgy industries and with the progress of tourism. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, in 1945 it became again part of Poland. In accordance to the Potsdam Agreement, the German population was expelled from the village between 1945 and 1947. The town was subsequently repopulated with Poles, who in turn were expelled from former eastern Poland annexed by the Soviet Union. Eventually renamed Karpacz in 1946, the settlement was granted town rights in 1959.

Tourist attractions

In Karpacz Górny a gravity hill is located where bottles appear to roll uphill. There is also a Norwegian stave church, moved here from Vang Municipality, Norway in the mid-19th century. Tourists very often choose to go hiking on local mountain trails.

Places in city

Railway Station

This station was created on 29 June 1895 (as Krummhübel), because of touristic meaning of this city. In 1924-1925 was builded new station. In 1934 railway line was electrified.

After World War II, when Karpacz became a Polish city, during short time this station was called Krzywa Góra (calque of former German name), later it was renamed to new name of city - Karpacz. The electrified infrastructure was dissasembled as result of Polish-Soviet agreement.

After taking on line by Polish State Railways, exploration of its had local character.

On 23 November 2000 using of this line has been suspended.

In 2008 building was taken on by city, since 2012 there is Museum of Toys' and City Library's seat.

On 15 June 2025 movement of trains was restored.

Museum of Toys

This museum was created in 1995, from Henryk Tomaszewski's collection. First seat was at 5 Karkonoska Street, in 2012 it was moved to new seat at former railway station, at 3 Kolejowa Street.

People

• Max von Schenckendorff (1875-1943), German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany

Twin towns – sister cities

Karpacz is twinned with:

• GER Kamenz, Germany
• CZE Pec pod Sněžkou, Czech Republic
• GER Reichenbach, Germany
• POL Rewal, Poland

Gallery

File:2014 Kościół Nawiedzenia NMP w Karpaczu, 01.JPG|Visitation Church File:PL Karpacz, ul. Konstytucji 3-go Maja 37 0156.JPG|"Bachus" tavern File:PL Karpacz, ul. Konstytucji 3-go Maja 58 DSC 0171.JPG|Town centre File:Karpacz6. Foto Barbara Maliszewska.JPG|"Mieszko" guesthouse File:Samotnia noca 01.jpg|"Samotnia" mountain chalet File:Karpacz, Willa nr 82 - Apteka "Pod Złotą Wagą" - fotopolska.eu (85192).jpg|A historic villa File:2014 Równia pod Śnieżką, 01.JPG|"Dom Śląski" mountain chalet File:Karpacz 14.jpg|Sacred Heart Church File:Karpacz 09.jpg|Museum of Sport and Tourism File:PL Karpacz Dworzec 0020.JPG|Railway Station in Karpacz, Museum of Toys' and City Librarys seat File:Karpacz, Hotel Gołębiewski - fotopolska.eu (273864).jpg|Gołębiewski Hotel File:Karpacz-LomnitzTalsperre-3.jpg|Łomnica dam File:Chapel of Saint Lawrence on Snezka in 2010.JPG|Chapel of Saint Lawrence on Sněžka-Śnieżka File:Orlinek latem.jpg|Orlinek ski jumping hill File:Schronisko Sniezka.JPG|Tadeusz Hołdys High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory on Śnieżka

References

References

1. (2019-10-15). "Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June". Statistics Poland.
2. "History - Karpacz.pl".
3. "Historia". Karpacz onLINE, imprezy, wydarzenia, noclegi Karpacz, Interaktywna Baza Noclegowa, mapa miasta KARPACZ. Noclegi w Karpaczu..
4. "Karpacz".
5. "Karpacz (Krummhübel) im Riesengebirge".
6. "Mountain Hiking - Karpacz.pl".
7. Michał Jerczyński. Kolejka Karkonoska. „Świat kolei”. 7, s. 24, 2007. Łódź. Emi-Press. ISSN 1234-5962. (pol.)
8. (2006). "Rocznik Jeleniogórski".
9. "Odsłaniamy białe plamy".
10. (15 July 2012). "Karpacz: Jak z dawnego dworca PKP zrobiono muzeum zabawek".
11. (13 June 2025). "Kolejowa rewolucja na Dolnym Śląsku. Pociągi wracają do Karpacza!".
12. "Miasta Partnerskie". Karpacz.