The history of the Kłodzko Fortress may briefly be described as follows: a hill – a town – a castle – a fortress. From 369 meters above sea level (the height of Fortress Hill), the entire region can be seen. Today, it can be admired from the observation bastion of the fortress. Before first town was established on the hill, people were mainly preoccupied with securing a food supply and ensuring survival. Therefore, they leveraged the natural potential of the site. The Neisse provided water and food while the hill provided safety. Once the town was built, this strategic site was then further adapted throughout ages to meet the needs and threats of the times.

Soon, the newly-built town, located at the foot of the castle, needed protection too. Accordingly, the town fortifications were built (built of brick since the 13th century), consisting of a double wall. The town could be entered via one of the four gates – the Bohemian Gate (from Czeska Street), the Ząbkowicka Gate (from Łukasińskiego Street), the Green Gate (from Wojska Polskiego Street) and the Bridge Gate (from Wita Stwosza Street). Today, remnants of the monumental town walls can be seen from St. John’s Bridge or from the square under the bridge.

It was King Frederick the Great who made the biggest contribution to ensuring the building of the power of the fortress. At his request, in 1742 a plan to strengthen the structure was drafted; the castle keep was built at that time, shielded by a series of defensive features: bastions, tenailles, redoubts, redands and moats. These did not, however, rescue the fortress from capitulation and subsequent surrender to Napoleon’s troops during the siege of 1807.

By the end of the 19th century, the fortress was no longer the most suitable site for troops to be stationed and its military function gradually ceased. The garrison general staff was moved to one of the buildings on the northern side of the market square, and barracks were built all over Kłodzko. Some of them no longer exist, but some buildings which now fulfil other roles, have been very well preserved. On Szkolna Street, there is a large staff and barracks complex (now a school), where Field Marshal von Moltke’s regiment used to be stationed. From 1905, the regiment troops began to be barracked on Wyspiańskiego Street. The largest military warehouses in Kłodzko were located on Łukasińskiego Street.

In addition to visiting the grounds of the fortress, you may also want to reserve some time for entering the counter-mine galleries to see, in the Great Tenaille, a presentation of everyday life in the old fortress.

The Kłodzko Fortress hosts : the Kłodzko Fortress Days with the Fortress Battle, the Fortress Fair, the Oktober Festung, the Medieval Spring and the Fortress Night.

The Fortress is also home of the 47th Prussian Infantry Regiment re-enactment group.

Military enthusiasts can also visit other fortresses near Kłodzko, including Srebrna Góra (24 km from Kłodzko), Nysa (52 km from Kłodzko) and Jaroměř in the Czech Republic (63 km from Kłodzko).

Did you know?:

In the thirties, the Frederick Days were celebrated riotously in Kłodzko, with a parade, a grand ceremony to welcome King Frederick the Great (mounted on a white horse), military drill displays, a ball, court dance shows in the courtyard of the castle keep, and a fireworks display.

Bolesław Chrobry Square: Kłodzko’s market square

One of the characteristic features of the market square in Kłodzko is the way the land slopes: the northern side of the rectangular square is much higher than the southern end. The central part of the square is dominated by the town hall, which was probably constructed sometime around 1324. Over the ages, the building has been rebuilt and reconstructed several times after major fires. The most recent reconstruction took place between 1887 and 1890 after a fire that consumed the building on the night between the 20th and 21st of September 1886. The new design was prepared by Ewald Berger, von Magnis family’s chief architect from Bożków. The oldest preserved section of the town hall is a medieval tower with a Renaissance gallery on the floor level and a baroque tented roof topped with a spire. It is interesting to note that the building still contains the remains of a savings bank (Städtische Sparkasse) which had operated inside the building since 1821. Visitors have an opportunity to see an iron safe in the wall of the building (located behind the information board at the entrance to the library) which allowed for the convenient withdrawal of money. In the 1950s and 1960s, the building was under threat of demolition when the Old Town of Kłodzko suffered a landslide which meant that some of the most vulnerable structures had to be torn down. Between 1967 1969 intense efforts were made to save the building. These included eliminating part of the underground excavations under the market square and some of the buildings at the southern, northern and western frontage. Unfortunately, the buildings on the northern side of the market square (the former military headquarters) were beyond saving. This area was later re-developed in the 1990s. The most unique historic apartment houses were preserved along the southern edge of the market square.

The Kłodzko Lion

The eastern edge of the market contains a historical well with a beautiful baroque fountain. A characteristic element of the well is a large, centrally located conch supported by four dolphins on top of which stands a crowned, double tailed lion supported on an escutcheon. This same lion can also be found supporting a clock on the wall of the town hall and in the town’s coat of arms. The coat of arms was granted to Kłodzko by Ottokar II of Bohemia in the second half of the 13th century. There are different explanations for this anatomical peculiarity. According to one legend, the tail was accidentally broken off by a party of careless citizens on return from Prague, carrying the coat of arms which had just been granted by the king. Another legend explains the missing tail by suggesting that the tail was broken off by bandits who attempted to steal the stone coat of arms which were being carried by the townsmen of Kłodzko. Yet another legend lays the blame on a careless royal painter who forgot to include the tail in the coat of arms. In any case, the townsmen headed back to the king with a tailless lion. As a gift of royal grace, the king ordered that a double-tailed lion be sculptured on the coat of arms, just in case. This time the townsmen returned home safely, and the lion has remained with his two tails to the present day. In truth, it was Ottokar II of Bohemia himself who in his capacity as the Margraviate of Moravia, chose a forked-tail Přemyslid lion for his coat of arms. Upon his coronation as the king of Bohemia in 1253, the double-tailed lion (also called the Czech lion) was officially incorporated into the coat of arms.

Jerusalem Balm

Located on the southern side of the market square are two historic pharmacies: ‘Under the Stag’ and ‘Under the Little African.’ Both places are linked by the story of the Jerusalem Balm – a miracle potion which became a source of a serious conflict between the owners. In 1860, a hermit from nearby Mary’s Hill (Mariańska Górka) by the name of Johannes Treutler brought a scroll of forgotten recipes to Louis Ambrosius, owner of the ‘Under the Stag’ pharmacy. He asked the pharmacist for help, advice and ingredients to prepare a certain medication. Working together, they developed the formula. Since then, Kłodzko Balm (also known as Jerusalem Balm) has been traditionally recommended to treat upset stomach, common cold, respiratory infections, asthma, fatigue and heart complaints. The joint venture was a big commercial success for the poor monk. However, Johannes Treutler did not have the official manufacturing license and was soon fined for preparing and selling the medication without it. Believing that it was Ambrousius who had secretly reported him to the authorities, Treutler broke off all relations with his erstwhile partner. In 1886 Johannes Schittny of ‘Under the Little African’ pharmacy became his new partner. The formulation of Jerusalem Balm was modified from oral drops to a 30% tincture. After the death of Johannes Treutler in 1892, Johannes Schittny bought the exclusive rights to prepare and sell the balm from the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters where Treutler had spent his final days. The miracle potion was a hugely successful business, enabling Schittny to build a splendid villa. In 1911 he also redeveloped the 17th century townhouse where his pharmacy was located, giving an art nouveau look to its facade. However, the owners of ‘Under the Stag’ pharmacy and other business competitors had contested Schittny’s monopoly of Jerusalem Balm. Finally, in 1931, by which time the ‘Under the Little African’ pharmacy was being run by Johannes Schittny’s son, Richard, the court ruled that the manufacture of Jerusalem Balm by other pharmacies was legal. However, ‘Under the Little African’ retained exclusive rights to use the hermit’s name on the product’s label.

Gothic St. John’s Bridge

St. John’s bridge on the Młynówka river is one of Kłodzko’s most treasured monuments. It links the old town with Sand Island. The precise date of its construction is uncertain. Construction began at the end of the 13th century, and was completed perhaps only a century later. The bridge was made of stone and, according to old accounts, stone blocks were joined by using mortar mixed with egg whites. The bridge is supported by bridgeheads and three massive piers. Construction of the middle pier on the western side, with a starry bridge on top of it, indicates that a bridge chapel was planned to be located there. The bridge was once closed by two town gates – the Upper Gate, and the smaller, younger Lower Gate (both of which were pulled down at the beginning of the 20th century). The gothic bridge has survived various military invasions and floods which have washed away other, more recent bridges. In the 17th and 18th centuries, six statues of saints were placed on the balustrades, and for this reason the bridge is frequently compared to the Charles Bridge in Prague (with 30 such statues). Statues of saints were funded for various intentions, and the choice of patrons was deliberate. The statues on the eastern side of the bridge are: Saint Francis Xavier, the crucified Christ with the figure of Saint Mary Magdalene, the Trinity, and the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the western side we can see Saint Wenceslaus, Pietà, and Saint John of Nepomuk. Some of the pedestals feature the family crests of the funding patrons, members of notable local families such as von Goetzen, von Hoditz, and von Fitschen.

Saint John of Nepomuk

One of the statues on the St. John’s Bridge is that of Saint John of Nepomuk (canonised in 1729), who was very popular in Bohemia, Silesia, and all over the Kłodzko region. Sculptures of the saint were often placed on bridges and near rivers, as he was, among other things, a protector from floods.

The statute, funded in 1707 by Franz von Goetzen and his wife, Princess Lichtenstein, is one of the first depictions of Saint John of Nepomuk in the Kłodzko region. The cult of the Prague canon, who lived in the 14th century, had spread already thanks to the Prague Jesuits before his canonisation at the end of the 17th century. There are several interesting legends associated with the life and death of Saint John of Nepomuk. As with many other martyr saints, he protects the faithful from what in fact caused his own death (in this case water). A legend has it that he was drowned in the river Vltava at the behest of King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia, because he was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional. It is more likely of course that the cause of conflict between the king and the future saint was of a quite different and political nature but the legendary version became popular and, therefore, John of Nepomuk often holds his finger over his lips indicating the keeping of a secret.

He is portrayed wearing a priestly dress and the biretta, carrying a cross, and often with a halo of five stars. A legend has it that the stars emerged on the water surface when he was drowning in the Vltava River. The statue on the bridge is one of many Nepomuks in Kłodzko. Saint John of Nepomuk, funded in 1720 by the starosta of Kłodzko County, Baron Maksymilian Mitrowski of Mitrowice, stands in front of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A statue of the saint once stood also on the castle keep.

A centuries-old crime

A story of a family crime is associated with another one of the sculptures on the St. John’s Bridge. In 1689, Otto Ferdinand von Fitschen, owner of an estate in Gorzuchów near Kłodzko, according to various accounts murdered his wife Barbara either by his own hand or via hired thugs. In 1696, the Baron was decapitated in the Kłodzko market square. In 1714, his son, Baron Franz Ferdinand von Fitschen, funded the statue of the Trinity with the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a votive offering for his father’s crime.

Besides the votive motive, what is also interesting here is the ideological significance of the sculpture, which is the Catholics’ reply to Protestants, who did not endorse the cult of Mary and honoured only the Trinity. In 1647, Emperor Ferdinand III issued a decree putting the duchies of Austria into the care of Mary Immaculate. The sculpture portrays the Trinity crowning the Mother of God, with a large cloud – a symbol of heaven – in the background

For tourists looking forward to spending some time away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, Kłodzko offers many opportunities to relax and find your inner peace. One of the best places to do this is at one of Kłodzko’s biggest and most notable churches, the Church of the Assumption of Mary located on Kościelny Square.

The history of Kłodzko is closely tied to the local monasteries, all of which had significant influence on the development of the town. Over the ages, Christian monks provided religious services, constructed church buildings and ran some of the town’s hospitals and schools since the early Middle Ages. At the exit of Wojska Polskiego Street you can admire an extensive building complex whose construction was started by the monks of the Order of St. John (Church of the Assumption of Mary) and continued by the Jesuits (who were responsible for the expansion of the church, college and the boarding school). Nowadays, the boarding school houses the Museum of the Kłodzko Region which hosts many interesting exhibitions. When visiting the museum, take a look around the courtyard and halls which still bear traces of the old times and the out of-school life of medieval students. Classes were held in an adjacent college building lined with characteristic arcades which are today the main building of Bolesław Chrobry High School. This extensive, square shaped structure contains a spacious patio with a fountain and a sundial.

The church itself is an impressive landmark with its basic structure enriched with interesting details and a baroque interior. It is full of symbolism, secret signs and mysteries yet to be solved. As a fun exercise, you can play a game by looking for the sundial, a figure of St. Jacob in pilgrim's outfit propped on a walking stick or a metallic figure of death trampling a dragon. Good luck!

Did you know?:

Ernest of Pardubice (1300-1364), one of the most important figures of medieval times, had close ties with Kłodzko where he spent his childhood years. Ernest of Pardubice was the archbishop of Prague, the brains behind the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral and Charles University in Prague, a trusted associate of Charles IV and a candidate for election as pope. As a student in a school run by the Order of St. John, little Ernest had a vision at the Church of the Assumption of Mary which left a mark on his entire life. According to the story, one day he stayed late in the church after the vespers. Suddenly he saw that the figure of the Virgin Mary on the altar had turned her back on him. He interpreted it as a warning against the consequences of reckless life. After the vision, he experienced a profound moral transformation. His ties to Kłodzko remained strong throughout his entire life. After his death his body was laid to rest in a tomb placed in the main nave in front of the altar, in accordance with his dying wishes. Almost a century after his death, the tomb started leaking an oily substance with a pleasant smell which was quickly considered to be a miracle, especially since it repeated again during the Feast of Corpus Christi.

On the 500th anniversary of his death, the old tomb was replaced by a new gravestone with a figure of the saint kneeling in prayer. The 14th century tomb made by masters from Prague’s Parler workshop still remains in the church.

The Millennium of Poland Underground Tourist Trail was planned in the maze of the Kłodzko underground tunnels in the 1960s. It leads from Zawiszy Czarnego Street to Czeska Street at the foot of the Fortress and is approximately 600 meters long.

Today it may seem surprising that there was a true maze (consisting of several levels) under the town. However, deep cellars of this type were not designed to be mysterious, but rather very practical. Numerous merchants and craftsmen built their houses in the town surrounded by a wall and the Eastern Neisse channel. Space in this confined area was lacking and frequent fires consumed physical possessions. Therefore, underground chambers were used for storage, where a constant, low but critically above-zero temperature allowed for the storage of food and other commodities. Kłodzko beer was found to taste better after maturing in the cool cellars. For safety reasons, certain workshops such as bakeries were also moved underground due to the lower risk of a fire starting there. Commodities were transferred via the underground corridors straight to the stalls surrounding the town hall. Deep underground tunnels also came in handy during the numerous wars moving through the Kłodzko region.

Presently, during your underground tour you can feel the atmosphere of old Kłodzko. You can hear period music, revellers at an inn, the sounds of a fair and see old inhabitants of the town (a baker, a laundress, an executioner). You can also visit a merchant’s agency, an inn, a bakery, an ammunition depot and an executioner’s chambers equipped with blood-chilling instruments of torture.

You will also meet quite different occupants of the undergrounds in the form of interactive animated images. Which occupants? Well, you must find out for yourself. You may want to wear something warm for your underground tour because even if it is scorching hot up above, the temperature all year long in the Underground Tourist Trail is 8-10°C.

Kłodzko beer

In the old ages in Europe, especially in those places where producing wine was not possible (such as the Kłodzko region) beer was the main beverage as it was much safer to drink than water. As part of their pay, guards at the Kłodzko castle received a large jug of beer while on guard duty. Craftsmen, during their morning chats at inns and taverns, discussed important business matters over beer.

From the Middle Ages until the 17th century, Kłodzko was one of the most important centres in the region where the amber drink was made. It was facilitated by numerous privileges that the townsmen were granted by the rulers. The most important one was the “law of the mile” which prohibited the sale of beer other than that made in Kłodzko within less than a mile from the town. Beer production in the town was strictly regulated. Properties owned by Kłodzko townsmen had a permit for a certain number of “vars” (a historic measure of volume).

Kłodzko beer was produced mainly from oats imported from the Ząbkowice region and hops were brought either from there or from Bohemia. The town’s main asset however, was very good water and, above all else, an impressive network of cellars (consisting of several levels). Beer made in autumn matured underground, at a constant low temperature, at least until spring.

Kłodzko’s most important and oldest drinking establishment was the now-disappeared Tavern in the market square (at the corner of Wita Stwosza Street). After World War I, there were still eight breweries in Kłodzko. However only one survived World War II – Müller’s Lagerbierbrauerei (Müller’s Brewery), owned by Franz Thiel since 1908. The brewery still operated between 1945 and 1976 as the Kłodzko Beer and Malt Company (Kłodzkie Zakłady Piwowarsko-Słodownicze). Now, craft beer is slowly being brewed and sold again in the Kłodzko region. You can taste this new beer at several locations in town, including at Kłodzko fortress.

Works to secure Kłodzko’s underground facilities

The underground tourist trail in Kłodzko is not just another historical site that has been made accessible to tourists. It is a tourist attraction that was created intentionally, although in extraordinary circumstances. After World War II, Kłodzko became part of Poland. A vast majority of its German inhabitants left the town and new Polish settlers arrived. Many people sought their fortune here, as they left the eastern borderlands (which had been taken over by the USSR) as well as other regions of Poland, where life was very hard. Soon accommodation became an issue and, to make things worse, by the end of the 1940s and the beginning of the 1950s, cracks began to appear on the walls of the townhouses. More and more houses in the old town had to be demolished for fear they would collapse. It turned out that their poor technical condition was not only the result of a lack of regular repairs during wartime and afterwards. The problem went much deeper – into the multi-level cellars under the town and because of the poor drainage of the old town, washed over by water flowing down from the fortress. Already in the 1930s, experts from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow worked on making the local mining excavations secure. Therefore, in 1958 Kłodzko’s authorities turned for help to the Krakow engineers. Before any planning could be done to make the underground maze secure, it first had to be explored and no one knew where the flooded corridors might lead. Speleologists from Warsaw were entrusted with exploring the underground tunnels. Finally, in 1962 works to secure the tunnels began and were carried out by miners from the Mining Works Company in Wałbrzych. The first stage of the securing work was completed in 1966. At that time, professor Zbigniew Strzelecki suggested that some areas of the excavations be made accessible to tourists and that a tourist trail be planned under the old town. The idea was approved by the town authorities and the new tourist attraction was opened for tourists on 4 December 1976. A year later the underground tunnels were entered into the Register of Monuments.

A visit to Kłodzko is an opportunity to see many of its historical sites and participate in cultural, sports and leisure events organised throughout the year across many different locations such as the market square, the square under St. John’s Bridge (access from Daszyńskiego or Matejki Street), Strażacki Park (Traugutta Street), and the stadium (Kusocińskiego Street) and the Kruczkowskiego housing estate. .

Various concerts, exhibitions and theatre performances are hosted by the Kłodzko Centre of Culture, Sports and Recreation, the Museum of the Kłodzko Region and the Centre for Christian Culture. Classical music concerts are also organised in the churches. Kłodzko Fortress offers many attractions including events related to the history of the site as well as concerts and sports events in unusual and picturesque settings. Other interesting events take place in the Kłodzko Fortress shopping centre and cinema complex at Noworudzka Street away from the centre of the town.

The Kłodzko Centre of Culture, Sports and Recreation is located in a historical building at Jagiełło Square and in a former life was the Kaiserhof Hotel. It has a large auditorium and an art galley. Cultural events are also held in the cafeteria. The centre is home to the Kłodzko Photo Club which puts on photographic exhibitions in collaboration with its Czech counterpart. One of the main events organised by the centre is “Clash” – an international theatre festival. The summer edition features street-theatre performances while major Polish and international theatres arrive in November for big stage shows for the autumn edition of the festival.

In addition to temporary and permanent exhibitions, the Museum of the Kłodzko Region organises previews of art exhibitions, chamber music concerts, lectures and workshops for children and adults which are held in a historic concert hall, a workshop hall located in a former carpentry and at the courtyard, each with its own unique ambience. Every May the museum remains open late into the night to celebrate the Long Night of Museums, hosting interesting events, artistic performances and unusual installations. It also organises tours of the town with elements of set dressing as well as childrens workshops which are mainly held during the summer and winter holidays.

The Centre for Christian Culture is located in the Kruczkowskiego housing estate, in a former chapel at Stefana Wyszyńskiego Street. The events held there are organised by The Education Society of Kłodzko and the local Holy Cross Parish. The centre does not operate on a daily basis, but information on upcoming events can be found on posters, banners and in the local media.

Classical music enthusiasts are invited to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary at Franciszkański Square, the Church of the Assumption of Mary at the Kościelny Square and the St. George and St. Adalbert Church on Łukasińskiego Street.

The Fortress Days are the most important item in Kłodzko’s calendar of events. Held in August, the event is celebrated in the fortress itself and in the surroundings areas. Visitors can watch a historical re-enactment of the Napoleonic troops’ assault on the town, visit a military camp and stand side by side with the Kłodzko regiment’s soldiers. You are also invited to take part in various activities and field games across all seasons of the year, some of which are co-organised in collaboration with the Kłodzko Brotherhood of Knights.

There are also interesting sports events and shows, including spectacular downhill shows, cowboy-style horse riding, martial arts shows and a traditional Kłodzko Lion car rally. The racecourse starts in the centre of the town, then zigzags along local country roads and finally ends back in town.

If you’re tired after a long sightseeing tour, you can relax and refresh in an indoor swimming pool on Jana Pawła II Street which is open all year round. In addition to a regular swimming pool, the facility offers swimming courses, a paddling pool, a water slide, a Jacuzzi, a lazy river, as well as a sauna and steam room.

During the summer time, the stadium operates an outdoor swimming pool, volleyball court and playground. A large ice rink is also open there in the winter months.

When you have seen all the monuments of Kłodzko and have feasted yourself on the atmosphere of the town, Kłodzko is the perfect base from which to explore the Kłodzko Region. It is abundant with superb and extraordinary landscapes, an incredible sporting infrastructure and several other attractions worth seeing during your visit to Kłodzko. They will no doubt deliver both excitement and happy memories..

Polanica-Zdrój – one of the five health-resorts in the Kłodzko region (in addition to Duszniki-Zdrój, Kudowa, Lądek and Długopole). The town is captivating, especially the beautiful and vast Spa Park which encourages guests to take long walks and to rest. Also, you should explore the historic Pump Room where you can try various curative and mineral waters (12 km from Kłodzko).

Wambierzyce –called the “Polish Jerusalem”. The main attraction is the 18th century monumental basilica with baroque décor and a miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Families (23 km from Kłodzko). Sanctuaries of the Blessed Virgin Mary can also be found in Bardo, Stary Wielisław, and on All Saints Mountain (Góra Wszystkich Świętych) in Nowa Ruda.

Skull Chapel (Kaplica Czaszek) – this 18th century unusual monument, built from more than 3,000 human skulls and bones, is located in Kudowa-Czermna (38 km from Kłodzko).

Błędne Skały – an unusual rock maze which features a wealth of unique rock formations (6 to 11 meters high), with a tourist trail stretching several hundred metres (36 km from Kłodzko).

Szczeliniec – the highest peak (919 m a.s.l.) of the Stołowe Mountains, forming part of the Crown of the Polish Mountains; a trail consisting of 665 steps leads to the peak (37 km from Kłodzko).

Śnieżnik – the highest peak (1426 m a.s.l.) of the Eastern Sudetes, one of the seven nearby peaks forming part of the Crown of Polish Mountains (33 km from Kłodzko).

Bear Cave (Jaskinia Niedźwiedzia) – located in Kletno, this is one of the longest and deepest caves in Poland; the explored halls and corridors of the cave are more than 5 kilometres long, and the cave is more than 100 meters deep. On the tourist trail, you can see unique and well-preserved dripstones as well as a large number of ice-age animal bones (35 km from Kłodzko).

Czarna Góra and Zieleniec – the largest ski resorts in the Kłodzko Region with perfectly-prepared runs and infrastructure designed for downhill and cross-country skiing. In the summer season, Czarna Góra also offers extreme cycling trails (about 30 km from Kłodzko).

Czech Republic – the Polish and Czech border runs as close as 35 km from Kłodzko. Attractions worth seeing on the Czech side include: wonderful castles (Náchod, Kuks, Ratibořice), breweries making local beer (Náchod, Broumov, Rychnov nad Kněžnou), the rock city (Adršpach), fortifications (Jaroměř), the ZOO Safari Park (Dvůr Králové).

Náchod – Kłodzko’s partner city in the Czech Republic (42 km from Kłodzko). Worth seeing is the beautiful renaissance palace of the Piccolomni family atop the hill, the regional museum, and the market square with the Saint Lawrence of Rome church, the interestingly decorated new Town Hall, the whipping post, and the ‘U Beránka’ hotel (with a town theatre). When you get hungry, you may refuel in the restaurant, and then enter the hotel lobby, where you can see a “stone from the atomic house in Hiroshima” and a small exhibit devoted to Jan Letzl (1880-1925) – a Náchod-born architect – creator of the Product Exhibition Hall in downtown Hiroshima, the sole building which survived the atomic bombing of 6 August 1945, despite being situated in the hypocenter of the explosion.

Other sites worth seeing:

observation towers – in the Kłodzko Region there are 10 active observation towers (Borówkowa, Trójmorski Wierch, Suszyna, and many more)

museums – the paper-making museum in Duszniki-Zdrój, the phillumeny museum in Bystrzyca Kłodzka, the fable museum in Międzygórze, the Borderlands Folk Culture Museum in Pstrążna and the toy museum in Kudowa-Zdrój

mine museums – the coal mine museum in Nowa Ruda, the gold mine museum in Złoty Stok and the uranium mine museum in Kletno

castles and palaces – Gorzanów, Kamieniec, Trzebieszowice, Bożków, Sarny, Piszkowice, Międzylesie, Kapitanowo (despite renovations currently being underway, some of these are still available to tourists)

Make sure you try:

Kłodzko trout – trout fisheries (of which there are more than 20 in the region) offer fried, grilled or smoked trout. Since 2012, the Kłodzko trout has been entered in the list of regional products; every year there is a Trout Festival in the Kłodzko County.

Kłodzko honey – due to a diversity of cultivation and a wealth of local woods, the local honey is exceptionally healthy and tasty.

ecological chokeberry preserves – the combination of a mountain and a somewhat harsh climate promotes the growing of chokeberry – a wonderful antidote to various diseases associated with modern life, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, tumours, and eye conditions.