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History of Twardogóra by Exprism

History of Twardogóra started when first representatives of Piast dynasty ruled Polish lands. Twardogóra was the trade settlement connected with the trade route from Wrocław to Poznań. The inhabitants were descendants of Slav tribe - Ślężanie, but since the 12th century also strangers from different countries, particularly from Germany started coming. You can read in old records and stories that the contemporary name for the town was formed during the invasion of Tartars on the Silesia in 1241. Inhabitants of the settlement stood against them and because theirs hard resistance the name of the town means “hard hill”. The name tells you about the landscape of the area.

Piast Duke Henryk Ist (III) of Głogów granted the settlement with city rights on 1st August 1293. The small town gained its medieval character by the time. From the beginning of the 14th c. Twardogóra was tied with the Oleśnica duchy which was governed by Piast dynasty but controlled by the Czech kings. Townspeople after the tragic experience of Hussite wars, erected the fortified building in the end of 15th c.. One hundred years later it was rebuilt into the castle. In 1526 Twardogóra together with the Oleśnica duchy was incorporated into Habsburg’s state. Jan Podbiebrad who rulled the duchy in 1538 proclaimed Lutheranism. It is believed that there was already a church (the lower one) which was renovated in 1587. From 1647 Oleśnica duchy was ruled by representatives of the Wirtemberg dynasty. During that period Twardogóra flourished. It was because of the spouse of the Duke Sylwiusz Fryderyk - Eleonora Karolina (1676-1712). She rebuilt the castle which became the baroque palace. She also took care of the health of inhabitants, the development of the craft, the trade and educations as well as she developed charity activity.

In the years of 1729-1738 a church (the lower one) was rebuilt as we can see it today. Prussians annexed Silesia in 1740. In 1743 count Henryk L. Von Reichenbach bought Twardogóra and a year later he joined the town to newly formed state of Goszcz. From the half of the 19th c. Twardogóra gained an industrial character. The beginning of the 20th c. the development of the town was continued. In 1901 it was built the water supply system and in 1910 it was constructed the electric system.

Germans ended their rulling in Twardogóra on 23rd January 1945. From now on the period of Polish administration started. Political changes in Poland in 1989 led to uprising of local governments in 1990. From now on Twardogóra community can decide about the future of the town in democratic way/p>

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