They were not afraid of change, were fearless, followed their dreams and overcame the difficulties that came their way – the women of Lower Silesia. Although they lived in times distant to us, they can also be an inspiration today. Get to know the stories of exceptional ladies…
St. Hedwig of Silesia – patroness of Lower Silesia
Self-sacrificing, very pious, caring for the weak. She founded hospitals, supported the poor, took care of churches, rushed to help the victims of floods and famines in 1221-1222. Hedwig was a model of a duchess who cared for her subjects with care, engaging in political activities and influencing her spouse. Even during her life she was considered a saint. In 1267 she was canonized.
The cult of Hedwig began shortly after her death. Today she is the patron saint of Poland and Lower Silesia. Every year crowds of pilgrims go on foot to the saint’s tomb in Trzebnica. On the day of the liturgical memory of the duchess: October 16, is celebrated as the Feast of the Lower Silesian Province.
Stained glass window with St. Hedwig
Princess Daisy – the reformer from the Książ Castle
She was a cheerful, charismatic young Englishwoman, a handsome and wealthy duchess, the spouse of one of the richest heirs in Europe at the time, the charming mistress of Książ Castle, which under her rule became a meeting place for European rulers and the highest aristocracy. She channeled her energy and talents into humanitarian causes, becoming one of the first social reformers in Lower Silesia.
Książ and its surroundings owed much to Princess Daisy, who first appeared at the castle on July 5, 1892. The castle was her beloved home. She cared not only for its surroundings, but also for the local residents. Thanks to Daisy, the first special school was opened in Walbrzych for handicapped children, previously completely ignored by the system. The duchess regularly visited mining families in their homes and workers’ children in schools. She organized Christmas tree parties for them in Książ and charity concerts in Szczawien Zdrojowy Theater. Thanks to her, new lace and knitting schools were established in many towns, and the effects of the students’ work were presented at many exhibitions in Lower Silesian spas. Involved in the social life of the Ksiaz area and artistically talented, the Duchess unfortunately had no luck in love. She was comforted by the publication of autobiographical books, of which she published a total of three volumes, although even these do not fully reflect Daisy’s uniqueness.
Daisy
Agnes of Habsburg – Duchess of Świdnica and Jawor
Agnes of Habsburg brought Viennese culture to the Świdnica court. Already during the reign of her husband Bolek II, she was in charge of the principality’s economic affairs and its economic development. After her husband’s death, she inherited a powerful duchy, which she ruled for 24 years. The woman took care of the development of Swidnica. During her reign, the city received a lot of merchant privileges. The duchess took care of the Jewish people, but also patronized Christian monasteries in Krzeszów, Strzegom, Wrocław, Henryków and Lubiąż. She supported the poor and the sick. She was buried in a crypt in the church of the Franciscan monastery in Świdnica.
Agnes von Habsburg
Beate Abigail von Siegroth – owner of Piotrowice Świdnickie
Generous, supportive of the needy, involved in charitable and religious activities. Thanks to her efforts and financial assistance, a house of worship and an evangelical school were built in Piotrowice Świdnickie. After the death of her first husband in 1731, the entire estate was inherited by Beate. When she remarried, she and her partner established a charitable foundation to support the poorest residents of the surrounding villages: Nowice, Piotrowice Świdnickie, Łażany and Żarow. The foundation donated funds to build and maintain a shelter in Piotrowice Świdnickie. Beate Abigail was laid to rest in the crypt of the church in Piotrowice Świdnickie.
Beate Abigail von Siegroth
Regina Włodarczyk-Puchała – a designer with a head full of ideas
The world-famous crystals from the Julia Ironworks would not have been created if not for the work of many women. Regina Wlodarczyk-Puchala also designed there for 50 years. An exceptional artist with vast experience and a pattern book of a few thousand author’s works. She mainly created art glass, vases or decanters. She has won many awards for her work – including the bronze medal “Meritorious for Culture – Gloria Artis” in 2012. Her works can be seen, among others, in the National Museum in Warsaw, Musée Du Verre, Liège, Belgium, and the Karkonosze Museum in Jelenia Gora. In addition to her intensive work in industrial design and art glass, Regina Wlodarczyk-Puchala has been involved in local affairs and has contributed to the promotion of artists associated with the Karkonosze region.
Smelter Julia
Gertrude Guttler – she turned Zloty Stok into a powerhouse
The owner of a gold mine, an arsenic smelter, a ceramics and paint factory, and the city’s first two automobiles – Gertrude Guttler. An example of a courageous, enterprising woman whose memory is perpetuated along the Gold Mine route in Zloty Stok.
Having no experience in running a business, in men’s time, she was able to win over people who helped her not only to run the business, but also to develop it. After the unexpected death of her husband, she herself had to face running the family business and raising five children. She introduced electrification: under her watch, the Guttler family’s power plant was established, thanks to which the town was illuminated in 1909. She realized her vision of connecting the remote mines by excavating a new, very long transportation adit to facilitate the extraction of arsenic ore, named after her investor.
The company she ran grew so rapidly that the city was short of laborers, and on Gertrude’s initiative 200 workers’ apartments were built so that more workers could be brought to the city.
Zloty Stok
Urszula Broll – Karkonosze artist
One of the most prominent figures of the Polish underground of the 1950s and 1960s. Painter and illustrator, famous for her excellent technique. Founder of the St-53 and Oneiron art groups.
She has lived in Przesieka near Jelenia Gora since 1983, calling it “a found place.” Her works inspired other artists, evoking thoughts on the relationship between man and nature and the metaphysical dimension of reality. Among others, Zdzislaw Beksinski wrote about her paintings, emphasizing the artistry of the message and form. The artist’s works can be found in Lower Silesia in the collections of the National Museum in Wroclaw, the Karkonosze Museum and BWA in Jelenia Gora, as well as in private collections.
Ursula Broll
Wanda Rutkiewicz – she did the impossible
Mountains were her greatest passion; she was the first woman in the world to climb the K2 eight-thousander. She is also the first Polish woman to stand on top of Mount Everest. She began her adventure with climbing in the Lower Silesian Sokoliki. It was there that she took her first steps and developed her love of mountains. The Himalayan climber was famous for her ambition and passion for conquering more peaks, achieving the seemingly impossible. She proved that women can climb just as well as men. Her heart remained in the mountains – she disappeared in 1992 during a summit attack on Kanchendzonga.
Wanda Rutkiewicz
Edith Stein
Since childhood, Edith Stein was connected with the capital of Lower Silesia – Wroclaw. She spent her childhood in this city, grew up in a large Jewish family, studied three subjects: Germanic studies, history and psychology, and in later years was a teacher in one of Wrocław’s schools. She went down in history as an outstanding theoretician of philosophy and literature, created a valuable source of knowledge about Jewish culture in Silesia, and worked for the emancipation of women, fighting for women’s rights to vote or perform “male” professions such as academic work. Through the influence of the literary people she met, she converted to Catholicism, received the holy sacraments, and then joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites in Cologne. There she continued her scientific work. Her work was interrupted in 1942 when she was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, where she was murdered.
