CLIMATE CONDITIONS

The town’s location in a mountain valley open to the southwest provides extremely favourable climate because the mountain range protects the town from the effects of the east and north winds. The width of the valley is conducive to gradual heating and slow cooling of the air masses lying here causing that in summer it is usually cooler here than in the lowlands while it is warmer in the spring and autumn months. Such conditions contribute to improving, among others, blood circulation, digestion, fitness of the nervous and muscular systems. The climate also has a positive effect on the respiratory system.

HISTORICAL VIEW

The first mention of Kudowa-Zdroj comes from 1354. In ‘Confirmationum’, a document which is the church census of the Prague metropolis, the name Czermna appears for the first time. On the outskirts of Czermna a poor town called Chudoba began to form. It grew to the present size of Kudowa and dominated Czermna. The mention of mineral waters in Kudowa in 1580 says that ‘… they are used for medicinal purposes and over wine put for their taste advantages …’. In 1636 the first bathing facilities were built which initiated the development of health care and the construction of many guest houses. At that time the area of today’s Park was drained and a beautiful promenade was designed.

A thorough analysis of mineral waters was carried out in 1850 and on its basis Kudowa officially became a health resort with a cardiological profile. Introduction of a railway line from Klodzko in 1905 was very significant as it substantially contributed to the increase in the number of arriving guests. The guests of the resort include: Winston Churchill, Bruno Schulz and Johann Wolfgang Goethe. Representatives of tsarist families from Russia, English and German aristocracy, artists and politicians also stayed in Kudowa. Currently, every year, thousands of tourists and patients come to Kudowa-Zdroj to get to know the Table Mountains and take advantage of the therapeutic treatments.

Tourist attractions

The Trail of Vanishing Professions in Czermna, in addition to a mini zoo, bird safari where Emu ostriches eat out of your hand, there are bread baking demonstrations using the traditional method of making sourdough bread in an oven. One of the local young folk artists is 14-year-old Mateusz, the son of the owners, who rolls pots and jugs on a potter’s wheel.

The Frog Museum is located in the Management of the Table Mountains National Park. Launched thanks to collections donated from Berlin by Kudowa & Kultur Association. Today we can admire exhibits of various sizes. The museum is often visited by children and school trips.

The Toy Museum houses exhibits collected and passed down from generation to generation by one family. Here you can see dolls, miniatures of furniture, devices and everyday objects: cars, blocks, piggy banks, ships and many other toys from different countries and continents. Noteworthy are the beautiful old music boxes that can charm everyone with their sound.

Open-air Museum of Folk Culture of the Sudeten Foothills in Pstrazna – it is a branch of Walbrzych Museum. There you can admire the historical objects of wooden rural architecture and equipment related to the farm, farming and crafts. Various outdoor events such as: the opening of the season, baking potatoes, baking bread, farewell to summer are organized for tourists in the museum. There are folk groups performances and folk artists forge horseshoes, sculpt, paint Easter eggs, porcelain and faience.

Chapel of Skulls in Czermna, the interior of the chapel is lined with 3,000 skulls and tibia and under the chapel floor, in the crypt, there are 20 thousand skulls and bones of victims of the Silesian epidemic and wars. It is the only facility of this type in Poland and one of three in Europe.

The mobile Nativity Scene in Czermna, consisting of about 200 unusually colourful linden figurines depicting scenes from the lives of shepherds and townspeople as well as scenes from the birth of Jesus Christ created by František Stepan. The crib is in his family home. The artist’s granddaughter currently takes care of the exhibits.

Aqua Park ‘Water World’ helps to improve health and maintain a great figure. There are, among others, a water slide (92m), a Jacuzzi, a geyser, an artificial river, a sauna, a solarium, a gym, bowling and fitness and aerobics.

The Spa Park – founded in the 18th century it enchants with its unique vegetation. Among the unusual trees and shrubs in the summer we can also see agaves, cactuses, prickly pears and dracaena. It is a place of rest and walks for patients and tourists. Going down to the Spa Park, we pass the Mineral Water Pump Room together with the Concert Hall where numerous concerts take place. Nearby you can see ‘A Little Castle’ built in 1772.