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...and another one
One of the figures...
Gothic Bridge
The plague pillarA daytrip to Klodzko
Few people get lost in this area which changed its ownership between Poland, Austria, Bohemia and Prussia. It’s something different when you know someone living nearby. I was visiting a friend who lives in nearby Zabkowice Slaskie and so we went for a couple of hours to Klodzko.
Klodzko is a place which is nice to see, but surely not a must-do. First mentioned in 981, it grew around the castle of the same name. Its history as a bone of contention has limited Klodzko’s potential and although it has been a wealthy trading town for centuries, it always stood in the shadow of its mightier neighbours Prague and Wroclaw. This wealth began when german craftsmen settled down in the 12th and 13th century. It came from its position on the road beween Prague and Wroclaw which leads further north to the baltic sea. So, amber and salt were the main goods stored and traded in Klodzko. The name Glatz, which is Klodzko’s german name, first appeared in this time. Another poular name of that time was “little Prague”. From the 18th century one, Klodzko became prussian (later german) for around 200 years. It was after WWII that its ownership was to change again - now permanently. Although also claimed by Czechoslovakia, Klodzko became Polish again and the name Glatz is now only found in the german language and many history books. In 1997, the city was heavily damaged by floods. Its traces can still be seen in the city. Today, Klodzko has around 30 000 inhabitants, but is just a shoadow of former times due to its isolated location in the borderland between the Czech Republic and Poland.
