Formerly known as the "Pearl of the Owl Mountains" tourist town at the entrance to the Klodzko Valley. Its origins and name are related to the ongoing here from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century mining silver ore. They arise when the existing mine tunnels today of which the longest is about 500m in length. In the years 1765-1777 Frederick the Great built on towering over the city pass between the mountains of Sowie and Bardzkimi, one of the most powerful fortresses eighteenth century in Europe, which is today the biggest tourist attraction of the region. Another interesting feature is 30 m viaducts former cog railway, the first in Lower Silesia - launched in 1902
After 1945, Silver Mountain, together with Lower Silesia is connected to the Polish. Initially forgotten since the 60s again becoming a tourist attraction. Silver Mountain for several years is a "cult place" for young people from Lower Silesia and other Polish regions. Attracted by such events as:
Ząbkowicka Folk Fiesta;
annual May 1-happening;
theatrical event forts;
concerts of famous music groups in the club Stodola
These events are a guarantee of good, unconventional fun.
Fortress Donjon - Silver Mountain
Silver Pass (586 m asl) is a profound reduction in the outer band Sudetow, separating the Bardo Mountains (south) of the Owl Mountains (in the north). It has long been led by her transition from the Sudeten Foreland by Wolibórz to Nowa Ruda Depression, and by Czerwieńczyce to Klodzko Valley. It was one of the reasons the hill in the years 1765-1777 mighty fortress. In addition, according to the plans the creation of a chain of fortresses along the Austrian border fortress was to fill a gap in the line of Swidnica - Silver Mountain - Kłodzko - Nysa - Koźle.
The body structure has been designed by Dutchman GK Walrave, outstanding architect and fortyfikatora at the service of the Prussian modernizing of 1,748 years gained strongholds in Silesia and Pomerania. Plan ogolny Italian engineer has developed a Pinto and modified the Colonel Regeler. For the construction of fortifications selected two towering hills Pass: Bastion (Ex. Fortified Mountain) 686m above sea level - on the north-west side; and Spurs 627 m above sea level - on the side of the half. Large-scale construction work began shortly after the conclusion of peace in Hubertusburgu ending the Seven Years' War (1763.). Three years later, he was ready to have a keep, and soon Fort horn, which in the years 1770-1771 brought a covered way. At the same time they built a second fort (on strogu), numerous tunnels, ramparts, raweliny, kutryny like. Fortifications, which created two km long defense line. At the same time built barracks, warehouses and in the city (Silver Mountain) housing for officers. In standby crew numbered 137 officers and 2,386 soldiers. The cost of work was 1.7 million crowns. The construction took 12 years for her needs was launched brickyards, quarries and sawmill. The building rose 4,000 workers, and oversaw the King Frederick II, who after the annual maneuvers stopped in Silver Mountain (ul. Summer 38) or in the court of Budzowie. On June 28 1807 the city was occupied by Napoleon's army, including Polish legions. But - as in Klodzko - fortress was captured. It stood in the way of signing the peace of Tilsit 9 VII 1807 year. In the years 1830-1848 the fortress was used as a tower for the activists of the movement "Young Germans." Imprisoned here, among others, W. Wolff - friend Marx and Engels, F. Reuter`a poet. In 1867, due to the loss of military importance and significant moisture the barracks - fortifications were disarmed and given to the sappers and gunners as an object used to try new explosives and accuracy testing of new guns. The forts at the time of 15 XII 1939 to September 1, 1941 years decorated tower here again - this time a prisoner of war camp penalty Oflag VIIIB. They were in the senior Polish officers (about 300 people). In 1965, the PTTK and command of Lower Silesia Banner ZHP signed an agreement under which cleared II Fort horn, was named the fort "Scout". Fort Spurs cleared with the help of the then (1969) the Ministry of Mining and renamed the fort "Miner". In the mid-seventies we initiated action to appoint a museum heavy firearms. Finally, on the 28th of June 1974 the museum was opened. Today it is a branch of the Historical Museum in Wałbrzych. The fortress consists of several forts and bastions. The core is a set of bastions of the donjon in the middle. Fort Donjon is the highest fort in the fortress is 120 meters wide and 120 long. It consists of four large bastions Tower: Tower City (south-east.) Nowomiejska (south-west.), Higher (north-west.), And lower (south-east.). Summit platform rises 30 meters above the dry moat. Don Jon bastion of Lower connects embankment (formerly there was a drawbridge). For pięciopoziomowych casemates leads the eight gates in the hallway are hollow position shooting. On the north-eastern side of the main bastion of the Fort is the second horn, connected to the main core, the system shafts. Defended there 12 cannons, the crew consisted of 115 soldiers and 8 officers. His task was to defend the access road to the fortress and artillery shelling the town, over which towered. Along the ridge to the north-east located two gunrest, connected to the main fort indoor path (enwelopą) length of about one kilometer. On the other side of the pass is Fort Ostrog two foreheads and flanks. In the courtyard is a well with a depth of 84 m. The fort defended the 30 cannons, 315 soldiers and 8 officers. Forty are carved into the rock, and the shafts are made of stone and rubble. Decorating the walls of stone forts and the corners strokes of red sandstone. Along the northern part of the fortress goes black tourist trail. Walking time is 45 minutes. The route begins at the bus stop in the Silver Mountain and initially leads the way to Nowa Wies Klodzka to quickly turn left onto the gravel road. We go traverse the south slope of Little Chochoła (686 m). We pass going down the stairs to the bar "Srebrnogórzanka." Op ten minutes at the fork, turn right routes. Not reaching the gate, turn right, right then left, then right before entering the filled again turn right, then immediately left to go around separated by a moat Fort horn - it is the most westerly part of the main fortress. Next we pass the Esplanade - wide sloping plane oadającą from Bastion to the Upper Fort horny. Bastion in turn pass the upper and forceps. We go out on the square between Bastion and Lower II Fortem horn. A little below before us access road leading to the railway station in Silver Mountain. The trail leads to the left, we pass from the left side of the youth hostel them .kmdr. S. Frankowski (named in 1974 in honor of the HR officer, died in Oflag VIIIB). After a few minutes we reach the point wyjścia.udniowo-east.
