Many tourists, visiting a village for the first time, want to go to the local market. Duszniki-Zdrój, a spa town in the Kłodzko Valley, will certainly meet their expectations in this respect. The market square in Duszniki Zdrój has a layout dating back to the Middle Ages, as well as Baroque and Renaissance buildings. Here you will find the historic Town Hall, the statue of Our Lady and Child and tenements that hide amazing stories. If you add to this atmospheric streets, restaurants and cafes, there is no doubt that it is worth visiting the market. Duszniki-Zdrój — what to see in the Old Town?
Rynek Duszniki-Zdrój — history
The town of Duszniki-Zdrój was established on the site of the existing settlement, receiving city rights in 1346. The market was laid out on a sloping area, and a stream flowed through the very center of it. Over the years, the central square changed, but its appearance was greatly influenced by the fire, which occurred in 1844. The fire consumed the town hall and most of the tenements, which contributed to the current market. Duszniki-Zdrój today have in the very center buildings with Renaissance (vaults) and baroque features (portals, decoration of facades), which is the result of fire-related reconstruction. But in the meantime, there was also another change, namely in the 70s several tenements were demolished and replaced with new ones.
What to see on the market in Duszniki?
1. Townhouses
The old town in Duszniki hides many interesting places. The first thing that attracts the attention of tourists is the numerous townhouses. However, it is worth knowing that in addition to their obvious architectural qualities, they also have an amazing history. It is enough to take as an example the one on Market Square 1, which stands in the place where the inn “Under the Black Bear” was formerly located. It is called the Royal Tenement House in commemoration of the stay of King Jan Kazimierz himself. On 17 August 1669, after his abdication, he stopped in Duszniki on his way to France to taste the water from the “Cold Spring”, which, as he himself stated, had a “refreshing taste and blissful effect”.
Read also: Duszniki-Zdrój — Spa Park and water pump room. Why you should look here
Visiting the market square in Dusznika-Zdrój, it is also worth paying attention to the tenement house marked number 5, which dates from the 18th century. It underwent renovation in 2008-2010, when its façade and roofing were changed. Once in the hollow above the entrance portal to the tenement house there was a wooden Pieta from 1839, but today it supplies the collections of the Museum of the Kłodzko Land in Kłodzko. In its place stands a small Figure of Our Lady of Wambierzycka in a glass lampshade.
What other townhouses do Duszniki have? Rynek 9 is the address where another noteworthy building is located, currently housing the Office of Tourism Information and Promotion of the City. On the wall of the tenement house there is a plaque informing that from 1867 to 1903 it was inhabited by Mayor Paul Dengler, who was greatly deserving for the city. On the other side, the emblem of the brewers' guild was placed.
2. Town Hall
The Old Town in Duszniki is also worth visiting because of the Town Hall. It is located in the western part of the central square, precisely at number 6. The building was erected between 1584 and 1585, and then it was rebuilt several times: the first time in the 18th century and the last in 1844, when it was destroyed during a fire. The town hall in Duszniki has a Renaissance peak, a signature on the ridge, the town's coat of arms, a portal with the date “1584" and a clock dating from 1880. Both the portal and the coat of arms were moved from the original Town Hall. Currently, the building houses the Duszniki-Zdrój city hall.
3. Monument to the Virgin and Child
Although the route on the Market Square in Duszniki, which stretches along the tenement houses, is really engaging and catching with the eye, it is worth paying attention to other objects located on the central square. And especially the monument to the Virgin Mary with the child and the figures of Saint Sebastian, Saint Florian and the Angel with the cartouche. It dates from 1725 and was sculpted by Georg Leonard Weber from Świdnica. It was an expression of the appeal of the inhabitants of Duszniki to the Virgin Mary and the mory saints with a request to save the city from the plague. Opposite the figure is a pillory, which is also worth seeing.
4. Other attractions
The old town in Duszniki is cramped, cobbled streets, directly created for walking and exploring mysterious corners of the town. It is worth delving into them, because there are small shops, atmospheric cafes or art galleries. Here you can gain insight into local life and culture and get to know Duszniki from another side.
And when it comes to accommodation in Duszniki Zdrój, rooms and apartments in Zieleniec, which is part of this city, offers Resort Szarotka. At our guests' disposal there is a swimming pool and a SPA area, as well as a restaurant serving Polish and international cuisine delicacies. An additional advantage is that we are located right on the slope. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the details of the offer!
Photo: Jacek Halicki CC BY 3.0
