Krzeszowice

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St. Martins Church in Krzeszowice

Krzeszowice is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. As of 1998, the population of Krzeszowice was approximately 10,500.

1 History
2 History of the spa
3 Sightseeing
4 External links

[edit] History

The first historical reference to Krzeszowice comes from 1286 when the bishop Pawel of Przemanków granted Fryczek Freton of Bytom with a charter for establishing Krzeszowice as an organisational unit called a "solectwo" within the already existing village of "Cressouicy", following Magdeburg law. According to Jan Długosz, in the 15th Century there was a wooden church here named St. Martin, as well as a school, a tavern and a parish farm, although it is likely that a church existed here as early as 1337.

In 1555 Krzeszowice became the property of Stanislaw Teczynski and was incorporated into the county of Teczyn. Later, possession of Krzeszowice passed amongst the families of Opalinski, Czartoryski, and Lubomirski. After 1816, Krzeszowice came to belong to the Potocki family.

After the discovery of therapeutic springs, in 1778 Duke August Czartoryski built the first baths. The first patients arrived as early as in the next year. As a part of the spa's development, in 1783-86 the palace of "Vauxhall" was erected. Later, in 1819, the building referred to as the "Green Baths" was constructed, which was renamed "Zofia" in 1858.

During the 19th Century, Krzeszowice grew in significance. During the periods of 1809-1815 and 1855-1867, the town was the site of a separate region of Krzeszowice. Later, the regional court was established here, having 29 villages under its jurisdiction. In 1829, Zofia Potocka founded a hospital for employees of the Teczyn estate. During the November Uprising(1830-31), it was made available to insurgents seeking refuge in the Republic of Kraków following an order of Artur Potocki. In 1842 and 1843, "Artur's Refuge House" was built for the poor. Commencing in 1832, a Neogothic church designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel was erected in Krzeszowice. The finishing work for this church lasted until 1874. In 1847, a railway line was built from Kraków to Myslowice and passed through Krzeszowice. In 1850 Krzeszowice was granted a charter for organising fairs.

During the nation's thraldom, people from Krzeszowice were involved in both the Kraków Uprising of 1846 and the January Uprising in 1863. The neighbouring villages were important points for armament and insurers being smuggled into the nation.

During 1850 to 1855, the Potocki family erected a palace in the Italian Renaissance style designed by F.M. Lancia. In parallel to the palace construction, an English-style landscape park was created. The palace was inhabited as late as in 1862. Minor reconstruction of the palace were made until 1870, in particular, to the interior.

At the end of 19th century, Krzeszowice experienced intense industrial and urban development. New manufacturing plants were established, including: a pottery works (c.a. 1880); a steam-powered sawmill (c.a. 1894); a barrel factory (c.a. 1894); a mortar plant (1900); a roofing-tile and drain pipe factory and a mineral colour factory (1906); and a cement and concrete products factory (1907).

In 1919, the Community Council of Krzeszowice applied for a grant of municipal rights. It was not until December 3, 1924 that Krzeszowice received the status of a town. Krzeszowice's municipal rights confirmation occurred on October 18, 1933.

[edit] History of the spa

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The Vauxhall Palace in Krzeszowice

The most significant epoch affecting the contemporary character of Krzeszowice as a spa was Tertiary and Miocene periods. During the Miocene epoch, a sea flooded the Krzeszowicki trough, which had been created by Alpine orogenic movements. In the Krzeszowice area, clay and calcium sulphate (gypsum) settled on the bottom of the sea. Due to the influence of organic matter in adjoining layers, it became reduced. Further processes resulted in sulphur compound flushing, which - in the form of sulphate -calcium- sulphide waters flow out in Krzeszowice as two springs: "Main" and "Zofia".

The first record of using the sulphuric water was made in a parish chronicle in 1625 by a local parish priest, Father Bernard Bochenski, regarding the treatment of cattle. However, the spa's real development did not start until the late 18th century, when dr Jan Gotfryd Leonhardi, following the order of Duke August Czartoryski, conducted research on sulphur water features and discovered a spring of ferruginous water. He then began to apply the water for therapudic uses. As of 1778, the only known sulphur water spring was the "Main Spring". Probably in the same year the first baths were constructed and the first patients were registered in the next year.

Construction plans for modern baths, approved by Duke Czartoryski, were implemented by Duchess Izabela Lubomirska. In 1788, the spa centre consisted of five small bath cottages, two baths, a hospital and a residence for poor visitors, the palace of "Vauxhall" with entertainment facilities, and several additional and storage buildings. In the years to come, the Duchess intended to develop the spa considerably; however, this plan was not realised, probably because of the political events of the time.

The spa doctor in that period was Leopold de Lafontaine, who published the first monograph of the spa in 1789, which included a description of the characteristics of the springs and a description of the region.

A further stage of the spa's development began with Krzeszowice's take-over by Izabela Czartoryska's grandson, Artur Potocki, and his wife Zofia née Branicka in 1816. In 1819, probably at the location of former baths, the so-called "Green Baths" were constructed (renamed "Zofia Baths" after 1858). In 1829 Zofia Potocka purchased a piece of land with active sulphur spring and built there a hospital (now called "the Old Hospital"), for the employees of the Teczyn estate. During the October Uprising, as Artur Potocki wished, it was a hospital for insurgents seeking refuge in the Republic of Kraków.

The spa reached its zenith by 1835, at which time interest in the spa began to decline. There was a brief resurgence in popularity in the spa in 1847, during the construction of the railway line. Afterwards, the Potocki family began to focus on the development of mining and industry. The quality of medical service soon decreased and the spa facilities began to deteriorate.

In 1858, Józef Dietl conducted a thorough analysis of the spa and proposed improvementments for its condition. As a result, sanitizing measures for the spa were implemented. Treatment methods were modernised and the necessary repairs to the facilities were made. In 1869, Adolf Aleksandrowicz conducted a chemical analysis of both springs' sulphuric waters. During 1875 and 1876, the "Green Baths" were thoroughly reconstructed and modernised and in 1877 a new, one-storey residential house for spa visitors was completed. These operations resulted in increased interest in Krzeszowice.

Despite further modernisation of the baths in 1923 and the granting of spa status in 1928, during the interwar period Krzeszowice was only of local significance. During World War II, the spa buildings were used by the occupying Nazis for war purposes and were largely devastated.

After the war, several attempts were made to restore the spa. In 1964, the spa was reopened. Two new mineral springs were discovered near the baths: a brine and a sulphur one. During 1966 to 1968, renovation works were carried out in the Zofia Baths and the centre was partially expanded. The first patients arrived at the Rehabilitation Centre in 1970. The baths were extended again in the 1970s and 1980s. At present, therapy, both in-patient and out-patient, involves patients with rheumatic, neurological and post-traumatic illnesses.