It is best
to start the trip around the historical Jelenia Góra from the market square. The
tenement house built around it have Baroque facades and the only complete row
of arcade houses in
Silesia.
The Town Hall is located centrally in the
market square. The Classicist building is connected with a passage on the
second floor with merchants' tenement houses. In the past, there was a tram
line under the connecting passage. Today, only one rail from the tram line has
been left as a reminder. Over the central entrance to the building, there is a
notice in Latin about Bolesław III Wrymouth, who is supposed to have founded
Jelenia Góra in
1108, a
fact that archaeologists are unable to confirm. However, they are also unable
to disprove the legend of the Piast king who killed a huge stag (jeleń) on a
hill, thus the name of the settlement.
Close to
the main entrance to the Town Hall there is a fountain with Neptune, which arouses
interest not because of its historical character, but rather on account of the
figure of
Neptune. The fountain and the
sculpture were funded in the 18th century by merchants of Jelenia
Góra, who enjoyed the kind eye of Fate. They traded with almost the whole
world, also sending their goods by sea. In the past, there was a town well in this
place.
Near the
market square, to the west, there are two towers: Grodzka and Zamkowa. These
two towers are what remained of town's fortifications, finally demolished in
the 19th century. The
Grodzka
Tower is the seat of
Tourist Information.
Walking in the
opposite direction, we reach the 13th century Erazma i
Pankracego
Church. The church, continually
redeveloped, owes its present form to a fire and the subsequent rebuilding in
the year 1549. Deserving of attention are the side entrance to the church and
just beside the presbytery. These are the oldest fragments of the temple. It is
also worth having
a closer look at the supporting sculptures and three portals.
The Baroque ambo at the level of first floor on the le
ft side of the tower is a
unique monument. The altar dates back to the beginning of the 18th
century. The creator of this exceptional work was the Norwegian Tomas
Weisfeldt. Rich ornaments and figures of saints and angels draw the attention
of visitors. Saints Erazm and Pankracy are patrons of Jelenia Góra. In the
vicinity of the church, there are remains of defence walls.
Walking
away from the market square to the east, we come across St. Anna's
Chapel.
It is a rare example of the fusion of a chapel with a bastille.
Nearby is Wojanowska Gate, one of the three
town gates of Jelenia Góra.
One will also
notice the penitential cross, built-in in medieval times.
The building dates back to the years 1709-15.
It was erected on the site of
an
earlier temple, destroyed by fire.
Continuing
the trip along the pedestrian walkway, we stroll among tenement houses built in
the last three centuries and reach St. P
eter and Paul's
Church.
Today, the building houses an
Orthodox
Temple.
Notice the wall from on side of the
street, wher
e two penitential crosses were built-in.
The current form of the building dates from the year 1773.
Slightly
further on stands the Exaltation of the
Holy
Cross
Church. It is a typical representative
of churches built in the Baroque period (1718).
The builders drew their ideas from St.
Catherine's Church in
Stockholm.
The church was built on the plan of a cross.
Note the renovated, lavish polychromes and
organs with extraordinary sound.
After their
renovation, sev
eral concerts have been recorded here.
Music lovers should visit the church in September during the
International Organ
Festival.
There used to
be a cemetery around the church.
Today, only the
tombs of rich burgess are preserved.
This is
a
typical example of Baroque cemetery art.
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