Bolesławiec – a town in southwestern Poland with 41,117 inhabitants (2004). Situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, Bolesławiec was previously in Jelenia Góra Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is the capital of Bolesławiec County.
Bolesławiec in Lower Silesia was first mentioned in 1201 and took part in the battles against the Mongols in 1241. After that a renewed city with city walls was established. The city seal, still used today, was first used in 1316. 1346 Bolesławiec came under government by Imperial Bohemia. It was again heavily destroyed during the Hussites Wars in 1429. After that a double city wall was started in 1479. In 1898, the German government established the “Keramische Fachschule” (Ceramic Technical Training School) to foster development of the art.
With the majority of burghers in 1522 becoming Protestant early on, Bolesławiec became an important center of the Reformation. The city town hall was rebuilt by the famous Wendel Roskopf in 1525 and at the same time construction of a canalization system was started. This was an unusual and difficult undertaking, that was finished in 1565 and it was the first canalization system in that part of Europe.
For a long time Bolesławiec has been famous for its Bunzlauer pottery works. Pottery was an early trade and already in 1511 the Bolesławiec pottery guild is mentioned. This entire region has a history of pottery making dating back to the early 7th century. Early pieces from the 1700’s and 1800’s were used by farmers as storage pieces and had a chocolate colored glaze. At the end of the 19th century, the potters of Bolesławiec began to introduce new lines of pottery intended for use in the parlor. At the same time, they began to experiment with colored glazes, sponging techniques, and various decorations. Much of the pottery is of high-quality, hand-painted stoneware.
