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Szklarska Poręba
FlagCoat of arms
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lower Silesian
County	Jelenia Góra
Gmina	Szklarska Poręba (urban gmina)
Area
• Total	75.44 km (29.13 sq mi)
Highest elevation	886 m (2,907 ft)
Lowest elevation	440 m (1,440 ft)
Population
• Total	7,094
• Density	94/km (240/sq mi)
Website	http://www.szklarskaporeba.pl

Szklarska Poręba (German: Schreiberhau) is a town in Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland (in Germany before 1945). The town has a population of around 7,000. It is a popular ski resort.

An important regional and national centre for mountain hiking, cycling and skiing, Szklarska Poręba is situated in the valley of the Kamienna, between the Karkonosze Mountains and Jizera Mountains, 1,900 ft. above sea level, 16 miles south-west of Hirschberg (now: Jelenia Góra). The ski resorts in this area are growing in popularity as an alternative to the Alps, thanks to wide range of both Alpine and Nordic skiing facilities.

History

The village was founded in the 14th century on a cleared spot by German colonists. It was first mentioned in 1366 and 1372 in conjunction with a glass factory, forerunner of the famed later Josephinenhütte, as Schribirshau and Schreibershow. Over time the glass factory moved ever deeper into the mountains, Schreiberhau greatly expanded and became the biggest village in Prussia with 15 districts and a size of 4300 hectare. In 1617 the Preußler family migrated from the southern Bohemian side of the Giant mountains to Silesia and received the concession to run a movable glass factory by the counts of Schaffgotsch, landlords of Schreiberhau. The glass industry of the village was now dominated by the Preußler family for the next 200 years. In 1842 Franz Pohl, son-in-law of the last Preußler, persuaded count Schaffgotsch to establish a new glass factory in Schreiberhau. This Josephinenhütte became the biggest and best glass factory in Silesia.

Around 1900 several artists discovered the beauty of the countryside and formed the artists' colony Schreiberhau, among them Gerhart Hauptmann and his brother Carl, Otto Mueller and Wilhelm Bölsche. Later younger artist formed the artists association St. Lukas.

After World War II Schreiberhau was given to Poland and renamed to Szklarska Poręba. The German inhabitants were expelled and the village resettled with Poles. The Josephinenhütte was moved to Schwäbisch Gmünd. The glass factory in Szklarska Poręba was renamed and continued.

From September 22nd until 27nd 1947 the conference of establishment of the communist information office (Kominform) took place in the village, which was raised to a town in 1959.

Transportation

The town used to be connected via the Zackenbahn to Tanvald in Bohemia. However, the cross border passenger line was closed in 1945 when the town was given to Poland. The railway connection to Jelenia Góra plays a minor role since the scale of the mining industry in the town's vicinity has decreased.

A common section of European route E65 and No. 3 highway passes through the town, providing a convenient road connection throughout the year.

Twin towns

• Aulum-Haderup, Herning, Denmark
• Bad Harzburg, Germany
• Harrachov, Czech Republic
• Korenov, Czech Republic

External links

• Municipal website
• Szklarska Poręba (Polish)
• Szklarska Poręba (Polish)

v t e Karkonosze County
Seat (not part of the county): Jelenia Góra
Urban gminas	Karpacz Kowary Piechowice Szklarska Poręba
Rural gminas	Gmina Janowice Wielkie Gmina Jeżów Sudecki Gmina Mysłakowice Gmina Podgórzyn Gmina Stara Kamienica

50°50′N 15°32′E / 50.833°N 15.533°E / 50.833; 15.533

• Cities and towns in Lower Silesian Voivodeship