Olesnica - Buses and buses - Attractions - Restaurants and monuments

Olesnica, also known as the town of towers, is a small town in Lower Silesia, located a dozen or so kilometers from Wroclaw. Its history dates back to the 13th century, when it was granted city rights, although the original settlement in this place existed earlier. Its location on the trade route leading from north to south Europe fostered the rapid development of the town - the Olesnica Duchy was established here in the 14th century. The town suffered severely during the Thirty Years' War and during the bombings of the end of World War II, when Allied air raids destroyed almost 80% of Olesnica's buildings. Despite this, it managed to preserve several valuable monuments here.

Olesnica - monuments and attractions of the city of towers

What to see in Olesnica? Below are the most interesting and important attractions of this town.

Olesnica Castle

Olesnica's Gothic castle, towering over the town, was built between the 13th and 14th centuries. Later it was expanded several times and rebuilt in the Renaissance style. Its oldest part is the tower, dating back to the 13th century and only slightly remodeled, which offers a picturesque panorama of Olesnica. It is worth entering the castle courtyard and seeing the beautiful cloisters surrounding it, as well as seeing the impressive interiors of the fortress. Especially noteworthy are the knights' hall and the room with large images of the Olesnica princes.

Castle Church

Located right next to the castle of the Olesnica Dukes and connected to it by a 17th-century gallery, the Basilica of St. John the Apostle dates back to the 15th century, although the original church on this site may have existed as early as the 12th century. The interiors are richly decorated; the main altar and gilded pulpit are especially worth a look. The mausoleum of the Dukes of Württemberg is also located here. In the tower of the basilica you can visit an interesting chain library, the collection of which even includes 16th-century volumes.

Olesnica Market Square

The trapezoidal layout of the market square dates back to the early days of the city. In the center is the 15th-century town hall with a characteristic tower, rebuilt many times over the years. Its interiors hide stone crest plates from the former city gates. Nearby you can spot the Victory Column erected here after Prussia's victory over France in the late 19th century. The tenements surrounding Oleśnica's main square date from the 15th to the 19th centuries. In the square, just by the town hall, there is a bench with a girl named Ola holding a rose - one of the newer symbols of the city.

Olesnica's Wroclaw Gate and defensive walls

The medieval Wroclaw Gate and adjacent fragments of the city's defensive walls are important monuments in Olesnica. This gate is the only surviving one of the four former gates that existed here until 1868. Inside it there is a small art gallery. The remains of the walls, which are about 1,250 meters long, account for almost 90% of the former city fortifications. It's worth knowing that they are already significantly lowered compared to the original medieval walls.

Old Synagogue in Olesnica

This inconspicuous building, built at the end of the 14th century, is one of the few old synagogues to have survived in Poland. This has to do with the fact that the building served as a synagogue only until 1535, when Jews were expelled from the town. Later it was a warehouse, the church congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is now the church of the Pentecostal Church.

Where to rest after sightseeing? What kind of gastronomic offer does Olesnica have? Restaurants and cafes are mostly located in the city center, near the most popular attractions. Despite Olesnica's small size, there are several places with good food.