It is situated in the historic Lower Silesia region on the northern slopes of the Owl Mountains, approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) southwest of Dzierżoniów, and 56 kilometres (35 mi) southwest of the regional capital Wrocław.
From the 16th century onwards, Pieszyce (Peterswaldau) developed as a centre of weaving. The Lords of Perswaldau had a castle erected in 1617, which was rebuilt in a Baroque style in 1710. The Polish-Saxon cabinet minister Erdmann II of Promnitz acquired the estates in 1721 and gained the privilege to fabricate woven goods by Emperor Charles VI.
In 1945, after Nazi Germany's defeat in the war, the town became part of Poland and its native populace was expelled.
In June/July 1945, a local Jewish committee formed and more and more Jews arrived in the town, in the context of a repatriation agreement with the Soviet Union. Social institutions such as a crib, kindergarten, a school, and a theater were created here for the Jewish population. In general, Polish-Jewish relations were good and the town became famous for the country's largest Jewish-run cooperative. However, from 1946 on, the Jewish population began departing for Palestine. The last traces of Jewish life disappeared in the wake of the antisemitic propaganda during the 1968 Polish political crisis.[4]
Pieszyce was granted town rights in 1962 and, from 1975 to 1998, was administratively part of the Wałbrzych Voivodeship.
Sights
The most significant historic landmarks of the town are:[2]
Pieszyce Castle complex
Saint James church
Saint Anthony church
Panorama of Pieszyce with the church of St. Anthony
Pieszyce Castle
Saint James church
Saint Anthony church
Sports
The local football club is Pogoń Pieszyce.[5] It competes in the lower leagues.
^Jan Keesik (1999). "Die Jüdische Bevölkerung in Pieszyce/Peterswaldau in den Jahren 1945-1968". East Central Europe. 26 (2). Pittsburgh: 102–103. doi:10.1163/187633099X00635.
