All you need to know about the city of
Prudnik
Poland
Sightseeing
Prudnik boasts attractions unique on a national scale — here you’ll find the oldest private tower in Poland, one of the most richly decorated villas, and the oldest fountain in Upper Silesia.
Curiosities
It was home to one of the largest companies in Upper Silesia, whose products were distributed across all continents. It’s also the place where medieval relics hidden by the Nazis were discovered. And in the 14th century, the townspeople… burned down their own city?
History
Once the largest town in Upper Silesia, Prudnik hosted the Opole regional assembly, and local goods were already being exported to Western Europe at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries.
CONTENTS
- Templar City or Bohemian Bastion
- From Moravia to Silesia
- The Duke Who Challenged Silesia
- Industrial Growth and Political Decline
- A Time of Chaos: Wars, Upheaval, and New Beginnings
- A City on the Border of Empires
- A Center of Polish Identity in German Silesia
- Internments, Strikes, and Regained Freedom
SIGHTSEEING
Woka Tower
Admission: Temporarily Closed
Woka Tower is the oldest monument in Prudnik and one of its most recognizable landmarks. It is a remnant of an old castle and holds the title of the oldest castle tower in Upper Silesia, as well as the oldest private tower in Poland. The tower’s unique name comes from its founder—Wok of Rosenberg.
In the 19th century, a fire consumed the castle, sparing only this stone tower. Today, it serves as a viewing point and is managed by the Prudnik Land Museum. Unfortunately, it is temporarily closed due to structural instability of the wooden staircase added in later years.
Fränkel Family Villa
Admission: Free
One of the most richly decorated 19th-century villas in Poland, this classical-style building is a distinctive landmark of Prudnik. It was built by Hermann Fränkel, an honorary citizen of Prudnik. Today, the villa serves as the Prudnik Cultural Center, hosting various events and exhibitions throughout the year.
Church of Saints Peter and Paul
Admission: Free
This 18th-century church has a fascinating history. When Silesia came under Lutheran Prussian rule, many Catholic monastic orders were banned, but the Brothers Hospitallers (Bonifratrzy) were an exception. They were skilled apothecaries and managed to heal Friedrich Wilhelm von Röder, a Prussian lieutenant colonel who had been gravely wounded. In gratitude, von Röder purchased land in Prudnik and founded a hospital for the Bonifratrzy. The King of Prussia later allowed the construction of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which remains under the care of this noble order to this day.
Church of St. Michael the Archangel
Admission: Free
The first wooden church in Prudnik dates back to the 13th century, around the city’s founding. Unfortunately, that original structure was destroyed by fire. In the 18th century, a Late Baroque church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel was built in its place. The church is richly decorated, featuring a distinctive wooden pulpit adorned with sculptures. A unique feature is the anti-pulpit, represented by a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, one of the most venerated saints in Silesia. The church also houses nine side altars, adding to its grandeur.
Prudnik Regional Museum
Admission: 10 PLN (regular), 5 PLN (discounted)
The regional museum is housed in a 15th-century building, which once served as barracks and later as a prison. It is known as Arsenal.
The museum offers insight into the history of the town and showcases old tools, kitchen utensils, and everyday objects. A particularly interesting exhibition is the one dedicated to Stanisław Szozda, a distinguished cyclist from Prudnik. Visitors can also climb the tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the town. At the end of the tour, there is a small weapons exhibition, featuring pieces not only from Europe, but also from Persia and India.
Tours are available only with a guide, and entry is organized on the hour.
Market Square in Prudnik
Admission: Free
The Market Square is the main plaza, featuring a town hall and surrounded by various shops and restaurants. Several interesting landmarks can be found there.
The first is the Marian Column, erected as a token of gratitude for the end of the plague. This type of monument is characteristic of the Habsburg monarchy, and similar columns can be seen in many cities across Central Europe.
In another part of the square stands the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, dating back to 1733. Interestingly, it was funded by the mayor at the time along with six townsmen, all of whom were named Jan. The inscription beneath the statue can be translated as: To the man of holy fame and honor, who preserved his good name and reputation, we dedicate this figure.
The final historical monument is a 17th-century fountain, built during the Habsburg era. It depicts two Atlantes supporting a shell with an Austrian eagle above them. The Atlantes hold two shields—one displaying Prudnik’s coat of arms, while the other bears an inscription. The most notable part of the inscription reads: Under the wings of the Austrian eagle, may the local people thrive, and may the cunning of the enemy never frighten them. This is the oldest fountain in Upper Silesia.
Weaving Tradition Center
Admission: Free
The Weaving Tradition Center is part of the Prudnik Land Museum. It focuses on showcasing the textile industry, which played a significant role in Prudnik’s history. A particularly notable company was Frotex, which distributed its products not only across Europe but also worldwide. The museum features exhibitions about the factory and its owners.
Sanctuary of Saint Joseph
Admission: Free
The Sanctuary of Saint Joseph, also known as the Franciscan Church, is one of the most interesting landmarks in Prudnik. It is located a little over 3 kilometers from the city center. Built in the mid-19th century, it was later complemented by the Stations of the Cross—a series of nearby chapels—added after several years. The surrounding area also features other remarkable religious sites, such as the Lourdes Grotto. The monastery once served as a place of confinement for the Primate of Poland, Stefan Wyszyński, who was held there for a year. Because of this, it became a local site of worship, and its status was elevated to that of a sanctuary.
Lower Gate Tower
Admission: Free
The Lower Gate Tower is one of the few remaining relics of the medieval architecture of the city. Dating back to 1481, the tower was integrated into the city’s structures. Unfortunately, the site is not open to visitors, but it is still worth seeing from the outside.
Prudnik Regional Museum
Lower Gate Tower
Marian Column
Woka Tower
Interior of St. Michael the Archangel Church
Market Square in Prudnik
CURIOSITIES
An Eternal Proof of Love
Long ago, in Prudnik, there lived a beautiful girl named Wiewióra, with lush chestnut hair and a kind heart. She was in love with a young man, Wawrzek, but was forced to marry another. Years later, they met again—Wiewióra confessed that she had never stopped loving him, and he returned her feelings. Though they could not be together, they wished to leave behind a symbol of their love.
Wiewióra asked Wawrzek to dig a well in her district, where water was scarce. He took on the task, treating it as a testament to their love.
The work took a long time, and people watched him with disbelief. But after much hardship, he finally reached the water. The well, which served the town’s residents for centuries, became a symbol of their love—a love stronger than time and adversity. It is said that sometimes they were seen together by the well, finding joy in the happiness of others, even though they themselves could never be together.
To commemorate this story, a distinctive sculpture was erected in Prudnik. It depicts Wawrzek sitting on the edge of the well he built. On the opposite wall, Wiewióra is placed holding a jug, walking toward her beloved.
A City Built on the Ashes of the Plague
The 14th century left a tragic mark on the memories of Prudnik’s inhabitants. The plague arrived, spreading rapidly throughout the city. The situation became so dire that those who remained healthy fled to the nearby mountains. Everyone else perished.
When the survivors finally dared to return, they burned Prudnik to the ground to rid it of the disease. In its place, they built a new city. This is why, in German, Prudnik is called Neustadt—New Town.
A Global Brand from Prudnik
The history of the Frotex company dates back to 19th-century Prudnik and the figure of Samuel Fränkel, the father of Hermann Fränkel—the founder of the famous Prudnik villa. Samuel arrived in Prudnik in 1827, and within a few decades, he established the Frotex brand, whose products were showcased in London, Paris, and Berlin. By 1860, the company employed nearly 2,000 people, making it one of the leading textile manufacturers in Upper Silesia.
The company’s growth was so dynamic that, by the early 20th century, Prudnik textiles were being exported to India, Russia, Spain, the USA, Japan, and Australia. There are even unconfirmed speculations that Frotex products were aboard the Titanic.
Just before World War II, the company’s owners, due to their Jewish heritage, fled the Reich, and their property was confiscated by the Nazis. Even after the war ended, the company was never returned to its rightful owners, as in 1945, it was seized and nationalized by the communist authorities.
However, Frotex’s regional influence did not end there. In the 1980s, the factory became the site of the largest strike in the Opole Voivodeship, inspiring other local businesses to protest. The company even produced towels featuring the Solidarity logo, leading to the internment of some striking workers.
Unfortunately, after the political transformation, Frotex was unable to compete in the free market, which became flooded with cheap imported goods from India, China, and Vietnam. Ultimately, the company declared bankruptcy in 2011.
Hidden Treasures of Silesia
In 1942, as World War II was in full swing, the Nazi authorities ordered the safeguarding of Silesia’s historical treasures from Allied air raids. This task was entrusted to Günther Grundmann, a German professor and monument conservator. He consulted various collectors, gathered artifacts, and hid them in specially designated caches, which he recorded in a list.
Grundmann’s list was deciphered only after the war. The Prudnik cache, marked with the letter B, became the repository for numerous artifacts from Wrocław. It was in Prudnik that the largest collection of Silesian medieval sculpture was discovered, but it soon became clear that the findings were incomplete. It is believed that shortly before the end of the war, Grundmann created a new list, adding around a hundred additional caches.
Authority versus Church
The period of the Communist takeover in Poland was marked by great instability. Anti-communist cursed soldiers were actively hunted down, and their numbers steadily declined. At the same time, tensions between the state and the Church intensified, as Polish religious leaders often pursued anti-Soviet policies.
The Primate of Poland, Stefan Wyszyński, was the first clergyman to attempt a compromise with the authorities. He signed an agreement that was supposed to grant the Church greater freedom, including the right to teach religion in schools. In return, he condemned the activities of the cursed soldiers and recognized Poland’s post-war borders. However, the communist government had no intention of honoring the agreement, which led Wyszyński to take decisive action—he initiated a letter to the government expressing strong opposition to state policies.
As a result, in 1953, the authorities decided to intern the Primate. He was held for a total of three years, spending one year in Prudnik, in a secluded Franciscan monastery on Kozia Góra, about three kilometers from the city center. After his release, he remained under constant surveillance—his correspondence was monitored, and his residence was bugged. Nevertheless, he continued his public activities, frequently speaking on issues of human rights and love for the homeland.
The Cycling Legend of Prudnik
Stanisław Szozda can be considered a local legend of Prudnik—a man who was once one of Poland’s greatest road cyclists. Born in 1950, he moved to Prudnik at a young age, where his passion for cycling began almost by accident. He initially took up riding to quit smoking. However, his talent was quickly recognized—at the age of 17, he joined his first cycling club.
His first major success came in 1971 when he won a bronze medal in the World Championships team time trial. From there, his career skyrocketed—he secured an Olympic silver medal, won the Peace Race, triumphed in the Tour de Pologne, and became the Polish national champion. He also twice stood on the top podium of the World Championships in team time trial events.
Unfortunately, his career ended prematurely at the age of 28 due to a spinal injury. However, he remained active in the sports world as a coach. For two years, he led the American national cycling team, whose riders won a total of 21 U.S. championship medals under his guidance. Despite offers to settle in the United States, he chose to return to Prudnik.
Today, Stanisław Szozda remains a local hero. A monument has been erected in his honor, and a special exhibition dedicated to his career has been created in the local museum.
St. Joseph’s Church
Lourdes Grotto
Well of Love Monument
HISTORY
Templar City or Bohemian Bastion?
There are several versions of how Prudnik was founded. According to local legend, the city was established in the year 1000 by the famous Order of the Templars. However, this version is unlikely, as the order was not founded until 1118. Another story suggests that Flemish settlers from what is now Belgium played a role in its creation.
In reality, Prudnik was founded by Wok of Rosenberg, a Czech marshal. In the mid-13th century, he built a castle here, which became one of the most important Czech strongholds in the region. A part of this castle still stands today—the Wok Tower. The town was granted Magdeburg rights in 1279, officially receiving city status.
The first inhabitants of Prudnik were Czechs, and the city’s original name—Prądnik—comes from the Czech language, meaning “a river with a rapid current.”
From Moravia to Silesia
The Prudnik Duchy was first established in 1318 when it was separated from the Czech lands and incorporated into neighboring Opava as a token of gratitude for the loyalty of the Duke of Opava. However, the pivotal moment came in 1337 when Prudnik was sold to the Duke of Niemodlin from the Piast dynasty. Previously, the city had been part of Moravian Czech territory, but from that point on, its history became inseparably linked with Upper Silesia.
In the second half of the 14th century, Prudnik was struck by a plague that decimated its population. To stop the spread of the disease, residents were forced to burn parts of the town. This event later led to the city’s German name Neustadt—”New Town.”
The oldest known depiction of Prudnik’s coat of arms dates back to 1399, appearing on a document seal. It featured sections of walls and towers, indicating that the city was already fortified at that time.
The Duke Who Challenged Silesia
For many years, Prudnik was ruled by the Piasts of the Opole dynasty, closely connected to Niemodlin. The first independent ruler of Prudnik was Bolko V the Hussite, who assumed power in 1424 after his father carved out a separate duchy from Prudnik and neighboring Głogówek.
During his reign, the Hussite Wars began—a series of armed uprisings by Czech Hussites against Catholic authorities, sparked by the burning of the reformer Jan Hus at the stake. The conflict quickly spread beyond Bohemia, and in 1428, the Hussites invaded Silesia and captured Prudnik. To prevent the complete destruction of his duchy, Bolko V decided to join the Czech forces and swore allegiance to the Hussites.
Taking advantage of the chaos in Silesia and Bohemia, the duke sought to expand his territory. With tacit approval from his family in Opole and Niemodlin, he launched attacks on neighboring duchies. Within a few years, he controlled large parts of Upper Silesia, sections of Lower Silesia, and even advanced into Poland.
However, a coalition soon formed against him, consisting of the dukes of Oleśnica, Brzeg, and Racibórz, aiming to stop the Hussite ruler. Between 1430 and 1432, Prudnik changed hands multiple times—seized by the coalition forces and then recaptured by the Hussites—causing significant damage to the city. Bolko V ultimately suffered a decisive defeat at Trzebnica, where he was overpowered by the Duke of Racibórz. Shortly thereafter, the Silesian rulers reclaimed their lost lands, marking the end of his expansion. After his death, the Prudnik Duchy was incorporated into Opole.
Industrial Growth and Political Decline
The late 15th and early 16th centuries were a prosperous time for the growing town of Prudnik. It became an important center of craftsmanship and trade, with a steadily developing linen industry that allowed textile exports even to the Netherlands. At that time, Prudnik was already a significant economic and political hub of Upper Silesia, serving as the meeting place for the Opole Duchy’s regional assembly.
At the end of the 15th century, Jan II the Good rose to power in Opole—a key figure in the history of Upper Silesia. Over the span of several years, he nearly unified Upper Silesia, acquiring new lands through skillful political maneuvers or strategic purchases, which led to significant economic growth in the region. His acquisition of the wealthy Racibórz region resulted in the creation of the Opole-Racibórz Duchy.
Jan II could have been considered a remarkable ruler if not for one crucial fact—he left no heirs. He died childless in 1532, and under existing laws, all of Silesia fell under the jurisdiction of the Bohemian Crown. At that time, however, the Austrian Habsburg dynasty had taken control of Bohemia and began asserting their claims over Silesia. Through a series of agreements, after Jan II’s death, the duchy was mortgaged to the Hohenzollerns for 20 years, but ultimate control was set to transfer to the Habsburgs.
A Time of Chaos: Wars, Upheaval, and New Beginnings
From that moment on, once-thriving towns like Opole and Racibórz became distant provinces governed from Vienna. The leasing of the duchy to the Hohenzollerns was not an exception—parts or even entire duchies were frequently handed over to various rulers in exchange for financial support. For the cities of Silesia, this had devastating consequences—successive rulers sought to extract as much as possible from local resources and populations, knowing they would eventually have to return the duchy.
The Thirty Years’ War brought even greater losses—a massive conflict between Catholics and Protestants that engulfed much of Europe. During this time, the Catholic Habsburgs expelled Protestant clergy from Prudnik, and the population was forcibly converted back to Catholicism. In 1642, the city was captured by Swedish forces, who plundered and burned it.
After the war, the Austrian emperor supported Prudnik’s reconstruction. The Capuchin order also arrived, founding a monastery—the first Capuchin monastery in all of Silesia. Despite the destruction caused by war, Prudnik continued to grow rapidly, eventually becoming the largest city in Upper Silesia.
A City on the Border of Empires
The 18th century was a period of turmoil for Prudnik. The fate of the city was shaped by the Silesian Wars, a series of conflicts between Austria and the rising power of Prussia that took place between 1741 and 1763. As a border fortress, Prudnik changed hands multiple times. Ultimately, like most of Silesia, it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia. However, peace did not last long—another war broke out in 1778, this time over the Bavarian succession. Austrian forces launched an artillery assault on the city, setting much of it ablaze. The Napoleonic Wars brought yet another occupation, this time by French troops. Interestingly, Prudnik became a formation site for Polish units fighting in Italy.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that the city began to flourish again. Spinning mills and weaving factories were established, and in 1845, Samuel Fränkel founded Frotex—a factory that would turn the city into a textile industry hub for decades. During this time, Prudnik came to be known as the city of weavers and shoemakers. The churches of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as Saint Michael the Archangel—both still standing today—were built during this era. The town also saw the development of mills, a brewery, and railway infrastructure. By the end of the 19th century, the first rail connections to Nysa and Koźle were opened.
Despite the ongoing Germanization, a small but present Polish community remained in Prudnik. In an effort to preserve their identity, Polish families would send their children to schools in the neighboring Congress Kingdom. During the lead-up to the January Uprising, Prudnik became a key transit point for smuggling weapons, and underground resistance groups were active in the surrounding areas.
Interior of Saints Peter and Paul Church
A Center of Polish Identity in German Silesia
The aftermath of World War I saw the rebirth of an independent Poland. Many Poles living in Silesian towns—though often a minority—hoped to see these lands reunited with their homeland. This desire led to the outbreak of the three Silesian Uprisings, during which Polish insurgents attempted to seize parts of Silesia by force. In Prudnik, several underground resistance groups were active, aiming to sabotage German military efforts. In response, German authorities brutally suppressed these activities. Captured saboteurs were sentenced by special courts and executed in the nearby forest.
In the end, the Polish population was too small to influence the outcome of the 1921 plebiscite, and the scale of the uprisings was not enough to see Prudnik incorporated into the Second Polish Republic. Nevertheless, in a secret German intelligence report, Prudnik was identified as one of the strongholds of Polish identity in Upper Silesia.
In 1938, during Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), the city’s synagogue was burned down, and Jewish men were arrested. Just a year later, with the outbreak of World War II, the repression of Poles intensified. Members of the Union of Poles in Germany were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
Although Prudnik did not play a major strategic role during World War II, a subcamp of Auschwitz was established in one of the Frotex buildings. This satellite camp, which held female prisoners, operated for only a few months—limiting the number of victims compared to other sites.
In 1945, the city became a key objective in the Soviet offensive across Upper Silesia. The Battle of Prudnik involved as many as 400,000 Soviet soldiers, marking it as one of the most significant military engagements in the region during the final phase of the war.
Internments, Strikes, and Regained Freedom
After the end of World War II, power in Poland was seized by the communist party, heavily dependent on the Soviet Union. In Prudnik, this led to the establishment of the County Office of Public Security, where anti-communist resistance fighters—often referred to as the “cursed soldiers”—were imprisoned and tortured. Additionally, for a year, the Franciscan monastery in the city served as a detention site for the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński.
In 1980, the state-owned Frotex factory became the epicenter of the largest strikes in the Opole Voivodeship, sparking a wave of protests among other Prudnik workers. By the following year, the Inter-Factory Strike Committee relocated from Opole to Prudnik, transforming the town into a regional hub of union-led resistance. Anti-communist protests erupted across the city, and Frotex even produced towels emblazoned with the “Solidarity” logo. The communist authorities responded forcefully—many workers were detained and interned.
With the fall of communism, Prudnik regained its local autonomy. The first independent media outlets, such as Tygodnik Prudnicki, were established. In a national referendum, the residents voted in favor of Poland joining the European Union. Restoration efforts were undertaken to preserve the city’s historic landmarks, including the iconic Wok Tower. Though Prudnik never fully recovered its former economic and demographic strength, its historical and cultural significance remains a vital part of its identity—and one that continues to be remembered and celebrated.
Oko na Świat © Artur Gołębiowski