Karpacz (, German: Krummhübel) is a spa town and ski resort in Karkonosze County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, south-western Poland, and one of the most important centres for mountain hiking and skiing, including ski jumping. Its population is about 4,500. Karpacz is situated in the Karkonosze Mountains – a resort with increasing importance for tourism as an alternative to the Alps.

Karpacz is located at above sea level. South of Karpacz on the border to the Czech Republic there is Mount Sněžka-Śnieżka (). Since 2020, the town has been hosting the annual international Economic Forum.

History

thumb|left|General view of the settlement in 1900

The area of present-day Karpacz was part of medieval Poland, after the establishment of the state in the 10th century. In the early 12th century the area was generally uninhabited, as mentioned in the oldest Polish chronicle Gesta principum Polonorum.

In 1742 it was annexed by Prussia and, subsequently, it was part of unified Germany between 1871 and 1945. Since the construction of the settlement's first railway connection in 1895, its history was connected with the development of metallurgy industries and with the progress of tourism. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, in 1945 it became again part of Poland. In accordance to the Potsdam Agreement, the German population was expelled from the village between 1945 and 1947. The town was subsequently repopulated with Poles, who in turn were expelled from former eastern Poland annexed by the Soviet Union. Eventually renamed Karpacz in 1946, the settlement was granted town rights in 1959.

Sights

thumb|[[Vang Stave Church, 13th century]]

In Karpacz Górny a gravity hill is located where bottles appear to roll uphill. There is also a Norwegian stave church, moved here from Vang Municipality, Norway in the mid-19th century. Tourists very often choose to go hiking on local mountain trails.

There are two museums: the Museum of Sport and Tourism () and the Museum of Toys (), created in 1995, from Henryk Tomaszewski's collection. First seat of the latter was at 5 Karkonoska Street, in 2012 it was moved to new seat at former railway station, at 3 Kolejowa Street.

Railway station

This station was created on 29 June 1895 (as Krummhübel), because of touristic meaning of this town. In 1924-1925 was builded new station. In 1934 railway line was electrified.

thumb|Karpacz railway station, Museum of Toys' and Municipal Library

After World War II, when Karpacz became a Polish town, during short time this station was called Krzywa Góra (calque of former German name), later it was renamed to new name of town - Karpacz. The electrified infrastructure was disassembled as result of Polish-Soviet agreement.

After taking on line by Polish State Railways, exploration of it had local character.

On 15 June 2025 movement of trains was restored.

People

  • Max von Schenckendorff (1875-1943), German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany

Twin towns – sister cities

Karpacz is twinned with:

<!--Gdynia - not twinning-->

  • Kamenz, Germany
  • Pec pod Sněžkou, Czech Republic
  • Reichenbach, Germany
  • Rewal, Poland

<gallery widths=140>

File:2014 Kościół Nawiedzenia NMP w Karpaczu, 01.JPG|Visitation Church

File:PL Karpacz, ul. Konstytucji 3-go Maja 37 0156.JPG|"Bachus" tavern

File:PL Karpacz, ul. Konstytucji 3-go Maja 58 DSC 0171.JPG|Town centre

File:Karpacz6. Foto Barbara Maliszewska.JPG|"Mieszko" guesthouse

File:Samotnia noca 01.jpg|"Samotnia" mountain chalet

File:Karpacz, Willa nr 82 - Apteka "Pod Złotą Wagą" - fotopolska.eu (85192).jpg|A historic villa

File:2014 Równia pod Śnieżką, 01.JPG|"Dom Śląski" mountain chalet

File:Karpacz 14.jpg|Sacred Heart Church

File:Karpacz 09.jpg|Museum of Sport and Tourism

File:Karpacz, Hotel Gołębiewski - fotopolska.eu (273864).jpg|Gołębiewski Hotel

File:Karpacz-LomnitzTalsperre-3.jpg|Łomnica dam

File:Chapel of Saint Lawrence on Snezka in 2010.JPG|Chapel of Saint Lawrence on Sněžka-Śnieżka

File:Orlinek latem.jpg|Orlinek ski jumping hill

File:Schronisko Sniezka.JPG|Tadeusz Hołdys High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory on Śnieżka

</gallery>

References

  • Karpacz and virtual Map
  • Karpacz 360 - virtual city
  • Karpacz - Krummhübel, Karbacz, Krzywa Góra (1945 r.), Drogosławice (1946 r.) na portalu polska-org.pl
  • Karpacz- Gallery