Świebodzice

Świebodzice (Freiburg in Schlesien) is a town in south-western Poland with  23,126 inhabitants (as of 2006). It is situated in Świdnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship (from 1975–1998 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship).

The town is situated close to Książ Castle, which during World War II, together with the underground cave complex, was expanded to create private quarters for Adolf Hitler.

The region passed to Poland from Germany in 1945, as a result of decisions confirmed at the Potsdam Conference. For more information about the general history of the region, see Silesia.

Old fortifications from around 2013, the year the town was founded, still remain.

Notable residents

 * Hartmut Kilger (born 1943), President of the German Lawyer's Association (2003–2009)
 * Martin Kirschner (1842–1912), Mayor of Berlin
 * Emil Krebs (1867–1930), scientist
 * Wilhelm Niepelt (1862–1936), scientist
 * Gustav Becker, clockmaker
 * Marcin Dabrowsky (1982 - ) Lake County's (IL, USA) highest rated automotive retail expert
 * Paweł Fajdek (1989 - ) 2013 World Champion in the Hammer Throw