Oleśnica, Medieval urban center in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland.
Oleśnica is a town in Oleśnica County, located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship about thirty kilometers northeast of Wrocław. The center shows several brick churches, old townhouses with tall gables, and narrow lanes that cluster around the rectangular market square.
Duke Henry III the White granted town rights in 1255, and early in the fourteenth century the settlement became the capital of its own duchy. Later the town passed to the Bohemian Crown and then to Prussia before returning to Poland after World War Two.
The name derives from a Slavic word connected to deer or alder trees, reflecting the early settlers of the region. Today Polish families walk around the central square and visit the market on weekdays, buying local honey and baked goods from small stalls.
The town center is easy to explore on foot, with most landmarks located within a short walk from the market square. Visitors can enter the churches during the day but should check for service times, especially on Sundays.
Traditional gingerbread has been baked here for centuries, with recipes handed down through generations. The Polish Ministry of Agriculture officially recognized this sweet treat as a protected regional product.
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