Karkonosze University of Applied Sciences

Karkonosze County (Polish: powiat karkonoski; German: Riesengebirgslandkreis) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. The county covers an area of 628.2 square kilometres (242.5 sq mi). Its administrative seat is the city of Jelenia Góra, although this city is not part of the county (it forms a separate city county, which is an enclave within Karkonosze County). There are four towns within the county: Karpacz, Szklarska Poręba, Kowary and Piechowice. The first two of these are major ski resorts. As at 2019 the total population of the county is 63,639, out of which the population of the towns totals 28,213 and the rural population is 35,426. Until July 2020 it was named Jelenia Góra County (Polish: powiat jeleniogórski). The change formally took effect on January 1, 2021. The current name references the Karkonosze Mountains.

Jelenia Góra (pron. YEH-leh-NEE-uh-GOO-ruh; Polish: [jɛˈlɛɲa ˈɡura] ; German: Hirschberg im Riesengebirge; Exonym: Deer Mountain) is a historic city in southwestern Poland, within the historical region of Lower Silesia. Jelenia Góra is situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, close to the Karkonosze mountain range running along the Polish-Czech border – ski resorts such as Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba are situated 10 to 15 kilometres (6 to 9 miles) from the city. Jelenia Góra constitutes a separate urban gmina as well as being the seat of surrounding Karkonosze County (formerly Jelenia Góra County). In 2021 the population of Jelenia Góra was 77,366. The area, including the oldest spa district of Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, is one of the most valued recreational and leisure spots in Poland.The city's history dates back to as early as the 10th century, but the settlement was granted town rights under Polish rule in 1288. Jelenia Góra was founded on important trade routes linking the Holy Roman Empire and Bohemia with Eastern Europe. The region flourished as a result of trade privileges that became the basis for the establishment of weaving and mining industries during the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance periods. Jelenia Góra witnessed many historical conflicts such as the Thirty Years' War and the decisive Silesian Wars. During World War II, the city was miraculously saved from destruction. The central suburb of Jelenia Góra possesses many historical and architectural structures of great significance, including the 17th-century town hall, baroque churches and a restored central marketplace as well as parks and gardens. The nearby Karkonosze National Park, visited by over 1.5 million tourists annually, has its headquarters in Jelenia Góra.

Jelenia Gora Voivodeship (Polish: województwo jeleniogórskie) was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975–1998, superseded by the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Its capital city was Jelenia Gora.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church (Polish: Kościół Podwyższenia Krzyża Świętego) is an originally Lutheran, now Roman Catholic church in Jelenia Góra, Poland. It is one of the Grace Churches (German: Gnadenkirchen), built in Silesia after the intervention of Swedish king Charles XII, who forced Austrian Emperor Joseph I to provide right for Protestants. The construction of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church was begun in 1709 and completed in 1718. It was designed by Martin Frantz on a Greek-cross plan, modelled after the Katarina Church in Stockholm. In 1806 the fire destroyed the stairwell and the cupola of the church, which were reconstructed in the years 1810–1811. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church was Lutheran up to 1947, later it became Catholic.

Jelenia Góra Valley (Polish: Kotlina Jeleniogórska; Silesian: Kotlina Lelýniohorski; German: Hirschberger Tal; Literally "Deer Mountain Valley") in Poland is a big valley at the Silesian northern side of the Western Sudetes and next to Kłodzko Valley the largest intermontane basin of the Sudetes. It is situated at an altitude of 250–400 meters above sea level and covers an area of 273 km2. In the 19th century, the lovely landscape attracted the Prussian high nobility, which built magnificent palaces, manors and parks. The enormous number of stately homes turned the valley into one of the most important garden landscapes in Middle Europe. The palaces and landscape parks of the Jelenia Góra valley represent one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii), as designated September 20, 2011. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

Gmina Jeżów Sudecki is a rural gmina (administrative district) in Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Its seat is the village of Jeżów Sudecki, which lies approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of Jelenia Góra and 94 km (58 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław. The gmina covers an area of 94.38 square kilometres (36.44 sq mi), and as of 2019 its total population is 7,438.

Jeżów Sudecki is a village in Karkonosze County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Jeżów Sudecki. It lies approximately 4 km (2 mi) north of Jelenia Góra, and 94 km (58 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław.

Siedlęcin Tower (Polish: Wieża książęca w Siedlęcinie) is a 14th-century tower castle situated in the southwestern Polish village of Siedlęcin in the Karkonosze County.The keep in Siedlęcin is one of the best-preserved examples of such buildings in Central Europe; its construction was probably started in 1313 or 1314 by Henry I of Jawor. He and his wife Agnes of Bohemia also commissioned the medieval Gothic fresco murals depicting the legend of Lancelot that are painted in the great hall of the keep. The tower, surrounded by a moat, is a keep of a relatively modest sort, which combines the functions of housing, ceremony, and defence in a vertical disposition analogous to those found in other castles in Europe: the lower storeys were designed for defence and for trade and business; the upper floors consisted of living quarters, and fulfilled the ceremonial functions of the dukes; the topmost floor also served defensive purposes.

Płoszczyna [pwɔʂˈt͡ʂɨna] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jeżów Sudecki, within Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.

Siedlęcin ([ɕɛdˈlɛnt͡ɕin]) (German: Boberröhrsdorf) is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jeżów Sudecki, within Karkonosze County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.It lies approximately 5 km (3 mi) west of Jeżów Sudecki, 6 km (4 mi) north-west of Jelenia Góra, and 98 km (61 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław. The river Bóbr runs through the lower part of the village.

Dziwiszów [d͡ʑiˈviʂuf] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jeżów Sudecki, within Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.It lies approximately 4 km (2 mi) east of Jeżów Sudecki, 6 km (4 mi) north-east of Jelenia Góra, and 91 km (57 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław.

Staniszów [staˈniʂuf] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Podgórzyn, within Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately 6 km (4 mi) south of Jelenia Góra, and 97 km (60 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław.