Przesieka is located in the very heart of the Karkonosze Mountains, in the valley of three streams: Czerwień, Podgórna and Myja, on the slope of Złote Widok. The holiday resort is located directly on the road leading from Jelenia Góra through Podgórzyn to the Karkonosze Pass, where a pedestrian border crossing is located. In recent years, Przesieka has been slowly changing from a quiet mountain tourist village into a lively town full of private guesthouses.
History of Przesieka
The first mention of this town comes from the beginning of the 17th century, when Emperor Ferdinand II Habsburg gave Przesieka to a veteran of the Thirty Years' War - Georg Andreas Schwinghammer.
In the mid-19th century, the town was a popular holiday destination, even more popular than... Karpacz. Before the outbreak of World War II, it was also the most popular winter sports center in the Sudetes, with ski jumps, toboggan runs, ice rinks and ski runs.
In 1930, a fire station was built in Przesieka (functioning as the town of Hain) for the then volunteer fire brigade. There were also offices of the village authorities and the village head's apartment. Currently, a pump manufactured in 1939 is exhibited in front of the building. After World War II, the lost works of Jan Matejko were found in the local restaurant "Waldschlösschen", which is why the town was named Matejkowice. This name operated until 1946.
In the years 1961-1968, a British writer specializing in fictionalized biographies and historical novels lived in Przesieka - George Bidwell. He was buried in 1989 in the Avenue of Merit at the Osobowice Cemetery in Wrocław. A priest also lived in Przesieka, in a former German villa Leonard Świderski, author of diaries in which he accused the Catholic clergy of falsehood and hypocrisy.
Przesieka – what is worth seeing here?
Przesieka is famous for its picturesque location and extremely beautiful views. That Golden View you can admire not only the phenomenal panorama of the Karkonosze Mountains and the Jelenia Góra Valley, but you can also easily see Śnieżka and Słonecznik.
The biggest natural attraction of Przesieka is the 10-meter high Podgórna waterfall, which cascades down a rocky cliff. It is the third highest waterfall on the Polish side of the Karkonosze Mountains. It is one of the few places in the Karkonosze Mountains where swimming is allowed. The Podgórna Waterfall is especially popular among fans of winter swimming. In winter, there is no shortage of people willing to take cold baths under the waterfall.
Tourists are attracted to Przesieka by the varied terrain, numerous viewpoints of the Karkonosze Mountains and the surroundings of easily accessible forests. The atmosphere of Przesieka is created by specific buildings - small "nests" created by combining several buildings. The main road is ul. Karkonoska, running towards Jelenia Góra, which passes through a narrow isthmus carved out by the Podgórna and Czerwienia streams.
The greatest attractions that Przesieka offers include:
- Waloński Kamień and Chybotek – granite rock groups, in the first of which you can see a depression resembling a human figure, and the second one was at one time so perfectly balanced that it could be put into slight movement using only a small force of human hands.
- brick and wooden mill from the beginning of the 19th century,
- Mya Cascade
- Siruwia Japanese Garden, where on an area of 1.5 ha, around three waterfalls and seven ponds, an atmospheric place with an oriental character was created,
- numerous archaeological sites.
What else awaits tourists in Przesieka?
Open-air painting and photography workshops are often organized in Przesieka. It also takes place in Przesieka Bike Marathon – a real celebration of mountain bikers. There are many holiday homes and private guesthouses here. It is close to the Chojnik Castle, the Wang Temple in Karpacz, the Karkonosze Pass and Śnieżne Kotły. The following pass through Przesieka hiking trails:
- blue trail to the Karkonoska Pass,
- yellow trail to Słonecznik,
- green trail to Karpacz, and in the other direction to Chojnik Castle and Szklarska Poręba.