Śląski Dom

Śląski Dom (German: Schlesierhaus) is a mountain hostel (Schronisko Górskie Dom Śląski) located at 1,400 metres above sea level on the Polish side of the Karkonosze (Riesengebirge), directly by the mountain pass under Śnieżka (Schneekoppe). It is the highest-elevation shelter in the Polish part of the Sudetes. The building stands at the edge of the Równia pod Śnieżką peat bog, near the former tourist border crossing Śląski Dom–Luční bouda between Poland and the Czech Republic. The current building is the third structure on the site and was erected between 1921 and 1922 to designs by the renowned Wrocław architect Herbert Eras. It was originally named Schlesierhaus and operated as a tourist hostel. Over the decades it has been managed by various Polish tourism organisations, including the PTTK, and served as a border guard facility during the communist era. Today it continues to operate as a mountain hostel offering accommodation and dining for tourists exploring the Karkonosze. The hostel's history is deeply intertwined with the development of tourism in the Sudetes. Its predecessor buildings date back to the mid-19th century, and the site has been a waypoint for travellers heading to the summit of Śnieżka for centuries. The current building, with its distinctive architecture, remains a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers.

The history of the Schlesierhaus (Śląski Dom) is complex, with various accounts of its origins. Some date its founding to 1922, while others trace its beginnings to the mid-19th century or even further back. As early as 1665, a first shed was built at the saddle under Śnieżka to shelter workers carrying materials for the construction of St. Lawrence's Chapel on the summit. This shed, built by the Silesian Count Schaffgotsch, was called 'Herrenbaude' (Panská bouda) and was demolished after the chapel's completion in 1681. In 1847, the Riesenbaude was built on the Austrian side of the border as the first ridge hut. It was commissioned by the merchant Mitlöhner from Velká Úpa and served tourism. Around the same time, brothers Johan and Dieter Heldmann from Schmiedeberg (Kowary) planned a tourist hostel on the route to Śnieżka. They faced fierce opposition from Reinard Schulz, the innkeeper of the Riesenbaude, who destroyed their building materials and allegedly attempted to murder Johan. The dispute was settled, and the new hut, named 'Heldmann Baude' (Buda Heldmanna), opened in summer 1847 with Johan Heldmann as its first owner. It burned down in 1888, suspected arson, but Schulz's guilt was never proven. The Riesenbaude declined over the years, closed in 1970, and was demolished in 1982. A new hostel was built on the site of the old Heldmann Baude in 1904, but it was replaced just 18 years later by the current building, constructed between 1921 and 1922 according to designs by Herbert Eras. The United Wind Turbine Works (VWW) installed the largest available wind turbine, 15 m in diameter with 28 rotor blades, to supply electricity. The substructure, designed by Eras, housed batteries for three days of calm and a diesel engine for longer periods. In late January 1925, frost and storm destroyed the wind turbine, leading to disputes over reconstruction, which was rejected by the nature lovers, the local administrator, the Hirschberg district administrator Rudolf von Bitter, and the government president Robert Büchting. The new owner was Frederick Lang from Zillerthal (Mysłakowice), who first used the name 'Schlesierhaus'. He stayed only briefly, and in 1924 Karl Kuhne became the new innkeeper. In 1925, Kuhne expanded the building towards the Koppenkegel with a glazed veranda. The hostel had 66 beds in 1-, 2-, and 3-bed rooms and 60 places in a communal dormitory. After World War II, the owner was expropriated and expelled along with the German population. The Schlesierhaus was initially managed by the DTTK and PTT (from 1951 PTTK) under the names 'Pod Śnieżką', 'Na Równi pod Śnieżką', and 'Dom Śląski'. In November 1950, the Polish Border Protection Troops (WOP) took over the hostel and established a border crossing. On 5 August 1959, the Ministry of Internal Affairs sold the Schlesierhaus for a symbolic sum to the PTTK, which continued operations with a kitchen and staff accommodation. Border guards served there until July 2005, after both countries joined the Schengen Agreement and border controls were gradually dismantled. In 2007, the Jelenia Góra district... [text truncated]

• 2005

  Border guards cease service after Poland and Czech Republic join the Schengen Agreement.

• 1959

  Ministry of Internal Affairs sells the Schlesierhaus to PTTK for a symbolic sum.

• 1950

  Polish Border Protection Troops (WOP) take over the hostel and establish a border crossing.

• 1925

  Wind turbine destroyed by frost and storm; glazed veranda added by Karl Kuhne.

• 1922

  Current building completed and opens as Schlesierhaus.

• 1921

  Construction of the current building begins, designed by Herbert Eras.

• 1904

  New hostel built on the site of the old Heldmann Baude.

• 1888

  Heldmann Baude destroyed by fire, suspected arson.

• 1847

  Heldmann Baude opens as a tourist hostel, first owner Johan Heldmann.

• 1665

  First shed built at the saddle under Śnieżka for workers carrying materials for St. Lawrence's Chapel.

Historic high-altitude mountain hostel and tourist refuge in the Karkonosze.

• Mountain hostel accommodation

  Overnight stays in rooms and dormitories.

• Restaurant

  On-site dining for guests and visitors.

1. 1Śląski Dom - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Schronisko Dom Śląski - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org