Many objects located in Bolesławiec before the war have not survived to the present day. Apart from the partially preserved Old Town, these included, among others: a zoological garden, a Classicist manor house with a covered shooting range, several fountains, monuments and gardens. Among them was also Queckbrun, meaning an ever-living spring, known throughout Silesia. It was originally located outside the town, but as Bolesławiec expanded, it became part of the town. It stood by what is now K. Miarki Street, opposite School No. 3, and is recognizable today as the remains of a basin near the “Kasztelańska” restaurant.
The first mention of the spring appears in connection with the stay there of the Bohemian King Ferdinand in 1538. Within several decades it had become famous throughout the region. In 1598, in Zgorzelec, the first history of the spring was published, written by Melchior Gerlach, an editor from Bautzen: “Description of the Queckbrun Spring near Bolesławiec, a Festive Song.” The author highlighted several details concerning its location, properties, construction and water quality. He described a canal, an underground reservoir, three mills, the irrigation of gardens and meadows, and hygienic activities.
As can be seen, the spring was truly essential to the life of the town, whose location was believed to be directly connected with the location of the water source. Water drawn from the spring was said to have miraculous properties, which was the reason for numerous pilgrimages from Saxony and Silesia. The stream was said to originate from a water-bearing vein passing through gravelly and muddy ground, before bursting from the rock through a large, deep channel. Its flow was sufficient to fill 46 fishponds and 9 reservoirs collecting water for the population, power 3 mills, and irrigate fields and meadows.
For the people of Bolesławiec, this water served as a daily drink, especially since it was believed to have healing properties.
Martin Opitz himself wrote about Queckbrun, while another poet from Bolesławiec, Sebastian Alischer, published a separate work about it in Legnica in 1662, also presenting a detailed history of the town. Particular attention should be paid to the town’s connection with the spring. The terrain created ideal conditions for the town’s development. Problems related to personal hygiene and sewage disposal were solved thanks to the difference in elevation between the water source, the town and the Bóbr River. The spring was located at 205 m above sea level, the hospital at 191 m, the market square at 189 m, and the riverbed at 170 m. It is clear that water drawn from the spring could flow down by itself, so there was no need to use pumps, cranes or other devices. No one needs convincing of how important this is for any town.
Today, that life-giving spring is gone, but as you walk along K. Miarki Street, take note of the small square where, several hundred years ago, one of the best-known and most significant places in our town was located.