Trzebnica is a small town with the population of 12,500 people and is situated along the valley in the Trzebnica Hills, 160-210 meters above the sea level. It is a seat of the Gmina and Poviat (district) authorities.  The town’s history is very colorful and eventful. The excavations, that took place in 1987 under the supervision of J.M. Burdukiewicz on the sides of Winna Góra hill, revealed the oldest traces (500,000 years old) of the primitive people (homo erectus) in Poland. The Slavic peoples began to settle in the area near the stream Lubsza in V century. In 1138 Trzebnica was mentioned in the official papers for the first time. In XII century the first church was built by Peter Włostowic. Therefore St. Peter’s head has been a part of the Trzebnica’s emblem. In 1202 the Duke of Silesia Henry Brodaty and his wife Jadwiga founded the first Cistercian monastery in Poland. The construction of the monastery was finished in 1218 and after their death the Duke and his wife were buried in the temple. After the Jadwiga’s canonization in 1267 Trzebnica became an important religious and pilgrim center. The first Polish gothic chapel named St. Jadwiga chapel was built at that time. The Duke Henry III declared Trzebnica a city in 1250. In XVII and XVIII centuries the monastery and the church were rebuilt in late baroque and classicism (the tower) styles. The famous artists, such as J.F. Mongoldt, M. Willmann, F.K. Bentum took part in the construction works. The beautiful St. Jadwiga’s marble tomb was built at the time. In 1703 Mary Caroline Leszczyńska, the daughter of the Polish king Stanisław, was born in Trzebnica on Ogrodowa Street. In 1725 she became the queen of France and the Luis XV’s wife. In 1810 the German authorities declared the Cistercian order illegal. In late XIX century the monastery was taken over by the Boromeus order. Trzebnica’s church became a basilica in 1943. The Salvatorian priests have taken care of the St. Jadwiga basilica since August 1945. Wawrzyniec Bochenek was the first Polish curator of the temple and worked there for over 50 years.  The opening of the spa on 1 May 1888 was one of the most important events in the town’s history. The spa used the hot mineral waters to treat its guests (nowadays the mineral waters are not used). At that time the Beech Wood became very popular among the visitors (the first chapel was built in the Wood in XV century and a Calvary in XVII). In the end of XIX century the railway to Wrocław was built. In 1945 the Soviet Army entered the town and burnt and destroyed everything except the basilica. For 6 weeks (April-June 1945) Trzebnica was the capital of Lower Silesia. Since 20 April 1945 the settlers from Kielce, Wielkopolska and eastern territories came to Trzebnica.  After the WWII Trzebnica became a rural and orchard (famous for the apples) center. But it also remained a medical center - the Children Spine Illnesses Rehabilitation and Motion Organs Illnesses Hospital (professor Przybylski) and the Limb Replantaion Center (professor Kocięba). The St. Jadwiga basilica and the monastery are the most beautiful buildings in Trzebnica. But St. Jadwiga Cult museum and Monastery museum (booking is necessary) are also worth seeing. Near the basilica there is a field altar and Pilgrim Square. If you climb Winna Góra hill (commonly known as Cat’s Hill - 219 m above sea level) which is situated behind the basilica, you will be able to admire a beautiful view of Trzebnica and surroundings. The mysterious structure connected with St. Jadwiga Cult - the Five Tables Rotunda can be found in the vicinity of the basilica and Cat’s Hill. The beautiful Beech Wood with XIV century church and the Way of the Cross, the swimming pool and the fishing ponds also attract tourists. Beyond the town limit in the south there is Chapel Hill with a small chapel at the top of it. The chapel can be seen in the famous Polish movie "Ash and Diamond". On a clear sunny day you can see Wrocław and Mount Ślęża from the top of the hill. The St. Peter and Paul neo-gothic church, which is located in the center of the town, used to be a warehouse and only recently has been given back to the Catholic Church. The Town Hall rebuilt after WWII and the original XVIII century building (currently a museum) are also worth seeing.  In the nearby village of Marcinowo (4 km from Trzebnica) there is a heritage museum created by Marian Kowalski, the leader of the folk band "Marciny". If you like walking you can take one of two tourist routes to Oborniki Śląskie - the blue one or the yellow one. If you take the former, you will be able to climb the highest hill in the area - Dark Hill (258 m).  The following cultural, recreational and sport events take place in Trzebnica every year: - the Trzebnica Orchard Festival (late September); - the Organ and Chamber Music Festival (May-October); - the List Evenings (autumn-winter); - the New Year’s Run - 10 km (31 December); - the Forest Runs (last Sunday of each month); The Trzebnica Cyclist Club "Na Pedał" regularly organizes the short and long bicycle trips and races.