The history of the Lubiąż Abbey dates back to 1163 when duke Boleslaus I the Tall of the Silesian Piast dynasty invited Cistercians from Thuringia to settle on the bank of the Odra River in Lubiąż. The order of Cistercians was exceptional not only for building impressive buildings thriving with religious life but also for being the main force of technological diffusion in medieval Europe.
Thanks to its economic power at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the Lubiąż Abbey became one of the greatest and most spectacular edifices in central Europe. History, however, played tricks on the monastery. This splendid architectural structure designed to hail the victory of Roman Catholic faith and praise the power of the Habsburg dynasty, began falling into ruin only a few years after the erection of the Baroque complex was completed. Silesia fell under the domination of Protestant Prussia with no place for Catholic abbeys. The monks left and the complex was turned into a hospital and warehouse. Years and centuries went by and its glory was only a thing of its past. WW2 and the post-war stationing in the Lubiąż Abbey of Red Army troops completed its devastation
It was only in 1992, that the Lubiąż Abbey acquired an owner, a Foundation determined to restore its due place on the historic map of Poland. Restoration work was soon commenced on a vast scale. During the past sixteen years of the Foundation’s existence, PLN 18 million worth of donations were raised toward this end. It is noteworthy, that these funds were collected by a non-public NGO and that most of the donations do not come from public institutions.
To-day, the Abbey, with its roof, church towers and major halls already repaired, is open to the public and concerts and theatre show are frequently performed within its walls.
The Lubiąż Abbey edifice is rated in the highest class of the world's cultural heritage landmarks and has been nominated for the title of ”Seven miracles of Poland”.
The problem still to be settled is what to do with the Lubiąż Abbey further on. Owned as it is by a public Foundation, the Abbey found itself in an awkward situation. Apparently, political dissidents do not think of its future and seem to ignore the problem. Yet it remains an issue as important as that of preserving the Teutonic Knights’ Castle in Malbork and the Royal Wawel Castle in Kraków. The fact that the Abbey has an owner, cannot be an excuse for doing nothing.
What purposes can be served by the Lubiąż Abbey today? The Foundation drew up a document advancing the idea of setting up a big congress centre, hotel, stately rooms and museum on its premises. Somewhat provocatively, we have given this project the name of “The head of State Residence” as we believe that the rank and size of the Abbey predestines it for such a role. This project could be pursued either with EU funding or by a public-private institution. It should, however. be brought to the attention of the authorities that full reconstruction of the object is a matter of high importance. The Foundation has been doing whatever it can to this end. It has been lobbying successive prime minister, government ministers, heads of provinces and private entrepreneurs – but to no avail so far. One day, perhaps, fortune will smile on us. Lubiąż could then become another attractive centre in Europe. After all, it is situated barely 20 kilometres from the Wrocław airport and 10 kilometres from the exit to the A4 motorway running to Berlin.