Lubachow: Reservoir, Hydroelectric Power Plant and Mining History

The reservoir and the dam’s dimensions

The dam near Lubachów is 230 m long at the crest and up to 44 m high. It was completed in 1917. The dam created the reservoir, which stretches 3.1 km along the river. It covers an area of about 51 ha and has a capacity of 8 million m³ of water. These dimensions describe a body of water that stretches a considerable distance while also holding a substantial volume. If you are interested in landscapes and hydraulic engineering, you can consider the reservoir as a destination in its own right.

The hydroelectric power plant and its history

The Lubachów hydroelectric power plant is located on the Bystrzyca River. The power plant building dates from 1913 to 1916 and is designated as both a power plant and a museum. It still contains many original fittings from the 1920s. The building’s history and preserved technical equipment are therefore both central to a visit here. For travellers interested in historic technology, this offers a different way to experience Lubachów than simply viewing the reservoir.

The different years relate to different parts of the history: the dam was completed in 1917, while the power plant building dates from 1913 to 1916 and contains fittings from the 1920s. Another historical trace is a railway bridge over a stream near the Lubachów hydroelectric power plant and a residential building; it dates from 1902 to 1904. These structures and their dates provide several specific points of reference for the area’s history.

Archaeological traces and activities

Lubachów is home to an archaeological protected area containing a group of mining installations from the 16th and 17th centuries. Those more interested in the history of earlier work and land use will find a different subject here than the technological history of the hydroelectric power plant. A quest entitled “Tajemnice Śląskiej Doliny” takes you through Lubachów and its surroundings and explores notable places along the Bystrzyca. It provides another way to discover the places and stories along the river.

Cyclists will also find things to suit their interests in Lubachów: a park offers a place to practise various skills for singletracks and bike parks. In addition, a tourism infrastructure project by the Świdnica municipality included a bicycle station in Lubachów. Natural monuments are also part of the local landscape: Lubachów is one of the places in Świdnica municipality where such monuments can be found; there are 18 in the municipality in total.

Choose Lubachow for your holiday

County Road 2882 D connects Lubachów with Wałbrzych-Rusinowa, providing a specific point of reference for access to the area. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can then weigh up which themes you would like to shape your stay: the reservoir and hydropower, archaeological history or cycling activities. The information caters to different interests without requiring you to follow a single sightseeing itinerary. This makes it easy to tailor Lubachow as a destination to what you and your fellow travellers would like to discover there.

If you would like to explore more places, you can also find Złoty Las, Striegau, Modliszów, Bystrzyca Górna, Jawor, Świebodzice, Zebrzydów and Groß Merzdorf here as well.

For the broader travel overview: Świdnicki.