Local History in Several Stages

Several clearly distinct themes come together in Ruszów: a local history dating back to the 15th century, the Breiter Stein as a place of remembrance, memorial plaques beside the church ruins in the cemetery, and the recurring open-air festival Jagodowe Lato. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping these connections in their respective time frames. The earliest mentions date from 1438, the inscription on the Breiter Stein gives the date 23 April 1879, and the festival information refers to the 2024 edition and an edition announced for 2025. This makes it possible to understand Ruszów from several historical and cultural perspectives without conflating local history, remembrance and the festival programme.

The earliest mentions of Ruszów, historically also known as Rauscha, date from 1438. The settlement initially belonged to the von Penzig family from Pieńsk; later, it was acquired by the Zgorzelec town council. Until 1708, there was a glassworks, a brewery, a distillery and a manor farm there. The local history therefore encompasses three clearly distinguishable perspectives: the first mention, the change of ownership and the businesses named in the village. Looking back is not merely a sequence of dates; owners and different establishments also shaped Ruszów’s historical development.

The Breiter Stein and Memorial Plaques

The Breiter Stein tells a different, narrowly defined story. It commemorates Prince Wilhelm II’s successful capercaillie hunt; the inscription states that he shot his first capercaillie there on 23 April 1879. Alongside the long periods of settlement and ownership history, this marks a single, precisely dated occasion for remembrance. Anyone comparing the historical themes will find a hunting story linked to a specific inscription.

Memorial plaques have been erected beside the church ruins in the cemetery in Ruszów. Together with the Breiter Stein, they represent different forms of remembrance: the inscription on the stone records a hunt, while the plaques are located beside the church ruins. These commemorative features broaden the perspective beyond the succession of owners and businesses. If you are focusing on history, you can consider the local history, stone and plaques as separate subjects rather than reading them as one and the same story.

Jagodowe Lato: Festival and Food

Jagodowe Lato adds a recurring event to the historical themes. The open-air festival takes place in Ruszów. The 2024 edition was held in the town park; an edition was announced for 12 July 2025. If you want to plan a trip around a specific edition, check the date for the relevant year in advance.

Food served at Jagodowe Lato included homemade blueberry pierogi, French fries made from locally grown potatoes, cakes, grilled pork neck and sausages, as well as vegetable salads and bread. Fresh blueberry jams made by Edyta and Gosia rounded out the selection. Blueberries featured both in the pierogi and as jam; alongside these were savoury dishes, grilled food and side dishes. If you are planning your trip around a festival, you can take the specific food offerings into account as part of the programme, as well as the event date.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bogatynia, Trójca, Jędrzychowice, Sławnikowice, Dłużyna Dolna, Bierna, Pieńsk, Zgorzelec.

For the main travel overview: Zgorzelecki.