Solec-Zdrój Health Resort

The natural richness of it’s spa waters and healing microclimate have been attracting many Polish and foreign patients who want to take care of their health and recover actively.

Musculoskeletal and rheumatic disorders, as well as skin diseases and allergies, are treated here. Geological research has found brine deposits with hydrogen sulfide content 8 times higher than in other similar areas, and makes the mineral content of this water unique from all other places in the world.

In 2022, the health resort celebrates its 185th anniversary.

Worth knowing...

At the beginning of the 18th century, Solec-Zdrój developed due to the increased extraction of local brines. The mining advisor, Becker, who came to the local lands in 1815, wanted to search for rock salt. To his surprise, after making the first drillings, he found sulphide water instead of salt. The locals, using unconventional medicine, became convinced of the healing properties of Solec water. This became the starting point for the creation of today's health resort. The owner of Solec, Walery Wielogłowski, came up with the idea of ​​launching a complex with therapeutic baths. Unfortunately, this outstanding idea was not realized. The ambitious plans were taken over by Karol Hodeffroy together with the village.

In 1837, the first buildings for therapeutic and bathing and residential purposes were built, then wooden bathrooms, pump rooms for measurable waters and a house for patients were built. The area of ​​the health resort was extended to include adjacent forest areas of 100 hectares. The year 1837 is special for Solec, because it was in that year that "Zdrój" was added to the name, thus the town gained its full name, which is used to this day, Solec-Zdrój. At that time, health resorts were famous primarily for bathing in mud, borow and sulphide waters. In 1855, Professor Józef Dietla, a Krakow balneologist, contributed to a large extent to the development of the Solec Spa by researching and describing the healing water that was present in these areas. In a scientific study that appeared in 1858, the professor wrote the following sentence: "The source of Solec is one of the most effective waters of this type in all of Europe".

In 1896, the Solec-Zdrój Health Resort was purchased by two brothers, Romuald and Włodzimierz Daniewski. It was thanks to them that a large reservoir for sulphide water was created and the shaft from which healing water was obtained was deepened. In 1901, a large fire broke out, but thanks to these brothers, the complex was renovated, which resulted in the adoption of a new building style - Zakopane style. Many houses and villas were built in the area.

The First World War did not spare the health resort, and the fire that broke out in 1921 caused additional damage. Immediately after the war, thanks to Eng. Romuald Daniewski, the bathrooms were rebuilt from a wooden structure to an iron-concrete one. At that time, the Solec-Zdrój health resort gained the status of "luxury" and rich in cultural life. Theatrical performances and dance evenings were organized and the orchestra often played. This place was visited by many eminent personalities, such as violinist Irena Dubińska, opera diva Wanda Wermińska and Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

The aftermath of the activities during World War II was the enormous damage to the Health Resort. The park and most of the buildings and instruments were destroyed. Thanks to the stubbornness of Włodzimierz Daniewski, the activity was resumed in 1946. Despite Daniewski's lofty plans, he was brought back to earth in 1951, because the center was nationalized and passed under the name "Uzdrowisko Busko-Solec". The fight to recover the property began in the 80s of the last century. The case was finalized only in 2000, on January 1. Ownership rights returned to the Daniewski and Dziannot families. Due to the increase in the number of successors, the problem of division arose and the family decided to sell the property. In 2011, on December 9, Marta and Czesław Sztuk became the owners of the Solec-Zdrój Health Resort, whose mission is to restore the resort to its glory years.