Before Duszniki became a well-known health resort, the inhabitants of the town worked in the iron industry, paper production, and weaving. Before 1583 a weavers’ craft was formed in the town. It was supposed to maintain trade relations with Russia and China till the end of the 17th century. The Renaissance and Baroque tenement houses standing in the marketplace are the witnesses of the past as well as the preserved old paper mill from 1605 which was converted into a museum of papermaking.
Clearly separated from the town, the Spa part lies in the Bystrzyca Dusznicka valley. When first mineral sources were identified at the beginning of the 19thcentury,
in 1802 the first bathing pavilion and the "social house" were built. In 1877 the pump room and the concert hall were opened. At the beginning of the 20th century Duszniki Zdrój belonged to the most important heart diseases healing resorts in Europe, and today it is one of the most popular destination points for recreation and healing in Poland.
On 26 August 1826 the 16-year-old Fryderyk Chopin performed two concerts for orphans of the deceased blacksmith - his first concerts outside the Congress Kingdom. To commemorate this event every year since 1948, the Chopin Festival is organized.
website: www.duszniki.pl