Editing Wałbrzych (section)

=== Modern era ===
[[File:Schloss Fuerstenstein Sammlung Duncker.jpg|thumb|19th-century view of the [[Książ]] Castle]]
[[Coal mining]] in the area was first mentioned in 1536. The settlement was transformed into an industrial centre at the turn of the 19th century, when coal mining and [[weaving]] flourished.

As a result of the [[First Silesian War]] the city was annexed by the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] in 1742, and subsequently became part of Germany in 1871. In 1843 the city obtained its first rail connection, which linked it with [[Breslau]] (now [[Wrocław]], Poland). In the early 20th century a glassworks and a large [[china (material)|china]] tableware manufacturing plant, which are still in operation today, were built. During [[World War I]], the Germans operated three forced labour camps for [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] [[World War I prisoners of war in Germany|prisoners of war]] in the city.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kujat|first=Janusz Adam|year=2000|title=Pieniądz zastępczy w obozach jenieckich na terenie rejencji wrocławskiej w czasie I i II wojny światowej|journal=Łambinowicki rocznik muzealny|location=Opole|language=pl|volume=23|page=13|issn=0137-5199}}</ref>