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About Sokołowsko
Dr Brehmer’s Sanatorium – a brief overview
Sokołowsko (formerly Görbersdorf), most likely founded by the Benedictines of Broumov, appears in documents as early as 1357. Initially, the village had several owners, until in 1509 it passed into the hands of Count von Hochberg, who established his ancestral seat in Książ. Until the mid-19th century, Sokołowsko was a typical village within the Hochberg estate. The turning point came in 1849, when Countess von Colomb, enchanted by the landscape, persuaded her brother-in-law, Dr Hermann Brehmer, to establish a sanatorium here.
In 1855, the world’s first specialist sanatorium for tuberculosis patients was opened in Sokołowsko, where innovative climatic and dietary treatments were applied. This place inspired the later resort in Davos. In the 1860s, Dr Tytus Chałubiński, inspired by the methods used in Sokołowsko, began searching for a similar location in Poland, which ultimately led him to Zakopane. The health resort in Sokołowsko offered luxurious facilities that attracted numerous patients.
After 1945, thanks to the collaboration between Dr Brehmer and Prof. Alfred Sokołowski, the town took his name.
After the Second World War, the spa continued its operations, focusing on the treatment of respiratory diseases. In the 1970s, there were plans to transform Sokołowsko into a winter sports centre, but a lack of funds prevented these plans from being realised.
Recent history
Despite economic difficulties and the decline of the health resort, in 2007 the In Situ Contemporary Art Foundation acquired the former Dr Brehmer Sanatorium, transforming it into the International Culture Laboratory. The Foundation continues its efforts to restore the historic former sanatorium, whilst also carrying out projects at the Zdrowie Cinema-Theatre, creating a space for art and education.
More about the history of Sokołowsko here.
