CHARMED BY THE KARKONOSZE MOUNTAINS: PRZEMYSŁAW WIATER (1958–2020)

Przemysław Wiater PhD was a historian, arthistorian, museum curator, and a regionalist. In 1994–2020,he worked as a certified curator at the Carl and GerhartHauptmann House in Szklarska Poręba. In February 2020,he became Director of the Karkonosze Museum in JeleniaGóra. Furthermore, in 2008–2017, he ran courses at theHigher School of Management in Legnica. Committed torecovering historic monuments from Lower Silesia, healso served as a councillor for several terms of office inSzklarska Poręba, where he lived.An outstanding regionalist, Wiater focused on investigatingthe history of Lower Silesia, particularly theKarkonosze and Izera Mountains. He was the first to undertakeresearch into the local tangible and non-tangiblecultural heritage, popularizing it in publications describingthe history of Szklarska Poręba, Walloon mineral andgem prospectors, old herbalists and laborants, history ofglassworks, or the figure and legend of the Spirit of theMountains. Having discovered the phenomenon of artisticcolonies, he popularized it and adapted to harmonize withcontemporary times.His idea was to culturally integrate the region basing on historicalcultural contents and the heritage imported by post--WW II settlers. Sharing his knowledge in a popular way,he infected others with his passion, particularly youngpeople to whom he provided support and inspiration. It was at his instigation that the W.E. Peuckert Guild of theSudety Mountains Guides was formed; member of theChapter of the Sudety Mountains Walloon Brotherhood, hewas also the knight of the informal Society of the EveningCastle, additionally cooperating with the Izery Society.Originator of the Izery Retro Run and the Flannel Rally,he inspired the formation of several tourist routes, such asthe ‘Juliusz Naumonowicz Walloon Hiking Trail’, contributingto the creation of the ‘W.E. Peuckert Trail’ and the Polish-Czech ‘Laborants’ Trail’.