Bardo, Poland

Infobox Settlement
name = Bardo


image_shield = POL Bardo COA.svg
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lower Silesian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Ząbkowice Śląskie
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Bardo
area_total_km2 = 4.71
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 2860
population_density_km2 = auto
latd = 50 | latm = 31 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 16 | longm = 44 | longs = | longEW = E
elevation_m =
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 57-256
website = http://www.bardo.info.pl

Bardo [IPA-pl|'|b|a|r|d|o] ( _de. Wartha) is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Bardo.

The town lies on the Nysa Kłodzka river, approximately convert|10|km|mi|0 south-west of Ząbkowice Śląskie, and convert|72|km|mi|0 south of the regional capital Wrocław. As at 2006, the Bardo has a population of 2,860.

History

Bardo was founded in the 10th century as a defensive gord. The surrounding area was populated by Slavic peoples tribes and Bardo's castellans were Polish knights. Its chapel was built in the 10th century, and it was first mentioned in 1189 as being owned by the Knights Hospitaller. By 1290 the gord had lost its strategic importance and ceased to exist as a castellany. By 1299 the whole area had been bought by the Cistercian order and was owned by them until 1810. Along with most of Silesia, it passed from Germany to Poland at the end of World War II.

Bardo gained the status of a town in the early 14th century, but this was lost as the result of the destruction caused by World War II. It became the seat of a gmina in 1954, and was granted town status again in 1969.

Historic buildings still existing in Bardo include a Baroque church and a 15th-century stone bridge.