I'm currently doing some research into the Lower Silesia region of Poland, with a view to marketing it as a site for contemporary tourism, and as such have been looking into its past/history.

I have come across many references to a time when Lower Silesia was an extremely popular holiday destination for the European aristocracy, and that this is why the region is so densely populated with stunning palaces. However, I've failed to find any hard facts, stories, or details on this period in Lower Silesian history.

Can anyone out there enlighten me? When did these people go there? (I'm guessing 17th, 18th & 19th Cs) Where were they from? How many of them were there? How long did they stay? (If they took the trouble to build themselves palaces, they must have returned regularly?) Did they have any rituals? (eg. big annual parties, marriage arrangements,) Were any particularly famous people involved?

Any information or sources I should look into would be extremely gratefully received, and thank you very much in advance.