Gorzów Wielkopolski
Gorzów Wielkopolski | ||
---|---|---|
Car plates FG | | |
Climate | Cfb | |
Highways | ||
National roads | ||
Website | www |
Gorzów Wielkopolski ([ˈɡɔʐuf vʲɛlkɔˈpɔlskʲi] ⓘ; German: Landsberg an der Warthe),[a] often abbreviated to Gorzów Wlkp. or simply Gorzów, is a city in western Poland, on the Warta river. It is the second largest city in the Lubusz Voivodeship with 120,087 inhabitants (December 2021[update])[1] and one of its two capitals with a seat of a voivode, with the other being Zielona Góra.
Around Gorzów, there are two large forest areas: Gorzów Woods to the north, where the Barlinek-Gorzów Landscape Park is situated, and Noteć Woods to the southeast. The biggest oil fields in Poland are located near Gorzów.
Etymology
The pre-1945 German name Landsberg an der Warthe, dating back to 1257, derived from the German words land or 'state' and berg or 'mountain' combined with Warthe – the German name for the river Warta.
The Polish name Gorzów, written as Gorzew, is known from Polish maps and historical books dating back to the 19th century or perhaps earlier.[3] The name appeared in a compendium called Ancient Poland according to its history, geography and statistics published in 1848 by Samuel Orgelbrand in Warsaw. Ten years earlier, in 1838, the same name Gorzew was used in a book published in Paris with a corresponding yet broader title encompassing all of Poland.[4]
The current spelling of "Gorzów" appears on the map featuring "Królestwo Polskie" published in
The place originated as a craftsmen settlement during the medieval period of the Polish royal dynasty of Piast.
In Polish, it was the name 'Gorzów' which eventually stuck, beating the alternative postwar name "Kobylagóra", or 'Mare Mountain', which survives today as the name of a street in the city. The word Wielkopolski means "
History
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1950 | 32,825 | — |
1960 | 58,671 | +78.7% |
1970 | 74,782 | +27.5% |
1980 | 105,909 | +41.6% |
1990 | 124,285 | +17.4% |
2000 | 125,767 | +1.2% |
2010 | 125,394 | −0.3% |
2020 | 122,589 | −2.2% |
source [5] |
During the reign of the first Polish monarchs of the
In 1701 Landsberg (Gorzów) became part of the
During World War II, the Germans established nine forced labour camps, as well as four labour units for French, Italian and Soviet prisoners of war in the city.[6]
In early 1945 during World War II the town was heavily damaged following the retreat of the Wehrmacht ahead of the Soviet Red Army. The Red Army arrived in the city on 30 January 1945, approaching from the left bank of the river Warta. The Wehrmacht had already evacuated most of the city, and the advancing forces met very little resistance. Over the course of the next few days, most of the city centre was destroyed, reportedly through the accidental spread of a fire started in order to light the westward march of the Red Army.[citation needed]
The city became part of Poland in accordance with border changes promulgated at the postwar
Between 1975 and 1998, it was the capital of the Gorzów Voivodeship.
Climate
Gorzów Wielkopolski has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb) using the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm or a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfb) using the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm.[12][13]
Climate data for Gorzów Wielkopolski (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
24.6 (76.3) |
30.6 (87.1) |
31.5 (88.7) |
36.5 (97.7) |
37.5 (99.5) |
37.3 (99.1) |
33.0 (91.4) |
28.7 (83.7) |
20.3 (68.5) |
15.3 (59.5) |
37.5 (99.5) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) |
4.1 (39.4) |
8.3 (46.9) |
14.9 (58.8) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
24.8 (76.6) |
24.5 (76.1) |
19.3 (66.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
6.9 (44.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
13.7 (56.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.1 (31.8) |
0.9 (33.6) |
4.1 (39.4) |
9.5 (49.1) |
14.0 (57.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
19.4 (66.9) |
19.0 (66.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
9.2 (48.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
1.1 (34.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.4 (27.7) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
0.6 (33.1) |
4.5 (40.1) |
8.8 (47.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
14.0 (57.2) |
10.1 (50.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
5.6 (42.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −24.6 (−12.3) |
−27.1 (−16.8) |
−19.3 (−2.7) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
1.8 (35.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−15.4 (4.3) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−27.1 (−16.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 41.9 (1.65) |
34.6 (1.36) |
39.4 (1.55) |
29.5 (1.16) |
57.0 (2.24) |
56.7 (2.23) |
75.0 (2.95) |
56.8 (2.24) |
45.5 (1.79) |
40.4 (1.59) |
38.4 (1.51) |
41.6 (1.64) |
556.8 (21.92) |
Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 3.8 (1.5) |
4.0 (1.6) |
2.0 (0.8) |
0.5 (0.2) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.0 (0.4) |
3.1 (1.2) |
4.0 (1.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 16.93 | 14.44 | 14.27 | 10.93 | 12.67 | 12.37 | 13.70 | 12.23 | 11.57 | 14.47 | 15.10 | 17.77 | 166.44 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0 cm) | 11.8 | 9.4 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 5.7 | 31.6 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
88.4 | 83.9 | 77.3 | 67.7 | 68.2 | 68.6 | 69.5 | 70.4 | 77.8 | 84.4 | 90.3 | 90.0 | 78.0 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 50.0 | 72.9 | 125.9 | 206.1 | 244.8 | 251.1 | 253.9 | 236.4 | 162.9 | 110.1 | 49.5 | 39.6 | 1,803 |
Source 1: Institute of Meteorology and Water Management[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Meteomodel.pl (records, relative humidity 1991–2020)[22][23][24] |
Main attractions
Although the centre of Gorzów was heavily damaged during the Second World War, there are still many notable tourist attractions in the city. The largest of these is the
The city also contains the museum of
The Old Town was almost completely destroyed, but the New Town (19th century) has survived in good condition as a complex of hundreds of buildings and is in the Heritage Register. For the past few years, historical tenements have been successfully undergoing renovation.
The Jewish cemetery of Gorzów is on the western edge of the city. The cemetery was vandalised in the 1930s, but a number of graves still remain intact.
Politics
In recent years Gorzów Wielkopolski has been known for former Prime Minister
Economy
Gorzów is an economic centre of the region with almost 18,000 registered businesses (2008), the unemployment rate is 7.6% (December 2009). The City of Gorzów has received an air Play Commune-Certified Investment Location award in big cities classification. The city has a good shopping and services infrastructure. There are numerous petrol stations, branches of all major banks and insurance companies as well as car dealers.
Major shopping malls in the city are Nova Park, Galeria Askana, Panorama, Park 111, there is one Tesco hypermarket and many discount and department stores and retailers.
Landsberg an der Warthe before the World War II was a very well developed and industrialized city. The most notable entrepreneurs included industrialists Max Bahr and Herman Paucksch. After the war and Red Army liberation, the city suffered from heavy losses especially in machinery which was confiscated by the Soviets.
In the postwar time Gorzów saw a fast economic development and new industries were founded like
A recent economic development of the city was boosted by creation of
Transport
Gorzów has a good public transport network. City Transport Company (MZK) which is in charge of transport services runs
27 daily bus lines, four
There are railway connections with major Polish cities, mostly with interchange in Krzyż or Kostrzyn. There are plans to start fast through trains to Poznań, Szczecin, Wrocław and Berlin. Gorzów main station was renovated in 2009 and 2010 and it offers bed and breakfast, restaurant and retail services.
The S3 expressway provides a fast road connection to Szczecin and Zielona Góra.
Culture
Gorzów is well known for the International Romani Gathering Romane Dyvesa which is held every summer in the first week of July. The gathering includes a series of concerts held in the outdoor amphitheatre near the centre of the city. The festival is organised by Edward Dębicki, the founder of the Romani music group Terno, which also performs as part of the series of concerts.
Romane Dyvesa continues Gorzów's strong tradition of Romani culture, of which the most widely known member was the poet
Religion
The city is predominantly Roman-Catholic, with an Eastern Orthodox church, an Old Catholic (Polish Catholic) congregation and a number of Protestant (Baptist, Pentecostal/neo-Pentecostal, Lutheran) as well as the (Restorationist, non-mainstream Protestant)
-
Gorzów Cathedral
-
Immaculate Conception Church
-
Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Baptist Church
-
Lutheran Church of Holy Trinity
Infrastructure
There are several hotels including railway station bed and breakfast.
The city offers leisure facilities. Sports and Rehabilitation Centre "Słowianka" offers 50 m Olympic pool, aqua park facilities, saunas, gym, massage and spa. Gracja hotel offers a 25 m pool. There are a few gyms and sports hall in the city. New rowing centre at the Warta river has been completed in 2009. Speedway stadium is undergoing major extension works this year.
Gorzów embankment, which is undergoing major renovation in 2011, is a new nightlife centre. There are many restaurants and pubs around the embankment and others are coming soon[when?].
Education
- Jacob of Paradies University[26]
- Poznan University School of Physical Education - Faculty of Physical Education in Gorzów Wielkopolski[27]
- Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu w Gorzowie Wlkp.[28]
- Poznan University of Medical Sciences - University Teaching Center in Gorzów Wielkopolski
Sports
Gorzów is famous in Poland for its great clubs and fine athletes. There are two Olympic champions from Gorzów: Tomasz Kucharski and Michał Jeliński, both in rowing. It is a home for many world champions and Olympic medalists.
A historical sport is also volleyball. GTPS holds to a great tradition and has had many outstanding players with the best ever, Sebastian Świderski, born in Gorzów:
- AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski – women basketball team, competing in the Basket Liga Kobiet (top division; as of 2021–22)
- Speedway Ekstraliga(top division; as of 2022), nine times Polish Champions
- Stilon Gorzów Wielkopolski – football club with men and women sections
- Warta Gorzów Wielkopolski - football club with men and women sections
- Gorzów is a national powerhouse in water polo for decades. International events are regularly held at the Slowianka Sports Centre with a modern Olympic-size pool.
Notable people
- Gottfried Bernhardy (1800–1875), philologist and literary historian
- Hermann Paucksch (1816-1899), German mechanical engineering contractor and manufacturer
- Hermann Ende (1829–1907), German architect
- Max Fränkel (1846–1903), German classical scholar, philologist, epigrapher and librarian
- Arthur Moritz Schönflies(1853–1928), German mathematician
- Ludwig Pick (1868–1944), German pathologist
- Georg Axhausen (1877–1960), oral and maxillofacial surgeon
- Marie Juchacz (1879–1956), German SPD politician
- Victor Klemperer (1881–1960), author and literary scholar
- Ernst Schwarz (1886–1958), German politician
- Elisabeth Röhl (1888–1930), German politician
- Kurt Scharf (1902–1990), Lutheran bishop of Berlin
- Bronisława Wajs (1908–1987), Romani poet
- Herman Bottcher (1909–1944), German-born American soldier
- Roger G. Newton (1924–2018), German-born American physicist
- Christa Wolf (1929–2011), writer and literary critic
- Teresa Klimek (1929–2013), math teacher, co-founder of the local branch of the Catholic Intellectuals Club and executive on the regional branch of Solidarity
- Wolfgang Müller (1931-2021), German equestrian
- Edward Dębicki (born 1935), Romani poet, composer and musician
- Edward Jancarz (1946–1992), speedway rider
- Danuta Danielsson (1947–1988), Polish anti-Nazi protester, subject of an iconinc photograph taken in 1985 in Växjö, Sweden
- Zenon Plech (born 1953), speedway rider
- Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz (born 1959), former Prime Minister of Poland
- Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland
- Lech Piasecki (born 1961), racing cyclist
- Zenon Jaskuła (born 1962), racing cyclist
- Tomasz Kucharski (born 1974), rower, double Olympic champion
- Beata Sokołowska-Kulesza (born 1974), sprint canoer, Olympic bronze medalist and world champion
- Sebastian Świderski (born 1977), volleyball player
- Michał Jeliński (born 1980), Olympic and four times world champion in rowing
- Michal (Michał Kwiatkowski, born 1983), singer, Star Academy music contest runner-up
- Łukasz Maliszewski (born 1985), footballer
- Kamil Dragun (born 1995), chess grandmaster
- Dawid Kwiatkowski (born 1996), singer-songwriter
- Dawid Kownacki (born 1997), Polish professional football player
- Sebastian Walukiewicz (born 2000), Polish professional football player
Twin towns – sister cities
Gorzów Wielkopolski is twinned with:[29]
- Cava de' Tirreni, Italy
- Eberswalde, Germany
- Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany
- Herford (district), Germany
- Sumy, Ukraine
- Teramo, Italy
Gallery
-
View of the riverside boulevards and the city's oldest section
-
Grunwaldzki Square
-
Nadwarcianski Boulevard
-
Pedestrian zone on Sikorski Street
-
Holy Cross Church
-
Chrobrego Street
-
Józef Piłsudski Monument
-
District Court
-
Spring of NationsPark
-
Bishop's Palace
-
An example of a 19th-century townhouse
-
Old townhouses,Mieszka IStreet
-
Park 111 shopping centre
-
Immaculate Conception church
Notes
References
- ^ a b "Local Data Bank". Statistics Poland. Retrieved 7 August 2022. Data for territorial unit 0861000.
- ^ Nicolaus Leutinger, Zacharias Gartz, Scriptores de rebus Marchiae Brandenburgensis maxime celebrium, vol. 1
- ^ Henryk M. Wozniak, Gazeta Zachodnia, "Gorzów tak - Wielkopolski nie." Archived 2013-11-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Polska Bibliografia Literacka Polska w kształcie dykcjonarza historyczno-statystyczno-jeograficznego opisana przez Jędrzeja Słowaczyńskiego
- ^ "Gorzów Wielkopolski (Lubuskie) » mapy, nieruchomości, GUS, noclegi, szkoły, regon, atrakcje, kody pocztowe, wypadki drogowe, bezrobocie, wynagrodzenie, zarobki, tabele, edukacja, demografia".
- ^ a b "Gorzów Wielkopolski". Encyklopedia PWN (in Polish). Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- ^ Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Warsaw 1976
- ^ Rymar, Edward (1979). "Rywalizacja o ziemię lubuską i kasztelanię międzyrzecką". Śląski Kwartalnik Historyczny Sobótka (in Polish). No. 4. pp. 492, 494.
- ^ Rogalski, Leon (1846). Dzieje Krzyżaków oraz ich stosunki z Polską, Litwą i Prussami, poprzedzone rysem dziejów wojen krzyżowych. Tom II (in Polish). Warszawa. pp. 59–60.
- ^ Umiński, Janusz (1998). "Losy internowanych na Pomorzu żołnierzy powstania listopadowego". Jantarowe Szlaki (in Polish). Vol. 4, no. 250. p. 16.
- ISBN 9780880331746.
- .
- ISSN 1027-5606.
- ^ "Średnia dobowa temperatura powietrza". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Średnia minimalna temperatura powietrza". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Średnia maksymalna temperatura powietrza". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Miesięczna suma opadu". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Liczba dni z opadem >= 0,1 mm". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Średnia grubość pokrywy śnieżnej". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Liczba dni z pokrywą śnieżna > 0 cm". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Średnia suma usłonecznienia (h)". Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Gorzów WLKP Absolutna temperatura maksymalna" (in Polish). Meteomodel.pl. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Gorzów WLKP Absolutna temperatura minimalna" (in Polish). Meteomodel.pl. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Gorzów WLKP Średnia wilgotność" (in Polish). Meteomodel.pl. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ Zgromadzenie Sióstr Jezusa Miłosiernego
- ^ "Aktualności - Akademia im. Jakuba z Paradyża w Gorzowie Wielkopolskim". ajp.edu.pl. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Zamiejscowy Wydział Kultury Fizycznej w Gorzowie Wielkopolskim". awf-gorzow.edu.pl.
- ^ "Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu - Gorzów Wielkopolski". wsb.gorzow.pl.
- ^ "Miasta partnerskie". gorzow.pl (in Polish). Gorzów Wielkopolski. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
External links
- Official website (in English)
- Official website (in Polish)
- Jewish Community in Gorzów Wielkopolski on Virtual Shtetl