Włocławek

Włocławek
Collage of views of Włocławek. Top: View of Old Town, Middle of left: The monument on the Liberty Square, Center: Przechodnia Street, Middle of right: Cathedral, Bottom left: Shopping center Wzorcownia in faiance factory, Bottom right: The Bridge of Marschall Edward Rydz-Śmigły
Flag Coat of arms
Włocławek
Coordinates:
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Kuyavian-Pomeranian
Powiat	city county
Established	10th century
Town rights	1255
Government
• Mayor	Marek Wojtkowski
Area
• City	84.32 km2 (32.56 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• City	113,939
• Density	1,351/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
• Metro	210,516 (2005)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	87-800 to 87-810, 87-812, 87-814, 87-816 to 87-818, 87-822
Area code(s)	+48 54
Car plates	CW
Website	http://www.wloclawek.pl

Włocławek districts

Włocławek [vwɔt͡sˈwavɛk] is a town in central Poland, situated on the rivers Vistula (Wisła) and Zgłowiączka, with a population of 113,939 (December 2014). It is located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and until 1999 it was the capital of Włocławek Voivodeship.

History

The history of Włocławek stretches back to the Iron Age: archeological excavations conducted on the site of today's city uncovered the remains of a settlement belonging to the Lausitz culture, on which around 500 years later a settlement of Pomeranian culture had been established. Traces of settlements dating from the Roman period and the early Middle Ages have also been excavated and uncovered.

Precise dating of the city's founding has proven difficult. Since the 16th century there is conflicting data in relation to the establishment of the town. Part of the confusion lies with varying attributions of the city's name (which was derived from the first name Władysław, or Vladislav) to three rulers: Władysław II the Exile, his grandfather Władysław I Herman, or Vladislav II of Bohemia.

An assistant to the Archbishop of Gniezno was mentioned as residing in the town in 1123 and the Diocese of Włocławek (Latin: Vladislaviensis) in Kuyavia in the bull issued by Pope Eugene III in 1148. The first bishop of Włocławek, whose name appears in the bull, was Warner, and he was followed by an Italian named Onoldius. The diocese was also recorded as "Włocławek and Pomerania" (Vladislaviensis et Pomeraniae).

Włocławek received its town rights in 1255. During the 14th and 15th centuries the city was destroyed and also captured several times by the Teutonic Knights, who renamed it Leslau. A peace treaty was signed in year 1466, the Treaty of Thorn, and the city prospered from its involvement in the trade with grain. During the Swedish invasion Second Northern War the city was partially destroyed in 1657. After the Second Partition of Poland in 1793, Włocławek became part of Prussia. The Congress of Vienna restored it to Congress Poland, but the city was later occupied by the Russian Empire since 1831. The city was again destroyed during the battles of German offensive during the First World War.

During World War II, Włocławek was occupied by German troops, which entered the city on 14 September 1939. Under the Nazi occupation Włocławek was again renamed Leslau, annexed by decree to the German Reich on 8 October 1939 and administered from 26 October as a part of Reichsgau Posen (renamed on 29 January 1940 Reichsgau Wartheland). One third of the city was destroyed, but its factories and workshops were rebuilt by the Polish government in the following decades.

The most important industries in Włocławek today are chemical industry, production of furniture, and food processing. The dam which was constructed in 1969 regulates the water level of the Vistula river, forming Włocławek Reservoir.

The Catholic priest Fr. (now Blessed), Jerzy Popiełuszko, who was associated with the workers' and trade union movement Solidarity, and who was also a member of opposition to the Communist regime in Poland, was tortured and murdered by three Security Police officers, and was thrown into the Włocławek Reservoir, close to the city. His body was recovered from the reservoir on October 30, 1984.

From 2012 the city is part of the Special Economic Zone - Włocławek Economic Development Area – Industrial and Technological Park with tax-free areas and incentives for investors.

Jewish history

The Jewish population increased from 218 (6,6%) in 1820 to 6,919 in 1910 (20,5%) and 13,500 in 1939. One of the founders of the Mizracḥi movement, rabbi Leib Kowalski (1895–1925), lived and worked in Włocławek. During the interbellum period, the town had several Jewish schools (primary and high schools), two yeshivas, and three Jewish sports clubs.

With the beginning of the German occupation of Poland, Włocławek became the first town in Europe in which Jews were required to wear the yellow Star of David badges. Włocławek ghetto was created in November 1940. The Nazis deported 3,000 of Włocławek's Jews to various places between December 1939 and June 1941. Some 2,000 Jews were deported to Łódź and to Chełmno extermination camp between 26 and 30 September 1941. The ghetto was burnt in late April 1942. Many of Włocławek's Jews died of starvation or illness, or were shot or beaten to death by the Nazis after being confined in the Łódź Ghetto. Others perished in the gas chambers upon their arrival at the Chełmno extermination camp. Today there is only very little, if any trace at all, of their once rich and lively community. We can find also a Table for victims of Jewish ghetto in Włocławek's Rakutówek neighborhood (Polish Tablica Ofiar Getta we Włocławku) and Jewish Cemetery at Municipal / Communal Cemetery (Polish Cmentarz Komunalny we Włocławku).

Historical monuments

• Copernicus Square

Copernicus Square (Polish Plac Kopernika) – in the cathedral school by Basilica Cathedral of St. Mary Assumption in Włocławek studies Nicolaus Copernicus in 1488-91. Together with his teacher, Mikołaj Wódka (Abstemius), he built a sun watch that we can see on Cathedral Basilica. All history we can read in The Solar Mystery of Prof. Jeremi Wasiutynski. Here is the monument of Nicolas Copernicus, the main office of the Higher Seminary, founded in 1569 (first seminary in Poland, and also one of the oldest in the world).

• St. Witalis Church

St. Witalis Church, 1330, is the oldest Gothic building in Włocławek. In the interior there are beautiful works of Polish 15th-century painting, including a triptych with the scene of St. Mary’s crowning (1460). In front of Basilica Cathedral is a monument of famous Polish primate Stefan Wyszyński, who lived in Włocławek between 1917-46.

• Basilica Cathedral of the St. Mary Assumption

Gothic Cathedral under the name of the St. Mary Assumption (Polish Katedra pw. Najświętszej Marii Panny) was built in 1340-1411 and then have other rebuilds. It is one of the oldest and highest (86 m) churches in Poland. The most important monuments are:

• Tombstone of Piotr from Bnin, sculpted by Wit Stwosz - 1493,
• Chapter house - 1521
• Renaissance chapel - 1604-1611
• Gothic stained glass windows - 1360, the oldest ones in Poland
• Tombstone of Marcin Talibowski - 1493
• Painting of Francisco de Zurbarán - 17th century
• The Tumski Crucifix
• Largest painting on a single board in Poland - 1470
• Stained glass windows - by Józef Mehoffer
• Sculpture, The Last Supper - 1505
• Painting of Juan Correa de Vivar - 1565
• Eucharistic Throne – one of the most magnificent silver masterpieces in Europe - 1744
• Candelabrum by Hans Meyer - 1596

Old Town in Włocławek

Basilica Cathedral of the St. Mary Assumption

Sundial on the Cathedral wall

• Municipal Park of Henryk Sienkiewicz

Municipal Park named after Henryk Sienkiewicz (Polish Park Miejski im. Henryka Sienkiwicza) -is one of the oldest parks in Poland. Here is a bust of Henryk Sienkiewicz famous writer and winner of the Nobel Prize for Quo Vadis.

• Bishop’s Palace

Bishop’s Palace (Polish Pałac Biskupi) is on the Gdanska street on the river. Bishop’s residence from 1858-61 have a garden.

• Vistula’s Boulevards of Marshall Józef Piłsudski

Vistula’s Boulevards of Marshall Józef Piłsudski (Polish Bulwary im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego) - here are many import ant building: Old houses on the Old Marketplace, Church of St. John the Baptist, Bridge of Marschall Edward Rydz-Smigły, Art Museum, Ethnographic Museum, high schools or Marshal Office.

B Brewery Cultural Center

Amber Palace (Pałac Bursztynowy)

• Culture center Brewery B

In the former brewery from 1832 is a modern culture center, with a concert hall, culture associations, small cinema, museum of measurement and café.

• Black Granary

Black Granary (Polish Czarny Spichrz) was built between the 18th and 19th centuries. It is the only construction of that kind, that is still existing in Poland. Here is the Dobrzynsko-Kujawskie Cultural Society and the Art Club Piwnica.

• Church of St. John the Baptist

Church of St. John the Baptist (Polish Kościół pw. Św. Jana Chrzciciela) have Gothic and Baroque style, brick-layered, from 1538. The interior is in the Baroque style:

• - Guardian Angel painting (1635),
• - baroque font - 17th century,
• - Rococo pulpit - 18th century,
• - sculpture of John Baptist from Venice (Polish Jan Baptysta Wenecjanin).

• All Saints church and Franciscan-Reformers cloister

All Saints church and Franciscan-Reformers cloister (Polish Parafia i Klasztor Ojców Franciszkanów) was built in 1639-1644, in Baroque style with Gothic elements. Here is a Baroque aisle and Rococo altars from the 18th century.

• Evangelical church

Evangelical church (Polish Kościół Ewangelicki) was built 1877-79, but in the 17th century was here a wooden church, with an interesting altar with painting in convention of Paul Delaroche.

• Liberty (Freedom) Square

Liberation Square (Polish Plac Wolności) It is the town’s central square, with the monument dedicated to the Polish soldiers of the II World War, a hotel Zajazd Polski (18th century), restaurant, banks and shops. Here is the All Saints church and Franciscan-Reformers cloister, Mühsam Palace from the 19th century.

• The stage of fall on the Vistula river

The stage of fall on the Vistula (Polish Zapora Wodna na Wiśle, Tama we Włocławku) river was built in 1970 and is the biggest unnatural lake in Poland. There is a tragic event related to this place. Here in the Vistula river priest Jerzy Popiełuszko found his death. On the right river’s bankhas been placed a monumental crucifix.

• Wzorcownia

Shopping and entertainment center in the former faience factory of Teichefeld & Atserblum from 1873.

• Green Market

Green Market (Polish Zielony Rynek) is the historical place of trade. There are here tenement houses from the 19th and 20th century, as well as a baker's shop, confectionary store, and clothes stores. Here is also the Main City Office with Mayor's Bureau and Gallery of Modern Art.

• Municipal Cemetery

Municipal/ Communal Cemetery (Polish Cmentarz Komunalny we Włocławku) - central cemetery in the city between streets: Komunalna, Chopina, Aleja Królowej Jadwigi. There are here parts: Polish, Jewish, German (Protestants, Evangelicals), Russian (Russian-Orthodox Church), victims of 1. and 2. World War. Here is also the Russian Orthodox Church.

Museums

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Guercino

• Diocesan Museum

Next to Basilica Cathedral there is the famous Diocesan Museum (Polish Muzeum Diecezjalne) with paintings of Francesco Barbieri (Guercino), group of Caravaggio, and graphs of Albrecht Dürer. Here is the Seminary Library of Chodynski Brothers with beautiful books, including missals from 1500.

• Museum of the Kujawy and Dobrzyn land

Main Edifice
Here are two stable expositions: "Włocławek`s Faience", "The Gallery of Polish portraits" with Józef Simmler, Teodor Axentowicz, impressionism by Leon Wyczółkowski, symbolism by – Jacek Malczewski and Vlastimil Hofman, secession by – Józef Mehoffer, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Wojciech Kossak, Alfons Karpiński, Olga Boznańska (1920s and 1930s), Anthony van Dyck or Marcello Bacciarelli.

The Ethnography Museum
There is in the granary of a project of Franciszek Tournelle. It shows the most important elements of folk culture and equipment of house interior and farm of Kujawy: farming, breeding, fishing pottery, blacksmith, cart-wrighting, cooperage, plaiting, historic folk sculpture, shrovetide customs, and musical instruments.

The Museum of the History of Włocławek
There are two historic Baroque houses from the 16th and 18h century on the Old Market. It shows monuments about the history of Włocławek and Poland from archaeological excavations to Liberation of Włocławek 1945:

• "The Bowl of Włocławek" (10th century) and elements of knights (14th and 15th century),
• economic life of Włocławek (16th and 17th century)
• measures and weights
• treasure with coins from the 12th to 18th centuries
• pharmaceutics from the 19th and 20th centuries
• memorabilia of big industry in the 19th century
• memorabilia of the Fire Department
• sports trophies
• uniforms, firearms, weapons, photographs and the archives of national uprisings, Polish-Soviet war (1919-1921), interwar decades, and World Wars I and II
• models of non-existent buildings (city hall, St. Wojciech Church and St. Mikołaj Orthodox Church).
• reconstruction of a photo atelier

The Art Collection
We can find big art collection in a rick granary from 1839. Two stable exposition are here: religious, human and animal sculptures by Stanisław Zagajewski – "Polish Gaudi" from group of l`art brut and an exhibition of Wacław Bębnowski (ceramic sculptures and functional objects with art nouveau motifs, naked nymphs and elements of the Far East).
Sometimes are open for tourist expositions of Italy, Germany or Netherlands (17th/18th centuries): Paintings of Carlo Cignani, Georg Philipp Rugendas, Francesco de' Rossi, graphs of Rembrandt van Rijn, Albrecht Altdorfer, Heinrich Aldegrever, Parmigianino, Vespasiano Strada oder Lucas van Leyden.

Włocławek districts

• Michelin
• Południe (South)
• Rybnica
• Śródmieście (City Centre)
• Wschód Leśny (East Forest area)
• Wschód Mieszkaniowy (East Residential area), a.k.a. Dzielnica Wschód (Eeast District)
• Wschód Przemysłowy (East Industrial area), a.k.a. Dzielnica Wschód (Eeast District)
• Zachód Przemysłowy (West Industrial area)
• Zawiśle
• Zazamcze

Wzorcownia, Gord Square (Plac Grodzki) in downtown (Śródmieście)

Włocławek Dam – Hydroelectric Power Station in Włocławek (Elektrownia Wodna we Włocławku)

Tomb effigy of Bishop Piotr z Bnina by Veit Stoss, located in Cathedral

St. Witalis Church

Church of John the Baptist

Plac Wolności (Liberty Square)

PWSZ we Włocławku (Higher Vocational State School in Włocławek)

Południe (South) district

Młyn Hotel (former salt mill)

Culture and free time

• Culture center Browar B

• OSIR - Sports center with new football stadium, swimming pool, aqua park, tennis courts or sea resorts

• Yacht areas: Przystań nad Wisłą OSIR we Włocławku, Przystań OSIR nad Zalewem Włocławskim (with place for campers), Marina Yacht Club Anwil in Zarzeczewo (with place for camping)

• Wakepark Włocławek

• Theater: Teatr Impresaryjny im. W. Gniazdowskiego, Teatr "Nasz", Teatr Skene

• Gallery of Modern Art Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej, Galeria at Kujawsko-Dobrzyńskie Towarzystwo Kulturalne, Galeria SK, Galeria Migawka, Galeria Antresola,

• Music clubs und Discos, the most famous are Million Club (here played: Marc van Linden or Tom Novy), Starodebska Music Bar or Music club at Lucky Star Bowling Wzorcownia

• Nature park Gostynińsko-Włocłąwski Park Krajobrazowy with over 40 lakes

• Rope parks: Park Linowy Włocławek Jezioro Czarne (at Lake Czarne) or Park Linowy Włocławek Aleja Kazimierza Wielkiego (at Kazimierz Wielki Avenue)

• Airport Kruszyn and Aeroklub Włocławek
• Shopping and entertainment center Wzorcownia Włocławek
• Shopping mall Focus Park Włocławek
• Horse clubs: Arabians Falborek, Pensjonat Michelin, Klub Jeździecki Bogucin
• Golfclub Kujawy
• Diving center Mr Jacques
• Quad-Park in Włocławek.
• Fitness and Gymnastic clubs: Klub Forma, Pure Fitness or Herkules.
• Judo and Karate Center for example IKT
• Games center: Lucky Star Bowling Wzorcownia (bowling, snooker, darts, pinball etc.) or Sport Bowling Włocławek
• Paintball clubs
• Long ways for bicycles,

Sports clubs

• Anwil Włocławek - men's basketball team, former Polish Champion, 4th in Era Basket Liga in 2003/2004 season.
• Kujawiak Włocławek - men's football team, winner of regional 3rd league group 2004, promoted to play in 2nd league in season 2004/2005.
• Włocłavia Włocławek - men's football team.
• Włocławek Rowing Association (Włocławskie Towarzystwo Wioslarskie) - rowing team, former Polish and world Champions; created in 1886.

Business

According to Rzeczpospolita report: the major corporations are:

• Anwil SA - Orlen Group, Poland
• Brügmann sp. z o.o., Salamander Industrie Produkte Group, Germany
• Guala Closures DGS Poland SA - Italy
• Indorama Ventures Poland sp. z o.o., India/Thailand
• PSH Lewiatan - Poland
• Wika Polska sp. z o.o. sp. k. - Germany

There are many other international companies: Delecta (Rieber&Son)- Orkla Group, Norway; Top2000 - Hamelin Group, France; Drumet - WireCo Group, USA; Kujawianka/ ATlanta Poland (Bakal Group), Poland; ACPCO2 - Belgium; Koło, Sanitec Group - France; Teutonia, Newell Rubbermaid Group - USA; Solvay - Belgium; ACV- Belgium; Remwil, Orlen Group, Poland; Budizol, Poland; Naturana - Germany; PV Prefabet, PV Group - Germany. Many transport and logistic companies has branches in or near the city.

From 2012 the city is part of the Pommeranian Special Economic Zone - Włocławek Economic Development Area – Industrial and Technological Park with tax-free areas and incentives for investors. The city is directly at A1 highway and near to A2 highway, directly to 3 nationalways (Polish Drogi Krajowe), riverway (Vistula) to Gdanks, Berlin or Warsaw and fast rail line with many directions. Włocławek has also own energy plants (Power Plant of Anwil/ Orlen, Municipal Power Plant of City Włocławek, Water Power Plant on Vistula River).

Another investment are in Wloclawek is Teren Inwestycyjny Papieżka (Investment area Papiezka) with full infrastructure and railway siding.

There are also big investment areas near Wloclawek, for example in Brześć Kujawski (Brzeska Strefa Gospodarcza/ BSG). It is directly at A1 motorway ("Amber One"), railway number 18 and has 470 ha open areas for different investments. There are here internal roads, lighting, power and water infrastructure. Here are public and private lots, the most of them free of real estate tax and CIT tax. Here invested already Raben Group and Mercator Medical S.A.,

Another investment zone with full infrastructure is Czerniewice Logistic Park of company Arplast in Czerniewice by Choceń, it is also at A1 motorway and railway line. The biggest advantage is own railway siding, what is very rarely in Poland.

Education

Currently there are five universities/colleges or branches:

• Państwowa Szkoła Wyższa PSWW Włocławek/Higher State School in Włocławek PSWW (former PWSZ we Włocławku/ Higher Vocational State School PWSZ in Włocławek)
• Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczno-Ekonomiczna WSHE Włocławek/ College of Humanistics and Economics WSHE in Włocławek
• Wyższa Szkoła Techniczna Włocławek / Higher Technical School in Włocławek
• Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki i Umiejętności Łódź, branch in Włocławek/ Higher School of IT and Skills
• Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu Wydział Teologiczny we Włocławku (Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne Włocławek),

High schools

• I LO im. Ziemi Kujawskiej, ul. Mickiewicza 6 in Włocławek is one of the best high school in the city and in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship

History of the school

In early 1900 the Committee of Civic, which was chaired by Louis Bauer requested the Ministry of Finance to set up a trade school. 27 April 1900, the Ministry of Finance agreed to the creation of Włocławskie Siedmioklasowej School of Economics. The founders of the school was 104 inhabitants. The school admitted students were between the ages of 8 to 11 years who, after the annual rate became the first class of students. Powers available to the school received a state school,

• Publiczne Liceum im. Jana Długosza we Włocławku
• II LO im. Mikołaja Kopernika, ul. Urocza 3
• III LO im. Marii Konopnickiej, ul. Bechiego 1
• IV LO im. Kamila Krzysztofa Baczyńskiego, ul. Kaliska 108
• V LO im. Unii Europejskiej, ul. Toruńska 77/83

Twin areas

This area has twinning with the following:

Mogilev, Belarus;

Bedford, United Kingdom;

Izmail, Ukraine;

Saint-Avold, France

People

• Sholem Asch - writer
• Bronisław Dembowski (b. 1927), bishop of Włocławek (1992–2003)
• Anton Denikin - commander in chief of Russia's army
• Roman Kozłowski, paleontologist
• Leon Marchlewski- chemist, one of the founders in the field of chlorophyll chemistry
• Aharon Megged
• Henryk Muszyński- Polish bishop
• Jan Nagórski, the first man to fly over the North Pole
• The Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, martyred near Włocławek in 1984
• Marcel Reich-Ranicki - "Pope of literature's critic", had one of the most important TV-shows in Germany
• Tadeus Reichstein - Nobel-Prize Winner in chemistry
• Maryla Rodowicz - famous Polish Singer
• Chaim F. Shatan, physician who defined Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Bernard Pullman - chemist
• Włodzimierz Stanny
• Jerzy Engel - coach of Polish football national team
• Józef Stolorz, renowned fine-art painter
• Jakub Świnka
• Henri Tajfel, social psychologist
• Stefan Wyszyński, enrolled in the Roman Catholic seminary in Włocławek, famous Polish bishop and cardinal
• Stanisław Zagajewski, fine-art sculptor
• Nicolaus Copernicus, astronomer, may have studied in the cathedral school in Włocławek run by Mikołaj Wodka (Abstemius) in 1488–91; Wodka and his pupil probably built a sundial, that we can see on Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary,
• Lech Wałęsa, politician, Nobel prize winner, born in Popowo, 23 km of Włocławek
• Katy Carr, singer, she spent childhood in Włocławek
• Adam Palma, musician

External links

• (English) Municipal website
• (Polish) Website of tourist information
• (English) (German) Blog of tourism in Włocławek and Kujawy
• The history of Diocese of Włocławek in Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)
• Story of jews