Gorzów Wielkopolski
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Gorzów Wielkopolski (; german: Landsberg an der Warthe) often abbreviated to Gorzów Wlkp. or simply Gorzów, is a city in western
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
, on the
Warta The river Warta ( , ; german: Warthe ; la, Varta) rises in central Poland and meanders greatly north-west to flow into the Oder, against the German border. About long, it is Poland's second-longest river within its borders after the Vistula, a ...
river. It is the second largest city in the
Lubusz Voivodeship Lubusz Voivodeship, or Lubuskie Province ( pl, województwo lubuskie ), is a voivodeship (province) in western Poland. It was created on January 1, 1999, out of the former Gorzów Wielkopolski and Zielona Góra Voivodeships, pursuant to the Po ...
with 120,087 inhabitants (December 2021) and one of its two capitals with a seat of a
voivode Voivode (, also spelled ''voievod'', ''voevod'', ''voivoda'', ''vojvoda'' or ''wojewoda'') is a title denoting a military leader or warlord in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe since the Early Middle Ages. It primarily referred to the me ...
, with the other being
Zielona Góra Zielona Góra is the largest city in Lubusz Voivodeship, located in western Poland, with 140,403 inhabitants (2021). Zielona Góra has a favourable geographical position, being close to the Polish-German border and on several international road ...
. 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 river Warta ( , ; german: Warthe ; la, Varta) rises in central Poland and meanders greatly north-west to flow into the Oder, against the German border. About long, it is Poland's second-longest river within its borders after the Vistula, a ...
. The Polish name Gorzów, written as Gorzew, is known from Polish maps and historical books dating back to the 19th century or perhaps earlier.Henryk M. Wozniak, Gazeta Zachodnia
"Gorzów tak - Wielkopolski nie."
The name appeared in a compendium called ''Ancient Poland according to its history, geography and statistics'' published in 1848 by Samuel Orgelbrand in
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
. Ten years earlier, in 1838, the same name Gorzew was used in a book published in
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
with a corresponding yet broader title encompassing all of Poland. The current spelling of "Gorzów" appears on the map featuring "Królestwo Polskie" published in
Lviv Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
in 1900 with "Landsberg an der Warthe" in parenthesis next to "Gorzów". The name is interpreted in several different ways according to rules of the Old Polish language, originating from "gorzenie" (fire, burning) or "pogorzelcy" (survivors of a fire), or alternatively "gorzelnia" (distillery) or "gorzałka" (spirits). 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 " Greater Polish", after the voivodeship of that name of which Gorzów was a part from 1946 to 1950, was added later. The area of today's Gorzów was part of the historical region of Greater Poland until the mid-13th century.


History

During the reign of the first Polish monarchs of the Piast dynasty there was a craft and trade settlement and until the mid-13th century, the land where the river Kłodawka meets the Warta was the location of a defensive fort established by the
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
Piast dynasty.Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Warsaw 1976 In 1249 the Silesian Duke
Bolesław II Rogatka Boleslav or Bolesław may refer to: In people: * Boleslaw (given name) In geography: * Bolesław, Dąbrowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland * Bolesław, Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland * Bolesław, Silesian Voivodeship, ...
had sold
Lubusz Land Lubusz Land ( pl, Ziemia lubuska; german: Land Lebus) is a historical region and cultural landscape in Poland and Germany on both sides of the Oder river. Originally the settlement area of the Lechites, the swampy area was located east of Branden ...
in the west to the
Ascanian The House of Ascania (german: Askanier) was a dynasty of German rulers. It is also known as the House of Anhalt, which refers to its longest-held possession, Anhalt. The Ascanians are named after Ascania (or Ascaria) Castle, known as ''Schloss ...
Margraves of
Brandenburg Brandenburg (; nds, Brannenborg; dsb, Bramborska ) is a states of Germany, state in the northeast of Germany bordering the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony, as well as the country of Poland. With an ar ...
, and the city of ''Landisberch Nova'' (named after
Altlandsberg Altlandsberg () is a historic town in the district of Märkisch-Oderland, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated about east of Berlin. History Altlandsberg was first mentioned in a 1230 deed, it was located at the site of a former Slavic ( Spr ...
) was founded on the site in 1257. The city was at that time an eastern outpost of the newly established
Neumark The Neumark (), also known as the New March ( pl, Nowa Marchia) or as East Brandenburg (), was a region of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and its successors located east of the Oder River in territory which became part of Poland in 1945. Call ...
region of Brandenburg, close to the Greater Polish fortress of
Santok Santok (german: Zantoch) is a village in Gorzów County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Santok. Geography It is located at the confluence of the Noteć and Warta rive ...
. After a war broke out over control of the region in 1319, the town came under control of the
Duchy of Pomerania The Duchy of Pomerania (german: Herzogtum Pommern; pl, Księstwo Pomorskie; Latin: ''Ducatus Pomeraniae'') was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania (''Griffins''). The country ha ...
, but by 1325 it fell to Brandenburg again. In 1325 Polish, in 1432
Hussite The Hussites ( cs, Husité or ''Kališníci''; "Chalice People") were a Czech proto-Protestant Christian movement that followed the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who became the best known representative of the Bohemian Reformation. The Hussit ...
troops beleaguered the city. In 1373 the city became part of the
Lands of the Bohemian Crown The Lands of the Bohemian Crown were a number of incorporated states in Central Europe during the medieval and early modern periods connected by feudal relations under the Bohemian kings. The crown lands primarily consisted of the Kingdom of ...
(or ''Czech Lands''), ruled by the
Luxembourg dynasty The House of Luxembourg ( lb, D'Lëtzebuerger Haus; french: Maison de Luxembourg; german: Haus Luxemburg) or Luxembourg dynasty was a royal family of the Holy Roman Empire in the Late Middle Ages, whose members between 1308 and 1437 ruled as kin ...
. In 1402, the Luxembourgs reached an agreement with
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
in
Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
. Poland was to buy and re-incorporate Gorzów and the surrounding region, but eventually the Luxembourgs sold the city to the
Teutonic Order The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians on ...
. In 1454, after the Thirteen Years’ War broke out, the Teutonic Knights sold the city to Brandenburg in order to raise funds for war against Poland. In the 16th century the city became
Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
, with St. Mary's Cathedral changing its allegiance in 1537. In 1701 Landsberg (Gorzów) became part of the
Kingdom of Prussia The Kingdom of Prussia (german: Königreich Preußen, ) was a German kingdom that constituted the state of Prussia between 1701 and 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. Re ...
. On 4 February 1813 during the
Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
the Russian
Ataman Ataman (variants: ''otaman'', ''wataman'', ''vataman''; Russian: атаман, uk, отаман) was a title of Cossack and haidamak leaders of various kinds. In the Russian Empire, the term was the official title of the supreme military comman ...
Aleksandr Chernichev and his
Cossack The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...
troops defeated a French battalion of 1,500 men of
Louis-Nicolas Davout Louis-Nicolas d'Avout (10 May 1770 – 1 June 1823), better known as Davout, 1st Duke of Auerstaedt, 1st Prince of Eckmühl, was a French military commander and Marshal of the Empire who served during both the French Revolutionary Wars and th ...
's corps. In 1815 – in the course of an administrative restructuring – the town became part of Prussia's
Province of Brandenburg The Province of Brandenburg (german: Provinz Brandenburg) was a province of Prussia from 1815 to 1945. Brandenburg was established in 1815 from the Kingdom of Prussia's core territory, comprised the bulk of the historic Margraviate of Brandenburg ...
. The city, like all of Prussia, was included in the
German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...
in 1871 during the
unification of Germany The unification of Germany (, ) was the process of building the modern German nation state with federal features based on the concept of Lesser Germany (one without multinational Austria), which commenced on 18 August 1866 with adoption of t ...
. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the Germans established nine forced labour camps, as well as four labour units for French, Italian and Soviet prisoners of war in the city. In early 1945 during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
the town was heavily damaged following the retreat of the
Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...
ahead of the
Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
. 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. The city became part of Poland in accordance with border changes promulgated at the postwar
Potsdam Conference The Potsdam Conference (german: Potsdamer Konferenz) was held at Potsdam in the Soviet occupation zone from July 17 to August 2, 1945, to allow the three leading Allies to plan the postwar peace, while avoiding the mistakes of the Paris Pe ...
, supposedly pending a final peace conference with Germany. Since a peace conference never took place, the town was effectively ceded to Poland. German residents who had not fled or died in the war were expelled in accordance to the Potsdam Agreement, and the city was gradually repopulated with Polish settlers from central Poland and those expelled from Polish territory annexed by the Soviet Union. The last original German inhabitants were forced to leave the city in the early 1950s. It was at this time that Gorzów's now sizeable
Tatar The Tatars ()Tatar
in the Collins English Dictionary
is an umbrella term for different
and
Romani Romani may refer to: Ethnicities * Romani people, an ethnic group of Northern Indian origin, living dispersed in Europe, the Americas and Asia ** Romani genocide, under Nazi rule * Romani language, any of several Indo-Aryan languages of the Roma ...
communities arrived in the town. Not having had an agreed Polish name, the town was initially renamed as "Kobylagóra" on 30 May 1945, later as "Gorzów nad Wartą" on 7 July 1945 and finally "Gorzów Wielkopolski" on 5 November 1946. Between 1975 and 1998, it was the capital of the
Gorzów Voivodeship Gorzów Wielkopolski Voivodeship () was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland between 1975 and 1998 when it was superseded by Lubusz Voivodeship. Its capital city was Gorzów Wielkopolski. Major cities and towns (popul ...
.


Climate

Gorzów Wielkopolski has an
oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...
(
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
: ''Cfb'') using the isotherm or a
humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
(Köppen climate classification: ''Dfb'') using the isotherm.


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
Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
, red-brick Gorzów Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, dating from the end of the 13th century, situated on the old market square. The city centre is overwhelmingly occupied by Communist-era buildings, although many have been beautified, most notably those around the old market square. Many of the façades of the buildings in the centre were renovated in anticipation of the visit of
Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
to Gorzów in 1997. Due to the large number of parks and green spaces, Gorzów has been termed 'the city of parks and gardens'. In addition to the central Park of Roses, there is also a viewing area on the hilltop of Siemiradzki Park which commands impressive views across the plains and woods to the south of the city. The city also contains the museum of
Lubusz Voivodeship Lubusz Voivodeship, or Lubuskie Province ( pl, województwo lubuskie ), is a voivodeship (province) in western Poland. It was created on January 1, 1999, out of the former Gorzów Wielkopolski and Zielona Góra Voivodeships, pursuant to the Po ...
, which is divided between two sites. The Spichlerz or 'granary' dates from the 18th century and can be found on the left bank of the
Warta The river Warta ( , ; german: Warthe ; la, Varta) rises in central Poland and meanders greatly north-west to flow into the Oder, against the German border. About long, it is Poland's second-longest river within its borders after the Vistula, a ...
. The museum, housed inside, frequently plays host to art exhibitions and has a permanent collection of artifacts and photographs relating to the history of the city. The other part of the museum, on Warszawska street, is housed in the
secessionist Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics l ...
villa of Gustav Schroeder. This section contains a wide range of artifacts, ranging from portraits of the 17th century, to weapons, pottery, and the Biedermeier interior furnishings of the villa itself. 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
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz (; born 20 December 1959) is a Polish conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of Poland from 31 October 2005 to 14 July 2006. He was a member of the Law and Justice party (''Prawo i Sprawiedliwość'', PiS). ...
, who was born and worked here. After stepping down as the PM he was appointed as acting mayor of
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
and then as a counsel to a chairman of
PKO BP Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski Spółka Akcyjna (also known as ''PKO Bank Polski S.A.'', ''PKO BP S.A.'') is Poland's largest bank founded in 1919. It provides services to individual and business clients. The core business activity of ...
bank. In 2007 he became one of the directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He now works for
Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs () is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is headquartered at 200 West Street in Lower Manhattan, with regional headquarters in London, Warsaw, Bangalore, H ...
.


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 Tesco plc () is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, England. In 2011 it was the third-largest retailer in the world measured by gross revenues and the ninth-largest in th ...
hypermarket A hypermarket (sometimes called a hyperstore, supercentre or superstore) is a big-box store combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including ...
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 Stilon (chemical fibres), Silwana (fabrics) and
Ursus Ursus is Latin for bear. It may also refer to: Animals * ''Ursus'' (mammal), a genus of bears People * Ursus of Aosta, 6th-century evangelist * Ursus of Auxerre, 6th-century bishop * Ursus of Solothurn, 3rd-century martyr * Ursus (''praefectus ...
(tractors) who remained major employers up to the mid-1990s. After
Leszek Balcerowicz Leszek Henryk Balcerowicz (pronounced ; born 19 January 1947) is a Polish economist, statesman, and Professor at Warsaw School of Economics. He served as Chairman of the National Bank of Poland (2001–2007) and twice as Deputy Prime Minister o ...
's free market reforms former state-owned companies either went bankrupt or had severe financial problems that resulted in radical employment and production reduction. In the 1990s and 2000s the city saw a new economic age. While public giants were collapsing new private companies were established. Currently the biggest employer in the city is Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze Sp. z o.o. (previously Volkswagen Elektro-Systemy Sp. z o.o.), car wiring systems. The then German company established in Gorzów in 1993 (taken over by Japanese
Sumitomo Electric is a manufacturer of electric wire and optical fiber cables. Its headquarters are in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. The company's shares are listed in the first section of the Tokyo, Nagoya Stock Exchanges, and the Fukuoka Stock Exchange. In the peri ...
in 2006), it operates in Stilon industrial estate. Gorzów Heat and Power Plant ( Elektrociepłownia Gorzów) is a modern company with over 300 staff and it holds an award of Fair Play Company. One of the most distinguished employers is Biowet Vetoquinol which has over 100 years of experience in veterinary medicines and chemistry. manufacturing. Gorzów is a Polish headquarters of Spartherm Feuerungstechnik GmbH. A recent economic development of the city was boosted by creation of Kostrzyn-Słubice Special Economic Zone and its Subzone Gorzów. At present there are two significant employers in the Subzone: Faurecia and TPV Displays and many other smaller companies operating there.


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
night lines ''Night Lines'' was a Canadian radio series, which aired on CBC Stereo from 1984 to 1997.Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack and Jason Schneider, '' Have Not Been the Same: The Can-Rock Renaissance 1985-1995''. ECW Press. . The show, which aired on Fr ...
, and three tram lines. In the summer season there are services to nearby lakes. MZK services carry about 90,000 people every day. The company owns one of the most modern bus fleets in Poland. There are railway connections with major Polish cities, mostly with interchange in Krzyż or
Kostrzyn Kostrzyn (german: Kostschin) is a town in Poland, seat of Gmina Kostrzyn in the Poznań County in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, with 8,398 inhabitants (2004). History As part of the region of Greater Poland, i.e. the cradle of the Polish s ...
. There are plans to start fast through trains to
Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint Joh ...
, Szczecin,
Wrocław Wrocław (; german: Breslau, or . ; Silesian German: ''Brassel'') is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the River Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, rou ...
and
Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
. Gorzów main station was renovated in 2009 and 2010 and it offers
bed and breakfast Bed and breakfast (typically shortened to B&B or BnB) is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast. Bed and breakfasts are often private family homes and typically have between four and eleven rooms, wit ...
, restaurant and retail services. The S3 expressway provides a fast road connection to Szczecin and
Zielona Góra Zielona Góra is the largest city in Lubusz Voivodeship, located in western Poland, with 140,403 inhabitants (2021). Zielona Góra has a favourable geographical position, being close to the Polish-German border and on several international road ...
.


Culture

Gorzów is well known for the ''International
Romani Romani may refer to: Ethnicities * Romani people, an ethnic group of Northern Indian origin, living dispersed in Europe, the Americas and Asia ** Romani genocide, under Nazi rule * Romani language, any of several Indo-Aryan languages of the Roma ...
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 An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...
near the centre of the city. The festival is organised by
Edward Dębicki Edward Dębicki (born 4 March 1935) is a Polish Romani poet, musician and composer. His work is connected with the Romani community and its cultural, itinerant and music traditions. Dębicki was born in Kałusz, in present-day Ukraine, the son o ...
, the founder of the Romani music group
Terno Terno (English: " heYoung"), is a Polish Romani music collective founded in 1953. Originally known as ''Kcham'', Terno was founded by Romani musician Edward Dębicki Edward Dębicki (born 4 March 1935) is a Polish Romani poet, musician and comp ...
, 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
Bronisława Wajs Bronisława Wajs (17 August 1908, Lublin – 8 February 1987, Inowrocław) was a Polish-Romani people, Romani classic poet and singer. Life Bronisława Wajs, commonly known by her Romani people, Romani name Papusza (meaning ''Doll''), was one ...
, often known as Papusza. Wajs's former home on Kosynierów Gdyńskich street is marked with a plaque, as is the main city library on Sikorskiego street. The library itself holds a collection of books about Papusza, as well as the manuscripts of her correspondence with
Julian Tuwim Julian Tuwim (13 September 1894 – 27 December 1953), known also under the pseudonym "Oldlen" as a lyricist, was a Polish poet, born in Łódź, then part of the Russian Partition. He was educated in Łódź and in Warsaw where he studied la ...
. In Poland the city is famous for its
Jazz Club Pod Filarami Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African Americans, African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recog ...
which every autumn organizes Gorzów Jazz Celebrations a festival which hosts internationally recognized musicians from Poland and around the world.


Religion

The city is home to the house general of the
Congregation of Sisters of Merciful Jesus A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship. Congregation may also refer to: * Church (congregation), a Christian organization meeting in a particular place for worship *Congregation (Roman Curia), an administr ...
. Its first monastery is in nearby
Myślibórz Myślibórz (pronounced ; german: Soldin; csb, Żôłdzëno) is a town in northwestern Poland, in West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is the capital of the Powiat of Myślibórz (powiat myśliborski), with a population of 11,867. It is home to th ...
.


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.


Education

* * Poznan University School of Physical Education - Faculty of Physical Education in Gorzów Wielkopolski * Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu w Gorzowie Wlkp. * 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 Michał Jliński (born 17 March 1980, in Gorzów Wielkopolski) is a Polish rower. He won a gold medal in quadruple sculls at the 2008 Summer Olympics. For his sporting achievements, he received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Resti ...
, 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 Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
team, competing in the Basket Liga Kobiet (top division; as of 2021–22) *
Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski is a Polish speedway team based in Gorzów Wielkopolski that currently competes in Speedway Ekstraliga. History Formation and beginnings The speedway section of club was officially registered 9 April 1950. At number ...
motorcycle speedway Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to simply as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. The motorcycles are specialist machines that use only ...
team, competing in the
Speedway Ekstraliga The Speedway Ekstraliga ( en, Polish Extraleague, pl, Ekstraliga żużlowa) is the top division of motorcycle speedway in Poland. It has been called the "richest and most popular speedway league in the world", and attracts riders from all over th ...
(top division; as of 2022), nine times Polish Champions *
Stilon Gorzów Wielkopolski Stilon Gorzów Wielkopolski, is a Polish football club based in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland. History The club was founded in 1947. In the 1991–92 Polish Cup, they reached the semi-finals. In 1997, the club was relegated from the III liga, c ...
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
club with men and
women A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or Adolescence, adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female hum ...
sections * - football club with men and women sections *Gorzów is a national powerhouse in
water polo Water polo is a competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the ball into the opposing team's goal. The team with the ...
for decades. International events are regularly held at the Slowianka Sports Centre with a modern Olympic-size pool.


Notable people

*
Gottfried Bernhardy Gottfried Bernhardy (20 March 1800 – 14 May 1875), German philologist and literary historian, was born at Landsberg an der Warthe (now Poland) in the Neumark. Life He was the son of Jewish parents in reduced circumstances. Two well-to-do un ...
(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 Arthur Moritz Schoenflies (; 17 April 1853 – 27 May 1928), sometimes written as Schönflies, was a German mathematician, known for his contributions to the application of group theory to crystallography, and for work in topology. Schoenflies ...
(1853–1928), German mathematician *
Ludwig Pick Ludwig Pick (31 August 1868 – 3 February 1944) was a German pathologist born in Landsberg an der Warthe. In 1893 he earned his medical doctorate in Leipzig, and subsequently practiced medicine at Leopold Landau's private ''Frauenklinik'', whe ...
(1868–1944), German pathologist * Georg Axhausen (1877–1960), oral and maxillofacial surgeon * Marie Juchacz (1879–1956), German SPD politician *
Victor Klemperer Victor Klemperer (9 October 188111 February 1960) was a German scholar who also became known as a diarist. His journals, published in Germany in 1995, detailed his life under the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, and the Germa ...
(1881–1960), author and literary scholar * Ernst Schwarz (1886–1958), German politician *
Elisabeth Röhl Elisabeth Röhl; née Elisabeth Gohlke ( 22 August 1888 – 21 September 1930) was one of the first German women politicians. Her second marriage was to the fellow politician Emil Kirschmann, as a result of which sources after 1922 generall ...
(1888–1930), German politician *
Kurt Scharf Kurt Scharf (October 21, 1902 – March 28, 1990) was a German clergyman and bishop of the Evangelical Church in Berlin-Brandenburg. Life Kurt Scharf was born in Landsberg an der Warthe in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg (now Gorz ...
(1902–1990), Lutheran bishop of Berlin *
Bronisława Wajs Bronisława Wajs (17 August 1908, Lublin – 8 February 1987, Inowrocław) was a Polish-Romani people, Romani classic poet and singer. Life Bronisława Wajs, commonly known by her Romani people, Romani name Papusza (meaning ''Doll''), was one ...
(1908–1987), Romani poet *
Herman Bottcher Herman John Bottcher (born Hermann Johann Friedrich Bottcher; July 13, 1909 – December 31, 1944) was an American soldier born in Germany, who was awarded the rank of captain in two different armies, the International Brigade during the S ...
(1909–1944), German-born American soldier *
Roger G. Newton Roger Gerhard Newton (né Neuweg; November 30, 1924 – April 14, 2018) was a German-born American physicist. Newton was born in Landsberg an der Warthe, Weimar Germany (present day Gorzów Wielkopolski) on November 30, 1924, to parents Margaret ...
(1924–2018), German-born American physicist *
Christa Wolf Christa Wolf (; née Ihlenfeld; 18 March 1929 – 1 December 2011) was a German novelist and essayist.
Barbara Gard ...
(1929–2011), writer and literary critic *
Teresa Klimek Teresa Klimek (1929-2013) was a Polish people, Polish educator and activist. Educated to teach mathematics, she taught in various schools in Gorzów Wielkopolski from 1953 to 1984 and was honored for her skill as an educator. She helped found the ...
(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 Edward Dębicki (born 4 March 1935) is a Polish Romani poet, musician and composer. His work is connected with the Romani community and its cultural, itinerant and music traditions. Dębicki was born in Kałusz, in present-day Ukraine, the son o ...
(born 1935), Romani poet, composer and musician *
Edward Jancarz Edward 'Ed' Jancarz (20 August 1946 – 11 January 1992) was a Polish international speedway rider.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. Career Jancarz rode in the UK for ...
(1946–1992), speedway rider * Danuta Danielsson (1947–1988), Polish anti-Nazi protester, subject of an iconinc photograph taken in 1985 in
Växjö Växjö ( ) is a city and the seat of Växjö Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden. It had 70,489 inhabitants (2019) out of a municipal population of 95,995 (2021). It is the administrative, cultural, and industrial centre of Kronoberg County ...
, Sweden *
Zenon Plech Zenon Plech (1 January 1953 – 25 November 2020) was a Polish international motorcycle speedway rider. He finished third in the Speedway World Championship in 1973 and as the runner-up in 1979. Career summary Plech won the Polish National Cha ...
(born 1953), speedway rider *
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz (; born 20 December 1959) is a Polish conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of Poland from 31 October 2005 to 14 July 2006. He was a member of the Law and Justice party (''Prawo i Sprawiedliwość'', PiS). ...
(born 1959), former Prime Minister of Poland *
Marek Jurek Marek Jurek (; 28 June 1960 in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland) is a right-wing politician and a Member of the European Parliament. Since 20 April 2007 he has been the leader of the aspirant party Right of the Republic. Politically, he is most kno ...
(born 1960), politician, former
Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland The Marshal of the Sejm , also known as Sejm Marshal, Chairman of the Sejm or Speaker of the Sejm ( pl, Marszałek Sejmu, ) is the speaker (chair) of the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament. The office traces its origins to the 15th ...
*
Lech Piasecki Lech Piasecki (born 13 November 1961) is a Polish former racing cyclist. Born in Poznań, he became the first Polish cyclist to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, in 1987. After Piasecki became Amateur world champion in 1985, the Co ...
(born 1961), racing cyclist *
Zenon Jaskuła Zenon Jaskuła (born 4 June 1962) is a Polish former professional racing cyclist from Śrem, who was active in the 1990s. He won stage 16 and finished third overall in the 1993 Tour de France. He competed in the team time trial at the 1988 Su ...
(born 1962), racing cyclist * Tomasz Kucharski (born 1974), rower, double Olympic champion *
Beata Sokołowska-Kulesza Beata Sokołowska-Kulesza (born 10 January 1974 in Gorzów Wielkopolski) is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from 1999 to 2004. Competing in two Summer Olympics, she won two bronze medals in the K-2 500 m event (2000 ...
(born 1974), sprint canoer, olympic bronze medalist and world champion * Sebastian Świderski (born 1977), volleyball player *
Michał Jeliński Michał Jliński (born 17 March 1980, in Gorzów Wielkopolski) is a Polish rower. He won a gold medal in quadruple sculls at the 2008 Summer Olympics. For his sporting achievements, he received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Resti ...
(born 1980), olympic and four times world champion in rowing *
Michal Michal (; he, מיכל , gr, Μιχάλ) was, according to the first Book of Samuel, a princess of the United Kingdom of Israel; the younger daughter of King Saul, she was the first wife of David (), who later became king, first of Judah, ...
(Michał Kwiatkowski, born 1983), singer,
Star Academy ''Star Academy'', called ''Operación Triunfo'' ("Operation Triumph") in Spanish-speaking countries, is a highly successful television pop music talent contest with viewer voting and reality show elements. Format There are many versions of t ...
music contest runner-up *
Łukasz Maliszewski Łukasz Maliszewski (born 27 April 1985) is a Polish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Stilon Gorzów Wielkopolski Stilon Gorzów Wielkopolski, is a Polish football club based in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland. History The club was f ...
(born 1985), footballer * Kamil Dragun (born 1995), chess grandmaster *
Dawid Kwiatkowski Dawid Kwiatkowski (born 1 January 1996) is a Polish singer-songwriter and television personality. He began his musical career in the band Two of Us. He has released seven solo studio albums: ''9893'' (2013), ''Akustycznie'' (2014), ''Pop & Roll' ...
(born 1996), singer-songwriter *
Dawid Kownacki Dawid Igor Kownacki (; born 14 March 1997) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Fortuna Düsseldorf and the Poland national team. Besides Poland, he has played in Italy and Germany. Early career Having started o ...
(born 1997), Polish professional football player * Sebastian Walukiewicz (born 2000), Polish professional football player


Twin towns – sister cities

Gorzów Wielkopolski is twinned with: *
Cava de' Tirreni Cava de' Tirreni (; Cilentan: ''A Càva'') is a city and '' comune'' in the region of Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, northwest of the town of Salerno. It lies in a richly cultivated valley surrounded by wooded hills, and is a p ...
, Italy *
Eberswalde Eberswalde () is a major town and the administrative seat of the district Barnim in the German State ( Bundesland / ''federated state'') of Brandenburg, about 50 km northeast of Berlin. Population 42,144 (census in June 2005), geographi ...
, Germany *
Frankfurt an der Oder Frankfurt (Oder), also known as Frankfurt an der Oder (), is a city in the German state of Brandenburg. It has around 57,000 inhabitants, is one of the easternmost cities in Germany, the fourth-largest city in Brandenburg, and the largest German ...
, Germany *
Herford (district) Herford () is a ''Kreis'' (district) in the northeastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Minden-Lübbecke, Lippe, the urban district of Bielefeld, and the districts Gütersloh and Osnabrück. History The region ...
, Germany *
Sumy Sumy ( uk, Суми ) is a city of regional significance in Ukraine, and the capital of Sumy Oblast. The city is situated on the banks of the Psel River in northeastern Ukraine with a population of according to the 2021 census, making it the 2 ...
, Ukraine *
Teramo Teramo (; nap, label= Abruzzese, Tèreme ) is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo. The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines ( Gran Sasso d'Itali ...
, Italy


Gallery

File:Gorzów Wlkp. widok na bulwary.JPG, View of the riverside boulevards and the city's oldest section File:Plac Grunwaldzki ŁK.jpg, Grunwaldzki Square File:Bulwar wschodni BN.jpg, Nadwarcianski Boulevard File:Deptak na Sikorskiego BN.jpg, Pedestrian zone on Sikorski Street File:Gorzow Koscioł Podwyzszenia Krzyza Swiętego.jpg, Holy Cross Church File:Ulica Chrobrego w Gorzowie Wlkp1.JPG, Chrobrego Street File:Pomnik Józefa Piłsudskiego w Gorzowie.JPG,
Józef Piłsudski Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Naczelnik państwa, Chief of State (1918–1922) and Marshal of Poland, First Marshal of Second Polish Republic, Poland (from 1920). He was ...
Monument File:Gorzów Sąd Okregowy.jpg, District Court File:Staw w Gorzowie.JPG,
Spring of Nations The Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Springtime of the Peoples or the Springtime of Nations, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe starting in 1848. It remains the most widespread revolutionary wave in Europea ...
Park File:Gorzów Wielkopolski, willa przy ul. 30 Stycznia.jpg, Bishop's Palace File:Narożna kamienica 02.JPG, An example of a 19th-century townhouse File:Mieszka I 7 Gorzow.JPG, Old townhouses, Mieszka I Street File:Dworzec PKP GOrzów.JPG,
Main railway station Central stations or central railway stations emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as railway stations that had initially been built on the edge of city centres were enveloped by urban expansion and became an integral part of the ...
File:Gorzow Park111 2.JPG, Park 111 shopping centre File:Gorzów Wielkopolski ul. Mieszka I.jpg, Immaculate Conception church


Notes


References


External links

* *
Jewish Community in Gorzów Wielkopolski
on Virtual Shtetl {{DEFAULTSORT:Gorzow Wielkopolski Cities and towns in Lubusz Voivodeship City counties of Poland