Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16
voivodeships
A voivodeship is the area administered by a voivode (Governor) in several countries of central and eastern Europe. Voivodeships have existed since medieval times and the area of extent of voivodeship resembles that of a duchy in western medieval ...
(
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
s) into which
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 populou ...
is divided. It was created on 1 January 1999 and is situated in mid-northern Poland, on the boundary between the two historic regions from which it takes its name:
Kuyavia
Kuyavia ( pl, Kujawy; german: Kujawien; la, Cuiavia), also referred to as Cuyavia, is a historical region in north-central Poland, situated on the left bank of Vistula, as well as east from Noteć River and Lake Gopło. It is divided into three ...
( pl, Kujawy) and
Pomerania
Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
( pl, Pomorze). Its two chief cities, serving as the province's joint capitals, are
Bydgoszcz and
Toruń
)''
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, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
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, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
.
History
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship was created on 1 January 1999, as a result of the
Polish local government reforms
The administrative division of Poland since 1999 has been based on three levels of subdivision. The territory of Poland is divided into ''voivodeships'' (provinces); these are further divided into ''powiats'' (counties or districts), and these i ...
adopted in 1998. It consisted of territory from the former
Bydgoszcz,
Toruń
)''
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, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
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, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
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and
Włocławek
Włocławek (Polish pronunciation: ; german: Leslau) is a city located in central Poland along the Vistula (Wisła) River and is bordered by the Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park. As of December 2021, the population of the city is 106,928. Loc ...
Voivodeships.
The area now known as Kuyavia-Pomerania was previously divided between the region of
Kuyavia
Kuyavia ( pl, Kujawy; german: Kujawien; la, Cuiavia), also referred to as Cuyavia, is a historical region in north-central Poland, situated on the left bank of Vistula, as well as east from Noteć River and Lake Gopło. It is divided into three ...
and the Polish fiefdom of
Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia ( pl, Prusy Królewskie; german: Königlich-Preußen or , csb, Królewsczé Prësë) or Polish PrussiaAnton Friedrich Büsching, Patrick Murdoch. ''A New System of Geography'', London 1762p. 588/ref> (Polish: ; German: ) was a ...
. Of the two principal cities of today's Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship, one (
Bydgoszcz) was historically located in Pomerania, whilst the other (
Toruń
)''
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, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
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, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
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) was an important town of Royal Prussia.
Administration and territory
The functions of regional capital are split between
Bydgoszcz and
Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
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, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
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, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
. Bydgoszcz serves as the seat of the centrally appointed governor or
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 ...
( pl, wojewoda), while Toruń is the seat of the elected
Regional Assembly (
sejmik
A sejmik (, diminutive of ''sejm'', occasionally translated as a ''dietine''; lt, seimelis) was one of various local parliaments in the history of Poland and history of Lithuania. The first sejmiks were regional assemblies in the Kingdom of ...
), and of the executive elected by that assembly, headed by the voivodeship marshal (''marszałek województwa'').
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship is bordered by five other voivodeships. These are
Pomeranian Voivodeship to the north,
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship or Warmia-Masuria Province or Warmia-Mazury Province (in pl, Województwo warmińsko-mazurskie, is a voivodeship (province) in northeastern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Olsztyn. The voivodeship has an ar ...
to the north-east,
Masovian Voivodeship
The Masovian Voivodeship, also known as the Mazovia Province ( pl, województwo mazowieckie ) is a voivodeship (province) in east-central Poland, with its capital located in the city of Warsaw, which also serves as the capital of the country. Th ...
to the east,
Łódź Voivodeship
Łódź Voivodeship (also known as Lodz Province, or by its Polish name ''Województwo łódzkie'' ) is a province- voivodeship in central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Łódź Voivodeship (1975–1999) and the Sier ...
across a short boundary to the south, and
Greater Poland Voivodeship
Greater Poland Voivodeship ( pl, Województwo wielkopolskie; ), also known as Wielkopolska Voivodeship, Wielkopolska Province, or Greater Poland Province, is a voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 ...
to the south and west.
Cities and towns
![Inowroclaw hotel Bast](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Inowroclaw_hotel_Bast.jpg)
The voivodeship contains 5 cities and 47 towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2019
):
Economy
The
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is oft ...
(GDP) of the province was 21.8 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 4.4% of Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 17,300 euros or 57% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 64% of the EU average.
Transportation
Transportation infrastructure is of critical importance to the voivodeship's economy. Kuyavia-Pomerania is a major node in the Polish transportation system. Railway lines from the South and
East
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the fac ...
pass through
Bydgoszcz to connect to the major ports on the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...
. In addition to this,
Bydgoszcz is home to the rolling stock manufacturer
PESA SA
Pesa (Pojazdy Szynowe Pesa Bydgoszcz) is a Polish company manufacturing railway vehicles based in Bydgoszcz. The name 'Pesa' derives from the initials PS which stand for ''Pojazdy Szynowe,'' 'railway vehicles' in Polish. Pesa is a successor ...
, Poland's largest and most modern producer of railway and tram products. The province's sole international airport,
Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport, is located in Bydgoszcz and has connections to a number of European destinations as well as
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 ...
, which are all operated by either Irish carrier
Ryanair or
LOT Polish Airlines.
The main railway stations of the province are Bydgoszcz main station and Toruń main station; both stations are served by fast
PKP Intercity
PKP Intercity is a company of PKP Group responsible for long-distance passenger transport. It runs about 350 trains daily, connecting mainly large agglomerations and smaller towns in Poland. The company also provides most international trains to ...
trains which connect them with the capital
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 ...
, as well as other major Polish cities. In addition to these fast express services, inter-regional trains are operated by the firm
Przewozy Regionalne
Polregio (formerly ''Przewozy Regionalne'') is a train operator in Poland, responsible for local and interregional passenger transportation. Each day it runs approximately 3,000 regional trains. In 2002 it carried 215 million passengers.
The ...
, whilst domestic rail transportation within the voivodeship is provided by
Arriva RP
Arriva Poland Sp. z o. o. is a Polish private rail carrier providing services in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Masovian Voivodeship, Masovian, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Warmia ...
, a private firm to which the provincial government subcontracted the provision of rail transport.
All major towns of the province have municipal transportation companies operating buses, whilst
Bydgoszcz,
Toruń
)''
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, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
and
Grudziądz
Grudziądz ( la, Graudentum, Graudentium, german: Graudenz) is a city in northern Poland, with 92,552 inhabitants (2021). Located on the Vistula River, it lies within the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and is the fourth-largest city in its prov ...
also have extensive tram systems.
Politics
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship's government is headed by the province's voivode ''(governor)'' who is appointed by the
Polish Prime Minister. The voivode is then assisted in performing his duties by the voivodeship's marshal, who is the appointed speaker for the voivodeship's executive and is elected by the sejmik ''(provincial assembly)''. The current voivode of Kuyavia-Pomerania is
Ewa Monika Mes, and the present marshal is
Piotr Całbecki.
The Sejmik of Kuyavia-Pomerania consists of 33 members.
Governors
Administrative division
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 23 counties (
powiat
A ''powiat'' (pronounced ; Polish plural: ''powiaty'') is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture ( LAU-1, formerly NUTS-4) in other countries. The term "''powia ...
s): 4 city counties and 19 land counties. These are further divided into 144
gmina
The gmina (Polish: , plural ''gminy'' , from German ''Gemeinde'' meaning ''commune'') is the principal unit of the administrative division of Poland, similar to a municipality. , there were 2,477 gminas throughout the country, encompassing over 4 ...
s.
The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).
Protected areas
Protected areas in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship include the nine
Landscape Parks listed below.
*
Brodnica Landscape Park
Brodnica Landscape Park (''Brodnicki Park Krajobrazowy'') is a protected area ( Landscape Park) in north-central Poland, established in 1985, covering an area of .
The Park is shared between two voivodeships: Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and ...
(partly in
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship or Warmia-Masuria Province or Warmia-Mazury Province (in pl, Województwo warmińsko-mazurskie, is a voivodeship (province) in northeastern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Olsztyn. The voivodeship has an ar ...
)
*
Chełmno Landscape Park
Chełmno Landscape Park (''Chełmiński Park Krajobrazowy'') is a protected area ( Landscape Park) in north-central Poland, established in 1998, covering an area of .
The Park lies within Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the region of the town ...
*
Gopło Landscape Park
Gopło is a lake in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, north-central Poland, near the city of Gniezno. It gives its name to the protected area called Gopło Landscape Park.
In early Middle Ages, the shores of Lake Gopło were home to a West Slavic ...
*
Górzno-Lidzbark Landscape Park (partly in
Masovian and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships)
*
Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park (partly in Masovian Voivodeship)
*
Krajna Landscape Park
*
Tuchola Landscape Park
Tuchola Landscape Park (''Tucholski Park Krajobrazowy'') is a protected area ( Landscape Park) in north-central Poland, established in 1985, covering an area of in the Tuchola Forests close to the town of Tuchola.
The Park is shared between two ...
(partly in
Pomeranian Voivodeship)
*
Vistula Landscape Park
*
Wda Landscape Park
Wda Landscape Park (''Wdecki Park Krajobrazowy'') is a protected area ( Landscape Park) in north-central Poland, established in 1993, covering an area of . It takes its name from the Wda river.
The Park lies within Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship ...
Gallery
Image:Colegiate church, Kruszwica.JPG, Collegiate Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Kruszwica
Kruszwica (german: Kruschwitz) is a town in central Poland and is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship (1975–1998). It has a population of 9,412 (2004). Initially founded in the 6th ...
Image:Zamek w Golubiu - ZJ001.jpg, Golub Castle
Image:SM Chełmno Ratusz (4) ID 601491.jpg, Market Square in Chełmno
Chełmno (; older en, Culm; formerly ) is a town in northern Poland near the Vistula river with 18,915 inhabitants as of December 2021. It is the seat of the Chełmno County in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
Due to its regional impor ...
Image:Bdg plWolnosci1 1 07-2013.jpg, Liberty Square in Bydgoszcz
Image:Stare Miasto, Ratusz Staromiejski w Toruniu.jpg, Medieval Town of Toruń
Medieval Town of Toruń ( pl, zespół staromiejski Torunia, links=no) is the oldest historic district of the city of Toruń. It is one of Poland's World Heritage Sites (added in 1997). According to UNESCO, its value lies in its being "a small h ...
, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
Image:Grudziadz spichrze od str Wisly.jpg, Grudziądz Granaries
Grudziądz Granaries ( pl, Spichrze w Grudziądzu) is a unique 14th-century fortification complex of river bank granaries on the Vistula river in Grudziądz, Poland.
History
After the Teutonic Order founded the settlement of present-day Grudziąd ...
Image:603104 Toruń Dom M. Kopernika i wnętrza 01.JPG, Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus (; pl, Mikołaj Kopernik; gml, Niklas Koppernigk, german: Nikolaus Kopernikus; 19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance polymath, active as a mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon, who formulated ...
House in Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
Image:Bdg Dluga 7 07-2013.jpg, Bydgoszcz Old Town
Image:Ciechocinek tężnia nr 3 (03).jpg, Graduation towers in Ciechocinek
Ciechocinek (Polish pronunciation: ; German language, German (1941-1945): ''Hermannsbad'') is a spa town in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, north-central Poland, located on the Vistula River about east of Aleksandrów Kujawski and south-east of ...
Image:Old town hall in Swiecie 02.jpg, Town hall in Świecie
Świecie (; german: Schwetz) is a town in northern Poland with 25,968 inhabitants (2006), situated in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999); it was in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998. It is the capital of Świecie County.
Locati ...
Image:Bdg Wilenska 5 07-2008.jpg, Birthplace of cryptologist Marian Rejewski in Bydgoszcz
See also
*
Pomeranian Voivodeship
*
West Pomeranian Voivodeship
The West Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as the West Pomerania Province, is a voivodeship (province) in northwestern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Szczecin. Its area equals 22 892.48 km² (8,838.84 sq mi), and in 2021, it was ...
*
Kuyavian-Pomeranian (European Parliament constituency)
In European elections, Kuyavian-Pomeranian () is a constituency of the European Parliament. It consists of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
Nomenclature
The relevant Polish legislation ("The Act of 23 January 2004 on Elections to the Eur ...
*
Pomeranian-Kuyavian Derby
Notes
External links
Visit Kuiavia-PomeraniaGovernment of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship*
ttp://VisitWloclawek.blogspot.com Blog about Tourismus in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship
{{Coord, 53, 04, 42, N, 18, 29, 37, E, region:PL-KP_type:adm1st, display=title
1999 establishments in Poland
States and territories established in 1999