Kōnin

Konin is a Ville of 81.266 inhabitants (2005) localized in the center of the Poland. It constitutes a district ( powiat ) of the Voïvodie of Large-Poland.

Geographical location

The town of Konin is located on the Warta, in the oriental party of the Large-Poland. It is to 100 km in the south-east of Poznań and to 50 km in the north of Kalisz. It developed on grounds marshy.

Konin is a important Nœud on the Highway network, with the Carrefour of the Autoroute A2 (Berlin - Moscow) and of the trunk road 25 (Bydgoszcz - Kalisz).

Konin is crossed by the Railway Berlin-Poznań Kutno - Warsaw - Moscow.

Warta constitutes a waterway of first importance. Konin is also connected to the the Baltic via Lac S and channels.

History

The primitive site of Konin is a small island, at the place where the road Kalisz- Kruszwica crossed Warta. Konin is essential quickly like an essential crossing point of trade route connecting north to the south, is in the west. Konin receives the Droits of Magdeburg towards 1293. The destiny of the city is closely related to that of Poland. In 1331, Konin is destroyed by the teutonic Chevaliers. Casimir III Large the rebuilds the city and by rampart S. a Staroste surrounds it settles in the Château (disappeared today) and the city becomes the Chef-lieu of a legal district. The city develops quickly thanks to the arrival of many Artisan S. It becomes an important arts center and accommodates the new currents religious. About 1600, they are two doctors exerting in Konin which founds with the Université jagellonne of Cracow the oldest pulpit of Anatomie of Poland.

At the 17th century, epidemic S, Fire S and war with the Sweden causes the decline of the city. In 1815, with the disappearance of the Duchy of Warsaw, Konin is found in the Royaume of the Congress controlled by the Russia. In 1863, the city takes part in the Insurrection of January. The repression of the authorities Tsar ist is severe and the city loses for a long time its statute of regional center.

The economic situation does not improve following independence of Poland in 1918. The living conditions of the inhabitants are miserable. There is no water distribution network, not of sewers. The city did not profit from the Industrial revolution. The Economic crisis of the Entre-deux-guerres is felt hard. The situation starts to improve only with opening-up of the city, thanks to the opening of the Poznań-Warsaw railway and with the construction of the channel connecting Warta to the lake of Gopło.

During the Second world war, Konin belongs to the grounds annexed by the Germany (Reichsgau Wartheland). In the forests surrounding the city, the Nazi S carry out executions of mass of Polish, mainly of Jewish confession. The Juif S accounted for 30% of the population before the war.

After the war, the city knows a new economic advancement, thanks to the discovery of layers of coal, which causes a demographic explosion . The city counts 12.145 inhabitants in 1950, 40.744 in 1970, more than 80.000 today.

Monuments

  • Słup Milowy : the oldest signpost of Poland (1151).

  • the church holy Bartholomé, of Gothic style (founded towards 1400).

  • the traditional town hall of style (1796 - 1803).

  • the church saint Andre the Apostle, of Gothic style (devoted in 1444).

  • the Castle Gosławicki, of Gothic style (1420 - 1426), now transformed into regional museum.

  • the Monastery of the Reforming (18th century).

Economy

The coal exploitation fixed the Heavy industry:

The agro-alimentary one and construction is also present.

Twinnings

  • , to see
  • , sees

External bonds

  • Official site of the town of Konin

  • local Information
  • regional Gate
  • regional Hedomadaire in line

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