Kołobrzeg

Kołobrzeg (in Kachoube Kòłobrzeg , in German Kolberg ) is a city of the North-West of the Poland (Poméranie) which counts 50.000 inhabitants. It is located on the coast of the the Baltic, with the mouth of the Parsęta. Administratively, it is the capital of a county ( Powiat ) and belonged to the Western Voïvodie de Poméranie.

Toponymy

The name of the city comes from its geographical position. It means “close to the coast” in Polish and kachoube. The German name undoubtedly comes from the germanisation of the Slavic name .

History

The city was founded at the 9th century, but the first traces of human occupation goes back to the 6th century. Very quickly, Kołobrzeg becomes a large seaport Baltique and prosperous thanks to the production of salt.

Kołobrzeg, as the remainder of Poméranie, is built-in the Polish territories by Mieszko Ier in 972. In the year 1000, following the meeting of Gniezno between Boleslas Ier Valiant the and Othon III, Poland receives the right to have an organization of the Église independent of that of the Holy roman Empire. A Diocese, depend on the Archdiocese of Gniezno, is founded in Kołobrzeg. The diocese disappears in 1013, when the Poles are driven out by Poméraniens who do not want to convert with the Christianisme.

One century later, Kołobrzeg is taken again by Poland under the reign of Boleslas III Stop- theChest. A diocese is recreated in 1124 by Othon de Bamberg, the bishop of Brandebourg. At the end of the 12th century, Poméranie becomes a state Vassal of the Holy roman Empire and Denmark, while continuing to belong to the Polish Church.

The May 23rd 1255, the city receives the urban Privilège S (Droit of Lübeck) of the hands of Warcisław III of Poméranie and starts to attract German colonists . In 1361, Kołobrzeg becomes member of the Hanseatic League.

Of 1637 with 1721, Kołobrzeg is incorporated in the Sweden, then in the Prussia after the Guerre of north. In 1761, the city is captured by the Russian during the Guerre Seven Year old erudite to return to Prussia at the end of the conflict.

During the invasion of Prussia by Napoleon, the French troops besiege the city of the April 26th to the July 2nd 1807. The city resists to the signature of the Traité of Tilsit which devotes the victory of the France over Prussia. In 1871, Kołobrzeg belongs to the German Empire lately created.

A little before the end the Second world war, the city is chosen by Joseph Goebbels for turning a propaganda film Nazi ( Kolberg (film) ), inspired by the heroic defense of the city against Napoleon in 1807.

Into 1944, the city is transformed into military fortress, the majority of the civilians are expelled of the city. March 4th with the March 18th 1945, a terrible battle opposes the Germans to the Poles and with the Soviet S. As of the release of the city, the Poles repeat the “marriage between Poland and the sea”, ceremony which had been celebrated the first time in 1920 by the general Józef Haller. The Conférence of Potsdam returns the city to Poland. The rebuilding was undertaken only in the years 1950 and is still not finished.

Demography

1940 : 36.800 inhabitants
1945: 3.000 inhabitants
1950: 6.800 inhabitants
1960: 16.700 inhabitants
1970: 26.000 inhabitants
1975: 31.800 inhabitants
1980: 38.200 inhabitants
1990: 45.400 inhabitants
1995: 47.000 inhabitants
2000: ~50 000 inhabitants
2006: 44.932 inhabitants
2007: 44.737 inhabitants

Tourism

Kolobrzeg is a station of famous cure at a watering-place, having more than one ten sources saltworks
great beach sandy, headlight, pier, walk
historical center with Gothic cathedral and town hall
vast parks
many cultural events musical and folk

Random links: