Żnin
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| Żnin | |||
| Żnin - the medieval town | |||
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| Motto: Żnin - the open town | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Poland | ||
| Voivodeship | Kuyavian-Pomeranian | ||
| Powiat | Żnin County | ||
| Gmina | Żnin | ||
| Established | 11th century | ||
| City Rights | 1263 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Leszek Jakubowski | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 8.35 km² (3.2 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 14,121 | ||
| - Density | 1,691.1/km² (4,379.9/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 88-400 | ||
| Area code(s) | +48 52 | ||
| Car Plates | CZN | ||
| Website: www.um.znin.pl | |||
Żnin is a small town in Poland with a population of 14,558 (June 2005). It is in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie, previously Bydgoszcz Voivodeship) and is the capital of Żnin County (Powiat Żniński). The town is situated in the historic land of Pałuki and the Gniezno Lake Area on the river Gąsawka.
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[edit] Name
The name originates from the Polish word "żnieja" (a harvest or a harvester). During World War II, Żnin's name was "Dietfurt".
[edit] History
The first mention of Żnin is in the Gniezno Papal Bull issued on July 7, 1136 by Pope Innocent II. Żnin was given town rights in 1263 (based on Magdeburg Law). In the 13th century the town was given the right of coinage which resulted in its dynamic expansion. Żnin was a major town located on the trade route from Silesia to Gdańsk (the Amber Road).
The town's importance diminished in the 17th century after the Swedish invasion (The Deluge, in Polish "Potop"), numerous destructive fires and epidemics, and The Northern Wars. The medieval part of Żnin constructed of wood was totally destroyed. However, tourists can still admire the historic centre of Żnin and its old structure dating back to the Middle Ages.
[edit] Prominent features
Żnin is located on the Gąsawka river and between two lakes – the Żnin Great Lake and the Żnin Small Lake. Both these and the nearby forests are popular tourist attractions.
Other points of interest include:
- A narrow gauge railway
- The ruins of a 14th century castle
- Churches: (St. Martin's from the 14th century, St. Florian's from the 15th century and Blessed Virgin Mary's from the 19th century)
- Museums: the Archaeological Museum, the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Wenecja, the Museum of Sacred Art and the Museum of the Pałuki Land
- A 15th century Tower (Baszta)
- A 19th century Town Hall (Magistrat at the market square)
[edit] Local events
- Tour de Pologne
- World/European Motorboat Championships
- Archaeological Festival in Biskupin
- Folk Authors' Rally "Autumn in the Pałuki Land"
- Pałuki Agricultural Fair
- Tourists' Rallies
- Polish and European Windsurfing Championships
[edit] Local authorities
The Żnin Town Council Rada Miejska w Żninie ul. 700-lecia 39 88-400 Żnin (Poland)
Mayor of Żnin Leszek Jakubowski
[edit] Notable Żninians
- Wanda Dobaczewska
- Erazm Gliczner
- Aleksander Guttry
- Jakub of Żnin
- Klemens Janicki
- Leon Ksycki
- Mikołaj z Wenecji
- Jan Śniadecki
- Jędrzej Śniadecki
[edit] Transport links
[edit] By plane
Located 45 kilometers to the north of Żnin, the Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport is the nearest one. Once you are in Bydgoszcz (possibly via Warsaw or London), you will need to catch a local bus or taxi to take you into Żnin. There is also the Poznań-Ławica Airport located in Poznań approx. 100 km south-west of Żnin.
[edit] By bus
Several companies dealing with public transport serve Żnin with bus services connecting the town with all major cities of the region (Bydgoszcz, Gniezno, Inowrocław, Poznań, Toruń, Wągrowiec) and also with Wrocław. For bus connections see:
[edit] By car
Żnin is served by the national road no. 5 (droga krajowa nr 5, DK5, E261) which runs from Wrocław via Poznań, Gniezno to Bydgoszcz and Świecie. It is about an hour's drive from Bydgoszcz and about 45 minutes drive from Gniezno.
The regional road no. 251 (droga wojewódzka nr 251) running from Inowrocław to Kaliska near to Wągrowiec is another major road connection. It is about 45 minutes drive both from Inowrocław and Wągrowiec.
[edit] Gallery
The Żnin Tower.jpg
The Tower (Baszta) - the symbol of Żnin |
Znin Tower by night.jpg
The Tower by night |
Znin by night.jpg
The market square by night |
Hist Znin.jpg
Żnin market square in 1925 (Corpus Christi) |
UM-Znin.jpg
Żnin Town Hall |
Sufragania.jpg
Sufragania - The Museum of Sacred Art in Żnin |
Paluki folklore.jpg
Song and Dance Ensemble "Pałuki" from Żnin |
Palace Lubostron.jpg
Classicism in architecture - the palace in Lubostron |
Leon04.jpg
The 600 mm Narrow Gauge Railway in Żnin - old locomotive "Leon" |
Wenecja-Museum.jpg
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Paluki Znin.jpg
Pałuki - the land of 130 lakes |
Regaty03.jpg
The Żnin Great Lake |
Ice surfing.jpg
Ice surfing on the Żnin Small Lake |
Motorboat Racing.jpg
European Motorboat Championship on the Żnin Small Lake |
Biskupin poppies.jpg
Red poppies in Biskupin |
Biskupin.jpg
Polish Pompeii - Biskupin near Żnin |
Biskupin festival.jpg
The archaeological festival in Biskupin |
Agricultural Fair.jpg
The Pałuki Agricultural Fair at the Żnin Small Lake |
Winter in Znin.jpg
Winter in Żnin |
Autumn in Paluki.jpg
A folklore event called "Autumn in Pałuki" |
Znin semafor.jpg
The Żnin semaphore with names of the partner towns |
Znin dance group.jpg
The Żnin dance group in Albertirsa, Hungary |
