Ostrzeszów

Ostrzeszów

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Coat of arms
Ostrzeszów
Coordinates: 51°25′N 17°56′E / 51.417°N 17.933°E / 51.417; 17.933
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Greater Poland
County Ostrzeszów County
Gmina Gmina Ostrzeszów
Town rights 1283
Government
 • Mayor Mariusz Witek
Area
 • Total 12.18 km2 (4.70 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Total 14,536
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 63-500
Area code(s) +48 62
Car plates POT
Website http://www.ostrzeszow.pl

Ostrzeszów [ɔsˈtʂɛʂuf] (German: Schildberg) is a town in Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the capital of Ostrzeszów County (powiat ostrzeszowski). The population is 14,490 (2004).

The town is situated around 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Wrocław, 170 km (106 miles) from Katowice and 160 km (99 miles) from Poznań. Attractions in the town include the surrounding forests, an attractive town square, and The Norwegian POW Museum.

One of Ostrzeszów's honorary citizens is Krzysztof Wielicki, who climbed all of the world's mountains of over 8,000 metres (26,247 feet) in height. A young and popular guitarist, Adam Fulara was born in Ostrzeszów.

History

Schildberg, Kreis Kempen, Posen, later Kropno, Poland, was settled in the early 13th century and given town privileges in 1283. In the 14th century a castle was erected and the town was surrounded with walls. During the 16th to 18th centuries it was the capital of a county and of district courts. The Swedes destroyed the castle and the town in 1656 during the Northern Wars. The town declined as a result.

In 1939 after the Invasion of Poland (1939) it was incorporated into the Nazi Reich. Most of the Polish inhabitants were deported. A Prisoner-of-war camp, Stalag XXI-A was located in some of the town buildings in 1940. In 1943 the camp was changed to Oflag XXI-C for 1130 Norwegian officers.

In January 1945 Soviet forces liberated the town from the Nazis.

See also

References

    Coordinates: 51°25′N 17°56′E / 51.417°N 17.933°E / 51.417; 17.933



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