Żnin

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Żnin
Image:Flag of Żnin.png	Image:Coat of Arms of Żnin.png
(Flag)	(Coat of arms)
Motto: Żnin - the open town
Image:Znin Mapa.png
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Kuyavian-Pomeranian
Municipal government	Rada Miejska w Żninie (The Żnin Town Council)
Mayor	Jarosław Jaworski (Burmistrz Żnina)
Area	8.35 km²
Population - city - urban - density	14,558 (June 2005) 24,824 (municipality of Żnin) 1743/km²
Founded	10th or 11th century
City rights	1263
Latitude Longitude	52°51' N 17°42' E
Area code	+48 52
Car plates	CZN
Twin towns	Albertirsa, Birštonas, Malacky, Mettmann, Ommen, Šalčininkai-Jašiūnai, Veseli nad Moravou
Municipal Website

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.

1 Name
2 History
3 Prominent features
4 Local events
5 Local authorities
6 Notable Żninians
7 Get in
8 Gallery
9 Twin Towns
10 See also
11 External links
12 Hotels and resorts

[edit] Name

The name originates from the Polish word "żnieja" (a harvest or a harvester). During the 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 Urząd Miejski w Żninie (Żnin Town Hall) ul. 700-lecia 39 88-400 Żnin (POLAND) Mayor of Żnin Jarosław Jaworski

[edit] Notable Żninians

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Located 45 kilometers to the north of Żnin, 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.

[edit] By bus

Several companies dealing with public transportation 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

Żnin - the medieval town	The Tower (Baszta) - the symbol of Żnin	The Tower by night	The market square by night
Żnin market square in 1925 (Corpus Christi)	Żnin Town Hall	Sufragania - The Museum of Sacred Art in Żnin	Song and Dance Ensemble "Pałuki" from Żnin
Classicism in architecture - the palace in Lubostron	The 600 mm Narrow Gauge Railway in Żnin - old locomotive "Leon"	Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Wenecja	Ruins of the castle in Wenecja
Pałuki - the land of 130 lakes	The Żnin Great Lake	Ice surfing on the Żnin Small Lake	European Motorboat Championship on the Żnin Small Lake
Red poppies in Biskupin	Polish Pompeii - Biskupin near Żnin	The archaeological festival in Biskupin	The Pałuki Agricultural Fair at the Żnin Small Lake
Winter in Żnin	A folklore event called "Autumn in Pałuki"	The Żnin semaphore with names of the partner towns	The Żnin dance group in Albertirsa, Hungary