Jelcz-Laskowice

Infobox Settlement
name = Jelcz-Laskowice


image_shield = POL Jelcz-Laskowice COA.svg
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lower Silesian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Oława
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Jelcz-Laskowice
area_total_km2 = 17.06
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 15196
population_density_km2 = auto
latd = 51 | latm = 2 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 17 | longm = 20 | longs = | longEW = E
elevation_m =
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 55-231
website = http://www.jelcz-laskowice.pl/

Jelcz-Laskowice [IPA-pl|'|j|e|l|cz|-|l|a|s|k|o|'|w|i|c|e] is a town in Oława County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Jelcz-Laskowice. It lies on the Odra (Oder) river, approximately convert|12|km|mi|0 north of Oława, and convert|24|km|mi|0 south-east of the regional capital Wrocław. As at 2006, the town has a population of 15,196.

The town was created on January 1, 1987 as a union of the former municipalities of Jelcz ( _de. Jeltsch) and Laskowice ("Laskowitz"). It was best known for its large bus factory, owned by the company Jelcz S.A., though since the bankruptcy of that company the largest employers have been Toyota and the Mechanical Institute.

Jelcz was first mentioned as "Jalche" in a 1245 deed, when Pope Innocent IV granted it to the Archdiocese of Wrocław. In 1277 Duke Bolesław II the Bald of Legnicka here captured and arrested his nephew Duke Henryk IV Probus of Wrocław. Bolesław's grandson, Duke Bolesław III of Legnicka had a castle erected on an island in the Oder river about 1331.

The village of Laskowice was founded in 1293 by the Dukes of Wrocław. Between 1943 and 1945 the nearby hamlet of Miłoszyce was the site of the "Fünfteichen" subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, where forced labourers built busses for the "Berthawerke", a branch of the Krupp company. Jelcz S.A. restarted the production in 1952.

In 1945 the area according to the results of the Potsdam Conference became part of Poland.

External links

* [http://www.um.jelcz-laskowice.finn.pl/ Official town website]
* [http://jelczlaskowice.bo.pl/ Town information portal]