Kraśnik

Infobox Settlement
name = Kraśnik


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Church in Kraśnik
image_shield = POL Kraśnik COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lublin
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Kraśnik County
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Kraśnik (urban gmina)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Piotr Czubiński
established_title = Established
established_date = 14th century
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1377
area_total_km2 = 25.29
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 36072
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 50 | latm = 55 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 22 | longm = 13 | longs = | longEW = E
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 23-200, 23-210
area_code = +48 81
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = LKR
website = http://www.krasnik.pl Kraśnik [IPA-pl|'|k|r|a|ś|n|i|k] is a town in eastern Poland with 37,989 inhabitants (2003), situated in the Lublin Voivodeship. It is the seat of Kraśnik County.

History

First settled in the 13th century, it received its city charter in 1377.Until the 19th century it belonged to the Zamoyski family. The town is centered on a hill, and expanded onto the flat land to the north and east. A busy highway still runs through the center of town, cutting diagonally through the town square itself.

The Kraśnik town museum, formerly housed in an old convent building near the Parish church, has been scheduled to move into a larger and newer building nearby.

In August 1914, the town and surrounding area were a focal point of Battle of Krasnik, an opening battle of the World War I struggle between Russia and Central Powers over control of Galicia.

As with much of the Lublin area, Kraśnik was a major center of Judaism, with 5,000 Jews (40% of the population) prior to World War II. Historical accounts place Jews in the area in 1531, but the official right to settle there was granted to Jews in 1584. In 1654, Jewish residence was officially limited to the area near the synagogue, but in practice this was not rigidly enforced. During the war, Kraśnik was the site of the Budzyn labor camp, where the prisoners worked for the Hermann Göring Werke on aircraft production. This camp, with around 3,000 Jews, became a subcamp of Majdanek; 300 workers who remained until July of 1944 survived. Virtually all left the area, and there are few if any Jews currently resident in the town.

Kraśnik is the site of the second SOS Children's Village in Poland, established in 1991.

Kraśnik is also the site of the Tsubaki - Hoover Polska Limited Liability Company, a subsidiary of Tsubaki Nakashima, which manufactures ball and roller bearings.

Local attractions

*The ruin of the 17th century Zamoyski castle (built from wood; there is only a little known about it),
*The 18th century baroque former Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit (1758-1761) and hospital,
*The Lateran Canons, containing St Mary's Ascension church (ca 1469) with paintings by T. Dolabella, gravestones of the Teczynski family, and the monastery (15th-18th centuries),
*An unusual double synagogue from the 17th century, partially renovated but now in disrepair [http://www.forward.com/issues/2004/04.01.16/living5.html] .

Twin towns

Hajdúböszörmény, Tielt, Lippstadt, Żółkiew

ee also

* Jelita Coat of Arms
* Battle of Krasnik

External links

* [http://www.krasnik.pl/ Official home page]
* [http://www.lkr.pl/ Kraśnik's Internet Forum LKR.pl]
* [http://archive.spaceimaging.com/ikonos/2/kpms/2001/06//browse.92789.crss_sat.2.0.jpgSatellite photo from June, 2001]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~pollubel/aplace/krasnik.html Places in Lubelskie Kraśnik page, with pictures]
* [http://www.jewishgen.org/jri-pl/surnames/krasnik.htm Compilation of Jewish family names appearing one or more times in the vital records of Kraśnik]
* [http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/krasnik/kra545.html A list of those from the town of Kraśnik who perished in the Holocaust, taken from "Sefer Krasnik (Book of Krasnik)"]
* [http://www.diapozytyw.pl/en/site/slady_i_judaica/krasnik Adam Mickiewicz Institute page on Jewish history in Kraśnik]