Sulęcin

Infobox Settlement
name = Sulęcin
imagesize = 250px

---

image_shield = POL Sulęcin COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lubusz
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sulęcin County
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Gmina Sulęcin
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Michał Deptuch
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1244
area_total_km2 = 8.56
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 10310
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 52 | latm = 27 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 15 | longm = 7 | longs = | longEW = E
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 69-200
area_code = +48 95
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = FSU
website = http://www.sulecin.pl

Sulęcin [IPA-pl|s|u|'|l|e|n|ć|i|n] ( _de. Zielenzig) is a town in western Poland with 9926 inhabitants (2005), the capital of Sulecin County, since 1999 in Lubusz Voivodeship.

Geography

Sulęcin is located in the centre of Lubusz Voivodeship, by the river Postomia, tributary of the Warta River. The surrounding landscape is formed by many hillocks on the plateau of Lubusz. The highest of them is the Bukowiec (227 m). The closest big city is Gorzów Wielkopolski (45 km). Over 50% of the area of the Sulecin Commune is occupied by forests.

History

Excavations have shown that the area around Sulęcin was inhabited already in the 2nd century BC. The city developed from a Slavonian settlement and was mentioned for the first time in documents in 1241. Until 12th century under dominion of he Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, the town with 10 surrounding villages was handed over by Henry I the Bearded to Mroczko from Pogorzela, who in 1244 gave it to the Knights Templar. In 1249 Sulęcin became a part of March of Brandenburg. In 1269 Otto, the Margrave of Brandenburg ordered to build a castle in the town. After disbanding of the Knihts Templar Order by Pope Clement V in 1312 Sulęcin was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller. They leased the city in 1318 to the Brandenburg Margrave Woldemar. Eight years later the city was reclaimed by the Knights Hospitaller Order and stayed under their supremacy until 1810.

In 1419 Sulęcin suffered a severe damage, as the Hussite Wars reached the city. In 1733 Frederick William I, King of Prussia visited the town. As a result of the new Prussian district division of 1818 a new district Landkreis Sternberg was established. Sulęcin was the capital of it until 1852. In 1873 Sternberg was divided into Landkreis Oststernberg with Sulęcin as a capital and Landkreis Weststernberg. At that time the city's industry was based on textile production and mills. In the middle of 19th century number of inhabitants reached 4500. After the discovery of lignite in the vicinity of the city a briquette factory was set up in Sulęcin. This led to the development of infrastructure and resulted in an increase of the population to 5769 inhabitants in 1885. After the World War I a number of companies involved in timber processing set up in the town. The number of residents in 1939 according to the last German census was 5867.On 2 May 1945 Sulęcin was taken by the Red Army. Although there was no resistance, the houses in the city center were plundured by the soldiers and set on fire. As a result around 50% of Sulęcin was completely destroyed. After the World War II Sulęcin became a part of Poland. In years 1945 - 1975 it was a capital of a county.

Education

* Szkoła Podstawowa im. Polskich Olimpijczyków - [http://www.spsulecin.neostrada.pl/ Primary School Homepage]
* Gimnazjum im. Jana Pawła II - [http://www.gimsul.kam.pl/ Secondary School Homepage]
* I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Adama Mickiewicza - [http://lo.sulnet.pl/ High School Homepage]
* Zespół szkół licealnych i zawodowych - [http://www.zsliz.sulecin.com.pl/ High School Homepage]

Monuments

* St Nikolaus gothic church built by Knights Templar, rebuilt after war damage of 1945
* Old town houses from 18th and 19th century
* Defensive walls with remains of gates and a tower

Twin towns

Beeskow, Kamen, Friedland, Nowy Tomyśl

External links

* [http://www.sulecin.pl/ Official town website]