Koszalin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Koszalin
From top, left to right: Market Square Koszalin Cathedral Main Post Office Park of the Dukes of Pomerania Koszalin Philharmonic
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Center of Pomerania (Polish: Centrum Pomorza)
Koszalin Location in Poland
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	West Pomeranian
County	city county
Established	11th century
Town rights	1266
Area
• Total	115.5 km2 (44.6 sq mi)
Elevation	32 m (105 ft)
Population  (31 December 2021)
• Total	104,994 (37th)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	75-900, 75-902, 75-007, 75-016
Area code(s)	+48 94
Vehicle registration	ZK
Climate	Cfb
Highways

Koszalin is a city in northwestern Poland. It is part of Western Pomerania, a historical region. The city is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of the Baltic Sea coast. The Dzierżęcinka river flows through Koszalin.

Koszalin is an important city in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It serves as a county-status city and is the capital of Koszalin County.

History of Koszalin

People have lived in the area of Koszalin since ancient times. Archaeologists have found signs of early human settlements. These include traces from the Funnelbeaker, Globular Amphora, and Lusatian cultures. There are also findings from ancient Roman times and the Early Middle Ages.

Early Beginnings and Polish Rule

The land around Koszalin became part of the new Polish state around the year 967. This was under the rule of Mieszko I, Poland's first known ruler. An old Polish book, the Chronicle of Greater Poland, says that Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland took control of Koszalin in 1107.

Later, in the 12th century, the area became part of the Duchy of Pomerania. This duchy was a smaller state that was connected to Poland. It later became a vassal state of Denmark and then part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Becoming a Town

In 1214, Duke Bogislaw II gave a village called Koszalice to a monastery. New settlers, many from Germany, were invited to live in the area. In 1248, the village was given to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kammin.

On May 23, 1266, Bishop Hermann von Gleichen officially made Koszalice a town. He gave it special rights, known as Lübeck law. These rights gave the town local government and many benefits to attract more settlers. In 1278, a Cistercian monastery was built. It took care of the local church and a chapel on Chełmska Hill.

The city gained access to the Baltic Sea in 1331 by getting the village of Jamno. It also got parts of Lake Jamno and a castle. This allowed Koszalin to join the Hanseatic League in 1386. The Hanseatic League was a powerful group of trading cities around the Baltic Sea. This led to some fights with nearby port cities like Kołobrzeg.

From 1356 to 1422, Koszalin was part of the Duchy of Pomerania-Wolgast. In 1446, Koszalin won a battle against its rival city, Kołobrzeg. In 1475, there was a conflict between the city and Duke Bogislaw X. The duke was even kidnapped and held in Koszalin for a short time.

Changes in Modern Times

Over time, more German settlers arrived, and the city became mostly German-speaking. In 1516, local Germans made a rule against buying goods from Slavic speakers. They also made it hard for native Slavs to join craft guilds. This shows there was ethnic discrimination.

In 1531, there were arguments about the Protestant Reformation. By 1534, Koszalin became mostly Lutheran. In 1568, Duke John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania started building a residence in the city.

After the last Pomeranian duke died in 1637, the city was taken by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War. Some people from Koszalin went to Poland for safety. In 1648, after the war, the city became part of Brandenburg-Prussia. It was then called Cöslin.

The city was badly damaged by a fire in 1718 but was rebuilt. In 1764, a Pole named Jan Gelczewski started a paper mill on Chełmska Hill. In 1807, French troops occupied the city.

After the Napoleonic wars, Cöslin became an important regional capital in Prussia. A road connecting Cöslin with Szczecin and Gdańsk was built between 1829 and 1845. A part of this road was built in 1833 by about a hundred former Polish insurgents. These were Poles who had fought against Russian rule. In 1869, Polish people in the city built the Saint Joseph church.

In 1871, the town became part of the German Empire. A railway line was built through Cöslin from 1858 to 1878. A military school was moved to the city in 1890.

World War II and After

When the Nazi Party came to power in Germany in 1933, they set up a secret police (Gestapo) office in the city. Many people who opposed the Nazis were arrested. During Second World War, Koszalin was a site for training rocket troops.

The Polish resistance worked in the city. They gathered information about German activities and shared secret Polish newspapers. The Nazis forced many people to work in the city, mostly Poles, but also Italians and French. There were several forced labor camps in Koszalin. Polish forced laborers made up a large part of the city's population during the war. After the Warsaw Uprising, many Poles, especially women and children, were brought to Koszalin by the Germans.

On March 4, 1945, the Red Army captured the city. After the war, under the Potsdam Agreement, Koszalin became part of Poland again. The German people who lived there were moved to other parts of Germany. Poles and Kashubians from other parts of Poland, especially those who had been forced to leave their homes by the Soviets, settled in Koszalin.

Life in the city began to rebuild in May 1945. Schools, shops, and services were set up. In 1946, the first public library opened. In July 1947, the last Soviet troops left Koszalin. In 1953, a local radio station was started.

Koszalin was an important regional capital in post-war Poland. From 1950 to 1975, it was the capital of a larger region called Koszalin Voivodeship. It became one of the fastest-growing cities in Poland. In 1991, Pope John Paul II visited Koszalin. A monument to him was later put up in the city center.

Landmarks in Koszalin

The city is next to Chełmska Hill (Góra Chełmska). This hill was a place of worship in ancient times. Today, it has a "sanctuary of the covenant" tower, which was blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1991. It is now a place where people go on pilgrimages. There is also an observation tower on the hill. At the entrance to the sanctuary, there is a monument to Polish insurgents from 1831. These brave Poles, who were imprisoned by Prussian authorities, helped build a road connecting Koszalin with nearby Sianów.

Gothic Koszalin Cathedral

Koszalin's most famous building is the Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral. It was built in the early 14th century. In front of the cathedral, there is a monument remembering Pope John Paul II's visit.

Other important places in the city include the Park of the Dukes of Pomerania (Park Książąt Pomorskich), the Koszalin Museum, and the main post office. There is also the 16th-century Wedding Palace and the Culture Centre 105.

The city also has statues honoring Polish national heroes. These include Józef Piłsudski, Władysław Anders, Kazimierz Pułaski, and Władysław Sikorski. There are also monuments to 19th-century Polish poets Cyprian Norwid and Adam Mickiewicz.

Climate

Koszalin has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild temperatures all year round. It is near the Baltic Sea, which helps keep the weather moderate. Summers are warm but usually not too hot. Winters are cold but often milder than in eastern Poland.

The average temperature in January and February is just above freezing. In summer, the average temperature is around 15 to 16 degrees Celsius (59-61°F). The city gets about 704 millimeters (27.7 inches) of rain each year. Koszalin is also known as one of the sunniest cities in Poland.

Sports in Koszalin

A multi-purpose indoor arena HWS Koszalin

Koszalin has several sports teams:

• AZS Koszalin - This is the men's basketball team. They play in the top Polish basketball league.
• AZS Politechnika Koszalin - This is the women's handball team. They play in the Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League.
• Gwardia Koszalin - This is a football (soccer) team. They play in the fourth Polish division.
• Bałtyk Koszalin - Another football team, also playing in the fourth Polish division.
• There are also teams for tennis, rugby, motorsport, and American football.

Film Festival

Koszalin hosts an annual film festival called the Koszalin Festival of Film Debuts "The Youth and Film". It has been held since 1973. The main goal of the festival is to support and promote young filmmakers.

Since 2007, the festival has been a competition for new Polish films. This includes feature films, short films, documentaries, and animations. Besides the competition, there are also special screenings, workshops, and discussions about new cinema. It is the oldest festival for young cinema in Poland. Famous filmmakers like Krzysztof Zanussi and Krzysztof Kieślowski debuted their films here.

Education in Koszalin

Koszalin University of Technology

Stanisław Dubois High School in Koszalin

Koszalin has many schools and universities:

• Koszalin University of Technology (Politechnika Koszalińska)
• Baltic College (Bałtycka Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczna)
• Air Force training center (Centrum Szkolenia Sił Powietrznych im. Romualda Traugutta)
• Koszalin University of Humanities (Koszalińska Wyższa Szkoła Nauk Humanistycznych)
• State Higher Vocational School in Koszalin (Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Koszalinie)
• Major Seminary of the Diocese of Koszalin-Kolobrzeska in Koszalin (Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne Diecezji Koszalińsko-Kołobrzeskiej w Koszalinie)
• Team State School of Music (Zespół Państwowych Szkół Muzycznych im. Grażyny Bacewicz)
• School Arts Team (Zespół Szkół Plastycznych im. Władysława Hasiora)
• Several high schools, including Stanisława Dubois High School and Władysława Broniewskiego High School.

Notable People from Koszalin

Twin Towns – Sister Cities

Koszalin has "twin town" or "sister city" relationships with many cities around the world. This means they share cultural and educational ties.

Images for kids

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  Medieval city walls

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  Coat of arms from around 1400–1800

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  Coat of arms from 1800–1939

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  Monument to Polish insurgents from 1831 on Chełmska Hill

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  Memorial to Polish women of the resistance movement imprisoned in the city during World War II

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  The Victory Square with the statue of Józef Piłsudski

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  Observation tower on Góra Chełmska

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  Koszalin Museum

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  The new building of the Koszalin Philharmonic

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  A historic villa on Zwycięstwa Street

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  Park of the Dukes of Pomerania (Park Książąt Pomorskich)

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  Memorial stone dedicated to Kazimierz Pułaski in the Amphitheater Park

See also

In Spanish: Koszalin para niños