Beechwood

Bukowiec is a village in Poland located in the Lubusz Voivodeship, in the Międzyrzecz County, within the administrative district of Międzyrzecz. It is situated approximately 10 km southeast of Międzyrzecz, on the slopes of the Bukowiec Ridge, surrounded by vast forested areas and lakes. The village has medieval origins, with the first recorded mention dating back to 1301. Originally part of Greater Poland, in 1301 it became the property of the Cistercian Abbey in Paradyż. Bukowiec had its own parish from 1420, and over the centuries it underwent various changes in ownership, associated with local nobility, including the Konopka, Bukowiecki, Krzycki, and Szlichtyng families. In the 16th century, records of inhabitants and taxes began to be kept, reflecting the village's development as a regional center. Bukowiec was also the birthplace of Jan Bukowiecki, the author of a moral-philosophical treatise who coined the motto of the Bukowiecki family: "Virtue alone is nobility." In the second half of the 16th century, the village passed into the hands of the Szlichtyng family and later the Unrugs. As a result of the Second Partition of Poland in 1793, Bukowiec became part of Prussia and remained in the hands of the von Gersdorff family until 1945. Before World War II, the village featured significant structures such as a wooden church, a large manor farm, a palace, a brickworks, and a windmill. After the war, Bukowiec was resettled by people from the Eastern Borderlands and central Poland. Today, the village has a primary school, a PKP railway station, several shops, and a number of historical monuments, including a filial church dedicated to St. Martin from 1550, which was rebuilt after a fire, and a manor park. The region is also characterized by a rich history related to local administration and economic organization, with a pre-war population of 950. The beautiful natural surroundings and local traditions, which remain part of Bukowiec's cultural heritage, are also noteworthy.