Bytów

Bytów is a town located in northern Poland, within the Pomeranian Voivodeship and Bytów County, situated on the Boruja and Bytowa rivers. The town serves as a local road junction, and its history dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was granted town rights in 1346. Bytów is home to numerous historical monuments, including the remains of a Teutonic castle from the 14th/15th century, the tower of the former St. Catherine's Church, the Evangelical Church of St. Elizabeth, and the Orthodox Church of St. George, reflecting the influences of various cultures and religions in the region. Among the 19th-century buildings, notable examples are the tenement houses on Jan Pawła II Street and the bank on Bauer Street. In 2013, a sword from the late Bronze Age was discovered in Bytów, which is now part of the collection at the West Kashubian Museum. The town has rich cultural traditions, and after World War II, it was settled by many people from various parts of Poland, contributing to its dynamic reconstruction and development. The Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Catholic Church, and Protestant communities are actively involved in the town's life. Bytów is home to the sports club Bytovia, which organizes numerous sporting events, including major matches played to a full stadium. The town cooperates with partner cities in Poland and abroad, fostering cultural exchange and international relations. In 2016, the Honorary Badge of the Bytów Municipality was introduced, highlighting local traditions and values.