Odolanów

Odolanów, known in German as Adelnau, is a town in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, within Ostrów County, with a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. Situated on the Barycz and Kuroch rivers, the town is one of the key industrial centers in the Kalisz-Ostrów Industrial District. Located approximately 11 km east of Sulmierzyce and 13 km southwest of Ostrów Wielkopolski, Odolanów had a population of 5,114 at the beginning of 2021. The town was once a royal city of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, and its history is linked to a castle that existed since the 14th century. In 1372, Odolanów came into the possession of Bartosz of Wezenborg, a knight who led expeditions against the Teutonic Knights. The town was chartered before 1393, and in 1403, it received a privilege exempting it from customs duties. In the 17th century, the suburb of Górka briefly became a separate town named Konstancja, established for religious refugees. From the 18th century, Odolanów began to develop dynamically, and its population grew almost sixfold to 996 by 1793. During this period, three important churches were built, which still stand today: the Evangelical church, the cemetery church of St. Barbara, and the church of St. Martin. In the 19th century, Odolanów was a multicultural town, where alongside Catholics, Protestants and Jews also lived. The discovery of natural gas deposits in the 1960s influenced the further economic development of the town, contributing to an influx of people. In terms of tourist attractions, Odolanów stands out with its historic architectural layout from the 14th century, the Regional Museum, and a neo-Gothic town hall from 1898, which commemorates the insurgents of the Spring of Nations. The town also has a water tower, built in 1903, which now serves a functional purpose after renovation. Odolanów also boasts a rich cultural life, with numerous organizations and events, and has established partnerships with towns in Germany, France, Georgia, Belarus, and Latvia, fostering the exchange of experiences and mutual support. An overall look at Odolanów reveals a town that combines a rich historical heritage with modern-day life and cultural diversity.