Opalenica

Opalenica is a town in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, within the Nowy Tomyśl County, situated on the Mogilnica River, approximately 40 kilometers west of Poznań. Its history dates back to the 14th century, with the first recorded mention in 1393. It was granted town rights around the year 1400. In the 16th century, it was a private noble town, and its coat of arms—featuring a green rose shoot with three red flowers—dates back to 1616. Opalenica is renowned for its architectural structures, such as the late Gothic St. Matthew's Church, built in the Gothic style in the 17th century, the neoclassical parish priest's house, and the town hall constructed in 1897 in an eclectic historicist style. In the 19th century, the town developed thanks to its cloth-making industry. A sugar refinery, a cement factory, and the first Polish motorcycle factory "LECH," which operated between 1929 and 1932, were also established here. During World War II, the town was under German occupation, and Poles were displaced. After the war, Opalenica was returned to Poland, and after 1989, it began to develop again. The town hosts important cultural events, such as the unveiling of a monument to the Greater Poland insurgents, and maintains traditions related to handicrafts. Opalenica is the seat of several religious communities, primarily Catholic, and has an active social life with various organizations and international cooperation with towns such as Zevenbergen and Königslutter am Elm. Today, the town has approximately 9,500 residents and serves as a service and educational center, with a general secondary school and vocational schools.