Poddębice County

Poddębicki County, with its seat in the town of Poddębice, is an administrative unit within the Łódź Voivodeship, re-established in 1999. It comprises six municipalities, including the towns of Poddębice and Uniejów, as well as urban-rural and rural communes. According to the population data at the end of 2019, the county was home to 41,108 people. The region borders other counties within the Łódź Voivodeship as well as counties in the Greater Poland region, making it an important point in the transportation network. Poddębicki County stands out for its rich architectural heritage, including numerous historic churches, palaces, and manor houses. In the Dalików commune, the neo-Gothic Church of St. Matthew is a marvel, while in Domaniew, the Gothic-Renaissance Church of St. Florian from the 16th century still stands. The Pęczniew commune is home to numerous wooden churches, such as the Church of St. Catherine and the Church of St. Mark, all testifying to the local architectural tradition. The Wartkowice commune, in turn, boasts a Baroque palace park and a wooden Church of St. Peter and Paul. In Zadzim, visitors can admire a manor-palace complex with monumental trees, including an oak tree with a circumference of 673 cm. Monuments and architecture are not the only attractions of the county. The Uniejów commune is famous for its 14th-century Gothic castle, later rebuilt into a classical palace, as well as the Collegiate Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which retains elements of various architectural styles. The region also has its cultural traditions, with the Maria Konopnicka Hiking Trail serving not only as a tourist route but also as a tribute to the writer associated with these lands. The history of the county dates back to the 1950s, when it was established in 1956, but in 1975, due to an administrative reform, it was abolished. Another reform in 1999 reinstated the county, at which time it gained new municipalities and provincial affiliation. Poddębicki County is also active in the field of international cooperation, establishing relations with places in Latvia, Ukraine, Serbia, and Croatia, demonstrating its openness to external contacts. An interesting fact is the county's natural wealth, including landscape parks and nature reserves, which attract tourists and nature enthusiasts.