Strzelin

Strzelin is a town located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, with a rich history dating back to the early Middle Ages, when the settlement was part of the Duchy of Wrocław. It was granted town rights in 1292 and developed mainly in the 16th and 17th centuries. The town was repeatedly destroyed by fires and wars, including the Thirty Years' War, which burned the town in 1633. In the mid-17th century, Strzelin was part of a Polish-speaking area, but after the Silesian Wars, it came under Prussian rule. The most interesting architectural features of Strzelin include the complex of the Augustinian monastery with the 15th-century Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, as well as the Romanesque rotunda of St. Gotthard and the Gothic Church of Mary, Mother of Christ. Strzelin is known for its rich sugar production tradition, with a sugar factory established in 1872, and for granite mining, which was used, among other things, to build elements of the Poniatowski Bridge in Warsaw. The town also has a prison, operating since 1979, which originally housed repeat offenders. After World War II, Strzelin was incorporated into Poland, and its German population was displaced. In 2021, plans were made to expand the town's area with new territories. There are also tourist trails, including the Historical Trail of Strzelin, which passes by the most important monuments. The sports club "Strzelinianka" operates in Strzelin, and the town is partnered with the German town of Straelen and the Czech town of Trutnov. The town's holiday is celebrated on September 29, during which local festivals take place. Strzelin is also an important center for the Czech national minority in Poland.