Turawa

Turawa is a village in the Opole Voivodeship, located north of Opole, on the Mała Panwia River and Lake Turawskie. The history of the locality dates back to the 16th century, when the first documents indicate the existence of farmsteads of the same name. In 1562, Georg von Koenigsfeld gave the name Turawa to a farmstead that became his residence. In the 18th century, the village gained the status of an independent settlement, and in 1712, Martin Scholtzy von Loewencron began the construction of a palace next to the original hunting lodge. After World War II, Turawa was the site of the verification of the population eligible for Polish citizenship, and those who did not receive it were resettled to Germany. In 1945, the von Garnier family, who were the last owners and whose fates were linked to the development of the region, including through the modernization of local fish ponds and the palace, had to leave the village. An important event was the construction of an artificial lake, completed in 1938, which covers an area of 22 km² and was intended to provide flood protection. Turawa is known for its palace complex from the 18th-19th centuries, which includes the palace, a stable, a carriage house, and a park with valuable trees. The village also has a hydroelectric power plant and recreational centers around the lake, and German has been introduced as an auxiliary language in the municipality. The activities of local aristocrats, who significantly contributed to the development of the region, also stand out in its history. In 1982, the village had 998 inhabitants, and in 2008, it was decided to promote the German language in local administration.