Tymieniec

Tymieniec is a village located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, in the Kalisz County, within the administrative district of Szczytniki. It lies on the Kalisz Upland, by the Tymianka River. With a population of 241 residents at the end of 2019, the village is characterized by its compact central development and scattered outlying settlements with distinct names—a remnant of its former manorial function. The name of the village likely derives from a Proto-Slavic word meaning "mud." The historical roots of Tymieniec trace back to the Middle Ages, when the settlement was owned by the Gniezno Chapter and later by noble families such as the Kiełbasa Nałęcz counts. Records from 1411–1415 mention the village’s heirs, including Mikołaj Kiełbasa, who fought in the Battle of Grunwald. Over the years, the village changed hands multiple times. In the 19th century, it came under the ownership of the Biernacki family and later the Grünfelds, a Jewish merchant family who introduced modern estate management methods. During the interwar period, the village had a public school and a grocery store, reflecting a developing local community. The architecture is typical of the region, featuring wooden manor farm buildings and other characteristic structures such as barns and a manor house. Interestingly, in 1921, the village was divided into a rural section and a colony, with residents deeply attached to tradition and the Roman Catholic faith. The history of Tymieniec, marked by numerous administrative and ownership changes, reflects broader social and economic trends in Poland and illustrates the evolution of local culture and identity. Today, the still‑functioning village serves as a place of memory, honoring its rich past.