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Revision as of 17:54, 6 September 2005 editSchwartz und Weiss (talk | contribs)220 edits Danzig vote← Previous edit Revision as of 10:54, 7 September 2005 edit undoTirid Tirid (talk | contribs)167 edits the Gdańsk vote had nothing to do with ToruńNext edit →
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== History == == History ==


Toruń was a small settlement in ], a western part of Masovia. In ] it was awarded by the duke ] as a fief to the ] to be a safeguard against the heathen ]. Toruń was a small settlement in ], a western part of Masovia. In ] it was awarded by the duke ] as a fief to the ] to be a safeguard against the heathen ].


The Teutonic Order built a castle there (]-]) near an old Polish village, and the settlement acquired town rights in ], relocating from its original site to what is called today "Old Town" in ]. The city soon became an important medieval trade center. In ], ] monks settled in Thorn, and they were followed in ] by ]s. In ] the neighboring Thorn New Town was founded. It was a separate town until ], when the old and new cities were amalgamated. The Teutonic Order built a castle there (]-]) near an old Polish village, and the settlement acquired town rights in ], relocating from its original site to what is called today "Old Town" in ]. The city soon became an important medieval trade center. In ], ] monks settled in Toruń, and they were followed in ] by ]s. In ] the neighboring Toruń New Town was founded. It was a separate town until ], when the old and new cities were amalgamated.


During the ], Thorn joined the mercantile ]. During the ], Toruń joined the mercantile ].


* ] end of the ] with the ] * ] end of the ] with the ]
* ] The Prussian nobility and cities led by Thorn, ] and ] formed the ]. * ] The Prussian nobility and cities led by Toruń, ] and ] formed the ].
* ] the cities of Prussia rose up against the Teutonic Knights: Thorn accepted the sovereignty of the Polish crown in return for recognition of its city privileges. * ] the cities of Prussia rose up against the Teutonic Knights: Toruń accepted the sovereignty of the Polish crown in return for recognition of its city privileges.
* ] The ] and uprising of Prussian cities end with the ], in which the Teutonic Order ceded sovereignty over western Prussia to the ]. * ] The ] and uprising of Prussian cities end with the ], in which the Teutonic Order ceded sovereignty over western Prussia to the ].
* With the ] the city became mostly ]. * With the ] the city became mostly ].
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=== Famous people of Toruń === === Famous people of Toruń ===


*], famous astronomer *], famous ] astronomer
*], ] general and engineer *], ] general and engineer
*] ] astronomer *] ] astronomer

Revision as of 10:54, 7 September 2005

Toruń (pronounce: ]], Kashubian: Torń, German: Thorn, see also other names) is a city in northern Poland, on the Vistula river. It has 208,386 inhabitants (2004). One of the capitals of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (since 1999), previously the capital of the Toruń Voivodship (1975-1998) and the Pomeranian Voivodship (1921-1939), the city is located near the Geographic Center of Europe.

The medieval town of Toruń is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The city of Toruń creates a bipolar agglomeration Bydgoszcz-Toruń with the city of Bydgoszcz, located only 30 km away. The 2 cities are gradually integrating. In September 2004 the Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz joined Toruń University as Collegium Medicum UMK in Bydgoszcz.

Template:Infobox Poland

City name

Early documents record the city name as Thorun (1226, 1466), Turon, Turun, Toron, Thoron, and after the 15th century the current Polish name Toruń. The Teutonic Knights usually spelled it Thorun, which became the German Thorn. When it became a royal city subject to the kings of Poland, Latin documents and coins usually spelled it Thorun, Thorunium, civitas Thorunensis or civitas Torunensis.

There are several different etymological explanations for Toruń's name:

  • It may be derived from the castle of Toron in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in which the Teutonic Knights served during the Crusades.
  • It may come from a Polish word tor which means "track (of the Vistula river)". Toruń would therefore mean "town on the track".
  • It may come from the personal name Toron and mean "Toron's town".
  • It may have been originally Tarnów, based on the Polish word tarnina, a kind of river plant. This name would have later been Germanized into Thorn, and re-Polonized into Toruń. There are many cities in Poland with a similar derivation.
  • It may come from the Germanic god Thor

However, others claim that Toruń does not have any etymological meaning. (reference: Professor Jan Miodek)

History

Toruń was a small settlement in Chełmno Land, a western part of Masovia. In 1266 it was awarded by the duke Conrad of Mazovia as a fief to the Teutonic Knights to be a safeguard against the heathen Prussians.

The Teutonic Order built a castle there (1230-31) near an old Polish village, and the settlement acquired town rights in 1233, relocating from its original site to what is called today "Old Town" in 1236. The city soon became an important medieval trade center. In 1263, Franciscan monks settled in Toruń, and they were followed in 1239 by Dominicans. In 1264 the neighboring Toruń New Town was founded. It was a separate town until 1454, when the old and new cities were amalgamated.

During the 14th century, Toruń joined the mercantile Hanseatic League.

Famous people of Toruń

Education

Economy

Major corporations

  • Krajowa Spółka Cukrowa SA
  • Torfarm SA
  • Zakład Energetyczny Toruń SA
  • Elana SA
  • ThyssenKrupp Energostal SA
  • CPP-Toruń-Pacific sp. z o.o.
  • Toruńskie Zakłady Materiałów Opatrunkowych SA

Politics

Toruń constituency

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Toruń constituency

  • Ryszard Chodynicki, SLD-UP
  • Bogdan Derwich, SLD-UP
  • Lech Kuropatwiński, Samoobrona
  • Bogdan Lewandowski, SLD-UP
  • Krystian Łuczak, SLD-UP
  • Antoni Mężydło, PiS
  • Marek Olewiński, SLD-UP
  • Sławomir Rybicki, PO
  • Anna Sobecka, LPR
  • Zbigniew Sosnowski, PSL
  • Leszek Sułek, Samoobrona
  • Elżbieta Szparaga, SLD-UP
  • Jerzy Wenderlich, SLD-UP


Architecture

Baroque facade of Dambski Palace (18th c.)
Part of medieval city walls
File:Torun2.jpg
Gothic building from 15th c. with Guard Keep (13 c.), both rebuild in 19th c.
File:Torun3.jpg
Partial view of Teutonic Knights' castle

External links:

Template:Poland

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