Chojnów
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Chojnów | |
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| (Flag) | (Coat of arms) |
| Motto: Friendly city (Przyjazne miasto) | |
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| Basic Information | |
| Country | Poland |
| Voivodeship | Lower Silesian |
| Population | 14 510 |
| City rights | 1333 |
| Latitude Longitude |
51°16' N 15°56' E |
| Area | 5,32 km² |
| Agglomeration | none |
| Density | 2000/km² |
| Area code | +48 76 |
| Car plates | DLE |
| Twin towns | Egelsbach, Commentry |
| Economy and Traffic | |
| Administration | |
| Mayor | Jan Serkies |
| Municipal Website | |
Chojnów (German: Haynau) is a small city (as of 2000, 14,900 inhabitants) over the Skora river, in the land country Legnica, (region Dolnośląskie, in Poland). Its average altitude is 170 meters above sea level.
The first reference to Chojnów is dated 1272 (as Haynow settlement). In 1288 it was called a city (civitas) in documents of the Prince of Legnica Henryk V Gruby, but as soon as 1333 it had gained town privileges.
Chojnów is located 18 kilometers from Legnica (east), 26 from Bolesławiec (west) and 18 from Złotoryja (south), 5 kilometers from A4 highway. It has railroad connections to Bolesławiec and Legnica.
The local government-run weekly newspaper is Gazeta Chojnowska, which has been published since 1992.
Every year in the first days of June, the Days of Chojnów (Dni Chojnowa) are celebrated. The Whole-Poland bike race Masters has been organized yearly in Chojnów for the past few years.
Chojnów is an industrial and agricultural city. Among products produced in Chojnów are: paper products, agricultural machinery, chains, metal furniture for hospitals, equipment for the meat industry, beer, wine, leather clothing, and clothing for infants, children and adults.
Among the interesting monuments of Chojnów are the 13th century castle of the Prince of Legnica (currently used as a museum), two old churches, the Baszta Tkaczy (Weavers' Tower) and preserved fragments of city walls.
The biggest green area in Chojnów is small forest Park Piastowski (Piast's Park), which was named after the Piast dynasty as part of Communist anti-German propaganda upon its annexation to Poland according to the Potsdam Conference. From the Late Middle Ages until 1945 Haynau (Chojnów) was thoroughly ethnic German, part of the German Empire and the Weimar Republic.
Wild animals that can be found in the Chojnów area are roe-deer (sarna, Capreolus capraea ?), foxes, rabbits and wild domestic animals, especially cats.
[edit] Born in Chojnów-Haynau
- Horst Mahler, former Rote Armee Fraktion communist terrorist, now neonazi activist.
- Georg Michaelis, former prime minister of Prussia, famous politician.
- Bogusław Bidziński, opera singer.
[edit] External links
- (Polish) City hall homepage
- (Polish) Chojnow Online
- (Polish) E-info about Chojnow
- (Polish) Chojnów at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)
