| Nowogard | |||
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Nowogard
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Poland | ||
| Voivodeship | West Pomeranian | ||
| County | Goleniów | ||
| Gmina | Nowogard | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 12.46 km2 (4.8 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| • Total | 16,745 | ||
| • Density | 1,343.9/km2 (3,480.7/sq mi) | ||
| Postal code | 72–200 | ||
| Website | http://nowogard.pl | ||
Nowogard ([nɔˈvɔɡart] (German: Naugard; Kashubian: Nowògard) is a town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship (Province) of northwestern Poland, with some 16,733 inhabitants (2004)
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The name Nowogard comes from "Nowo" and "Gard" which means "new fortified settlement" in local [omeranian variation of Polish language word "grod"[1]
Situated in the Goleniow County of West Pomeranian Voivodship (since 1999), previously in Szczecin Voivodship (1975–98).
Nowogard is located 60 km to north-east from Szczecin and 55 km south of Baltic coast, near important communication route Szczecin – Koszalin – Gdańsk.
20 km from the city is the Goleniów airport, connecting to bigger cities of Poland and some cities of Western Europe. In Świnoujście (75 km away from Nowogard) there is a ferry port connecting it to Scandinavian countries.
According to the city's official webpage its origins go back to a fortified Slavic settlement which was the seat of the local castellan.[2] The settlemet was first mentioned in 1268 as "Nogart" ("Nogart Castrum et villa sive oppidum episcopi Caminensis") when Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania granted it as a fief to the Bishopric of Cammin, the bishops erected a castle on the territory of the town.[2] In 1274 the town and its surrounding area was administered by Otto von Eberstein, it remained in the possession of the "von Eberstein" family until 1663. In 1309, the town was granted German town law.
In the first half of the 14th century fortifications were erected with an oblong market square in the center of the town. The town hall and the St. Mary's Church were erected.
In 1663, after the death of the last Eberstein, Naugard became property of Ernst Bogislaw von Croÿ and in 1684 property of the electors of Brandenburg.[2]
Throughout the Soviet East Pomeranian Offensive of World War II up to 60 percent of Naugard was destroyed.[2] On 5 March 1945, the town was taken by the Red Army, after which it became Polish, the population fled or was expelled and the town was resettled with Poles.
Its main tourist attraction is a large lake which extends to the center of Nowogard. Its surface covers about 1.12 square kilometres (length 2680 m; width 620 m). People fond of water sports and sun bathing have a great opportunity to relax at the lakeside or on the camping site nearby. Surrounding forests abound in mushrooms, berries and game. Its location near the beautiful lake and sandy beaches, as well as good hotel and restaurants make Nowogard the real attraction for tourists.
Worth seeing:
As of 31 December 2003 county – 24.925, including city – 17.099 inhabitants and village – 7.826 inhabitants).
Nowogard is twinned with:
In 1963 the West German town of Heide took over a partnership for the expelled populace of Naugard. In 1996 this led to the signing of a contract of partnership between Heide and Nowogard in which the former populace is regarded "constitutive partners".[4]
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