Bożeń

Bożeń
Village
Bożeń
Coordinates: 51°23′N 16°38′E / 51.383°N 16.633°E
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Lower Silesian
County Wołów
Gmina Wołów
Population (approx.) 500

Bożeń [ˈbɔʐɛɲ] (German: Buschen) is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wołów, within Wołów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.[1] Prior to 1945 it was in Germany.

It lies approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) north of Wołów, and 41 kilometres (25 mi) north-west of the regional capital Wrocław.

The first mention of the village lies in the bronze age i.e. years 900-700 B.C. During the 14th century Bożeń came under Czech King John of Luxembourg. Later the place was returned to Poland. Germany used to call place Buschen, but in 1483 documents mention is as Boschenn.

In the village was a mill and residents free time was spent in an inn. In 1841 an Evangelical school was organised in the village and teachers were recruited. Around 1910 there was a new building for the school. In 1889 road construction had been completed joining it to Wińsko. In 1925 the village numbered 236 persons, with the 222 Evangelicals and 14 Catholics. In 1939 the village numbered 210 people.

Following World War II the native German populace was expelled and replaced by Poles. The village was renamed Bożeń. In the communist period there were established farms specialising in cattle. That has contributed considerably to rural development and 18 blocks were built for persons employed in the agricultural establishment. After the year 1995 the plant was leased to a private firm dealing with milk and plant production.

During the years 1975-1998 the place administratively belonged to the Wroclaw Voivodeship.

In the village is the church of St. Mary belonging to the parish in Moczydlnicy. Since 2005 there have been annual festivities organized by the Culture Centre.

The village has an approximate population of 500.

References

Coordinates: 51°23′N 16°38′E / 51.383°N 16.633°E