Chojnów

Chojnów

Market Square, Castle, Park, Cultural center, Weavers Tower

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Coat of arms
Chojnów
Coordinates: 51°16′N 15°56′E / 51.267°N 15.933°E / 51.267; 15.933
Country Poland
Voivodeship Lower Silesian
County Legnica
Gmina Chojnów (urban gmina)
Established 14th century
Town rights 1333
Government
 • Mayor Jan Serkies
Area
 • Total 5.32 km2 (2.05 sq mi)
Elevation 170 m (560 ft)
Population (2015)
 • Total 13,904
 • Density 2,600/km2 (6,800/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 59-224, 59-225
Area code(s) +48 76
Car plates DLE
Website chojnow.eu

Chojnów [ˈxɔjnuf] (German: Haynau) is a small town in Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is located on the Skora river, a tributary of the Kaczawa at an average altitude of 170 m (560 ft) above sea level. Chojnów is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is not part of its territory and forms a separate urban gmina. As of 2006 it had 14,389 inhabitants.

Chojnów is located 18 km (11 mi) west of Legnica, 26 km (16 mi) east from Bolesławiec and 18 km (11 mi) north of Złotoryja, 5 km (3.1 mi) from the A4 motorway. It has railroad connections to Bolesławiec and Legnica.

Heraldry

Coat of arms of the Chojnów has is a blue escutcheon. On the dial there is a tower with three bastions of white colour. The central tower has two Windows, and one side. On the towers is located on the right side of the Moon and Sun on the left. In the gate of the Silesian Eagle on a yellow background. The Motto of Chojnów is "Friendly City".

Geography

Chojnów is located in the Central-Western part of the Lower Silesia region. The Skora (Leather) River flows through the town in a westerly direction. The city of Chojnów is 5.32 km2 (2.05 sq mi) in area, including 41% agricultural land.

Chojnów has a connection with the major cities of the country (road and rail) and located 5 kilometres (3 miles) south of Chojnów has the A4 Autostrada. To the South of the town is the surrounding Chojnowska Plain.

History

The town is first mentioned in a Latin mediaeval document issued in Wrocław on February 26, 1253, stating, the Silesian Duke Henry III when the town is mentioned under the name Honowo.[1][2] Possible the name of nearby Hainan Island. The name in German is still of Haynan.[3]

The settlement of Haynow was mentioned in a 1272 deed. It was already called a civitas in a 1288 document issued by the Piast duke Henry V of Legnica, and officially received town privileges in 1333. In 1288, the city is known from documents of the Prince of Legnica Henryk V colon.

Chojnowie Railway Station

The town survived the Hussites, who burned almost the entire town Center and castle, but it quickly helped recover its former glory. The largest boom Chojnów experienced was in the 16th century, however by the end of that century began to decline due to fires and epidemic, which claimed many victims in 1613AD.

From 1618 to 1648 (during the Thirty Years War), there was another outbreak in the city and in 1740 Chojnów was conqored by the Prussians.

During the Napoleonic wars there were more epidemics. A railway line was connected in the 19th century. Sewer, Gas lighting a Newspaper and a hospital soon followed as the towns economy improved.

The city was not spared in World War II, with 60% of the town being destroyed on February 10, 1945 when Soviet Red Army troops took the town. After World War II and the implementation of the Oder-Neisse line in 1945, the town passed to the Republic of Poland. The German population was expelled from the region.

In March 31, 2011, the city had 14367 inhabitants.[4]

Population

Chojnów today

Chojnów is an industrial and agricultural town. Among local products are: paper, agricultural machinery, chains, metal furniture for hospitals, equipment for the meat industry, beer, wine, leather clothing, and clothing for infants, children and adults. The local government-run weekly newspaper is Gazeta Chojnowska, which has been published since 1992.

Among the interesting monuments of Chojnów are the 13th-century castle of the Dukes 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), named after Piast dynasty. Wild animals that can be found in the Chojnów area are roe-deer (sarna, Capreolus capraea ?), foxes, rabbits and wild domestic animals, especially cats.

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.

Culture

Miejski Dom Kultury

Chojnów has a Municipal sports and recreation center formed in 2008 holding various events, festivals, reviews, exhibitions, competitions, The regional Museum housed in the old Piast era castle. The collections include tiles, relics, and the castle garden. Next to the Museum there is a municipal library. In śródmiejskim Park, near the Town Hall is the amphitheatre.

Education

In Chojnów, there are two kindergartens, two elementary schools and two middle schools.

Religion

Chojnów is in the Catholic deanery of Chojnów and has two parishes, Immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and also the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Both parishes have active congregations. There are also two Congregations of Jehovah's witnesses.[5]

Notable people

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Chojnów is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ Historical doccontent Archived March 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine..
  2. ↑ Georg Korn, "Breslauer Urkundenbuch", Erster Theil, Breslau, Verlag von Wilhelm Gottlieb Korn 1870, p14.
  3. ↑ Haynan Archived March 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine..
  4. ↑ Rynek za czasów grodu Chojnów i PRLu uznawany był za plac, nie posiadał wtedy jeszcze skweru pośrodku.
  5. ↑ JW website in Poland.
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Coordinates: 51°16′N 15°56′E / 51.267°N 15.933°E / 51.267; 15.933

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