The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship is one of the 16 Voivodeships contributing to the territory of Poland. Voivodeship stretches over an area of 17,969 kilometers squared and is inhabited by approximately 2,074,517 people, which adds up to a density of population of 120 people per kilometer squared.[14] Kujwasko-Pomorskie region is situated in the northern part of Poland, bordered by the Voivodeships of Warmińsko-Mazurskie to the northeast, Pomorskie to the north, Mazowieckie to the east, Łódzkie to the south, and Wielkopolskie to the southwest. The Voivodeship itself was established in 1999 by merging three different historical provinces. Significant cities in the area include the Bydgoszcz and Toruń, with Bydgoszcz as the seat of Voivode and Toruń as the seat of the regional assembly.[1] The Kujwasko-Pomorskie territory is composed chiefly of flat and lowland landscapes, as a central part of the region is situated in the Vistula basin. The Vistula river is the most significant river flowing through the territory and also the longest river in Poland.[4]
Toruń is the seat of the self-government of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and is one of its two capitals, together with Bydgoszcz. Toruń is located on the Vistula river's banks, in the Voivodeship's central part. The historic part of the city is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the predominant sights in the historic city is the Town Hall, one of the largest brick buildings of that kind in Europe. The Town Hall was built in the 14th century in Gothic style.[7]
Nicolaus Copernicus (polish Mikołaj Kopernik) was a polish polymath as well as a mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon. He is best known for formulating a theory of Heliocentrism. Until then, the generally accepted view was that Sun orbits the Earth; however, his Heliocentric theory, which he published just before his death in 1543 and is considered one of his most important contributions to the history of science. The theory triggered the Copernican Revolution and contributed to the Scientific Revolution.[8] Copernicus' birth-house is located in the historical Toruń city and is open for tourists. The house was built in the 15th century in Gothic style. Nowadays, the house features a museum, offering various tours, representing not only Copernicus' life and achievements but also scientific history.[9]
One of the oldest historic landmarks is Biskupin, an archaeological site and a life-size model of a late Bronze Age fortified settlement. Biskupin is located in the south-western borders of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship. The area of the archeological site was first settled in the 8th century BC by Lusatian tribes. Nowadays, the settlement is not only an archeological site but also an open-air museum available for visitors.[10]
Teutonic Order, which occupied part of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie territory for a period of time, left a considerable number of brick castles and churches in the area. One of them is the castle in Golub, built in Gothic-Renaissance style. The castle offers accommodations and a restaurant, but is most known for is it showcasing various castle architecture, galleries, castle stables, and knights' tournament reenactments.[11]
The Kowajsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship features numerous local cultural events, supporting regional economy and production. One example is the Festival of Taste (Festiwal Smaku) in Grucznie, where people can taste locally produced honey, meat, jam, liqueurs, and wines.[12] One of the cultural institutions in the region is Chopin Centre in Szafarnia, which celebrates composers' music through concerts and artistic events.[13]
The territory of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship is mainly composed of flat and lowland landscapes with morainal hills. Lakelands surround the territory. To the north is situated the Południowopomorskie Lakeland, to the east the Chełmno-Dobrzyń Lakeland, and to the south the Wielkopolskie (Great Poland) Lakeland.[1]
The most significant river flowing through the region is the Vistula, the longest river in Poland. Another major river in the region is the Noteć. The Kujawko-Pomorskie Voivodeship abounds in natural water reservoirs. Nearly 1.4% of the Voivodeship's area is covered in lakes, representing 9% of all lakes in Poland. The lakes are unevenly distributed throughout the territory, with the highest number in Brodnica Lakeland, Gniezno Lakeland, Dobrzyń Lakeland, and the Płock Basin. Some of the largest natural reservoirs are Gopło, Głuszyńskie Lake, and Żnińskie Duże Lake. The area also abounds in artificial water reservoirs used for energy production. The water areas of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region also provide a considerable number of touristic recreational options.[4]
Approximately 23% of the Kujawko-Pomoerskie Voivodeship area is covered in forests; however, it is still one of the least forested territories in Poland. Even though the small percentage, the forests provide considerable diversity of species, especially of smaller kinds. Most of the Voivodeships' territory is covered in steppes with former glacial and post-glacial tundra plant species, primarily preserved in the Tuchola Forest and Brodnica Lake District. Some native tree species are spruce, beech, maple, and yew.[4]
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie territory is situated in the northern parts of Poland, which results in transitional climate conditions. The climate combines the Baltic Lakelands conditions in the north and the Great Central Polish Valley conditions in the south.[4] July is the warmest month of the year, with an average daily temperature of 24°C. On the other hand, January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 0°C. The driest month is February, with an average of 23.0 mm of rainfall. Most precipitation falls during July, with an average of 78.0 mm. The sunniest month is June, with an average of 227 hours of sunshine.[6]
The oldest settlements of the Kujwasko-Pomorskie territory can be dated back to 8th century BC. The archeological site of Biskupin, located in the south-western corner of the Voivodeship, bears evidence of the Lusatian tribe's inhabitance.[10]
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship contains several historcial regions, Kujavia (Kujawy), the Chełmno Land, the Dobrzyń Land, and parts of Krajna and Pałuki. There is evidence of the Goplanie tribe inhabitants from the 9th-century. Piasts, the first ruling dynasty of Poland, ruled the territory since the 10th century. The Kujawsko-Pomorskie area, together with the Wielkopolska region, was a central part of the Polish state, bearing significance, especially during the establishment period of the Polish state. Kujavia became its separate region in 1194, with a capital established in Inowrocław.[1]
In the 14th century, the territory came under the rule of the Teutonic Order of Prussia, one of the three largest Christian orders of knights of that period, among Templars and Knights Hospitallers.[2] However, the territory was won back in 1343. The Kujawsko-Pomorskie area experienced considerable development in the 16th century, with Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Włocławek, and Grudziądz cities being the most prosperous in the locality. The Swedish invasion in the 17th century interrupted rapid economic development. Over the following years, the area alternately belonged to Prussia or the Kingdom of Poland.[1]
After World War I, the territory of today's Kujawsko-Pomerskie Voivodeship was within the borders of the reborn Polish state; however, during the Second World War, the territory was invaded by Germans and became part of the Nazi Third Reich.[4] In the northern part of the Voivodeship, the city of Chelmno was used to establish a concentration camp in 1941, which became the first of the so-called killing centers set up by Nazis.[3] The area of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie was freed in 1945 by the Red Army troops. The Pomeranian Province was reactivated, with Bydgoszcz as its capital.[4]
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship as we know it today was established in 1999 by merging three separate administration divisions, Włocławek, Toruń, and Bydgoszcz. Bydgoszcz stayed the seat of Voivode; however, the regional assembly seat (sejmik) is in the city of Toruń. Nowadays, the Voivodeship is divided into 23 counties.[4] The prevailing political party, concerning the number of seats in the regional assembly, is a Christian-democratic party with liberal tendencies.[5]
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