Lublin

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Lublin
Collage of views of Lublin
Flag Coat of arms
Lublin
Coordinates: 51°14′53″N 22°34′13″E / 51.24806°N 22.57028°E / 51.24806; 22.57028
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lublin
County	city county
Established	before 12th century
Town rights	1317
Government
- Mayor	Adam Wasilewski
Area
- City	147 km2 (56.8 sq mi)
Population (2006)
- City	354,272
- Density	2,410/km2 (6,241.9/sq mi)
- Metro	640,000
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	20-001 to 20-999
Area code(s)	+48 81
Car plates	LU
Website	http://www.um.lublin.pl/

Coordinates: 51°14′N 22°34′E / 51.233°N 22.567°E / 51.233; 22.567

Lublin [ˈlublin] ( listen) (yid. לובלין, ukr. Люблін, lit. Liublinas, rus. Люблин) ) is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 355,954 (2004). Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river.

Contents 1 History 2 Economy 3 Media 3.1 Television 3.2 Radio 3.3 Newspapers 4 Transport 4.1 Airport 5 Tourism and nightlife 5.1 European capital of culture 6 Education 7 Sports 8 Notable residents 9 Politics 9.1 Lublin constituency 10 Sister cities 11 Gallery 12 See also 13 References 14 External links

[edit] History

The first permanent settlements on the Lublin site were established in the early Middle Ages, though archeological finds indicate a long, earlier presence of various cultures in the general area. The earliest, most significant settlement began in the 6th century, on a hill located in the suburb of Czwartek (in Polish Thursday, most likely in reference to the market day of the settlement). It is likely that the surrounding hills, notably the site of the present day Old Town, were also settled at around this time. In the 10th and 11th centuries the Czwartek settlement developed into an important trade centre. The location of Lublin at the eastern borders of the Polish lands gave it a military significance. The first fortification on the site may have been built as early as the 8th century, possibly on the Castle Hill. Certainly at the end of the 10th century a significant fortification existed there. As the castle grew, the Old Town hill adjacent to it became the main focus of settlement, and the Czwartek settlement declined in relative importance. The castle became the seat of a Castellan, first mentioned in historical sources from 1224, but quite possibly present from the start of the 12th, or even 10th century. The oldest historical document mentioning Lublin dates from 1198, so the name must have come into general use some time earlier.

The city was a target of attacks by Tatars, Ruthenes, Yotvingians and Lithuanians and was destroyed a number of times. It received a city charter in 1317. Casimir the Great, appreciating the strategic importance of the site, built a masonry castle in 1341 and encircled the city with defensive walls.

In 1392, the city received an important trade privilege from king Władysław Jagiełło, and with the coming of the peace between Poland and Lithuania developed into a great trade centre carrying a large portion of commerce between the two countries. In 1474 the area around Lublin was combined to form the Lublin Voivodeship. In the 15th century and 16th century the town grew rapidly. The largest trade fairs of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were held in Lublin. During the 16th century the noble parliaments (sejm) were held in Lublin a number of times. On June 26, 1569, one of the most important ones proclaimed the Union of Lublin, which united Poland and Lithuania. The Lithuanian name for the city is Liublinas.

Some of the artists and writers of the Polish renaissance lived and worked in Lublin, including Sebastian Klonowic and Jan Kochanowski, who died in the city in 1584. In 1578 the Crown Tribunal was established in the city, this being the highest court of the Lesser Poland region.

Since the second half of the 16th century, Reformation movements developed in Lublin, and a large congregation of Polish Brethren was present in the city. One of Poland's most important Jewish communities was also established in Lublin around this time. It continued to be a vital part of the city's life until the community ceased to exist during the Nazi Holocaust. Between 1580 and 1764 the Jewish Council of Four Lands Arba Aracot (Sejm of 4 countries) was held in Lublin. 70 delegates of Jewish local kahals met to discuss issue of taxations and other important for Jewish communities issues.

Students came to Lublin from all over Europe to study at the yeshiva there. The yeshiva became a centre of learning of both Talmud and Kabbalah. The great scholarship of those who studied there led to the city being named the "Jewish Oxford"; the Rosh yeshiva received the title of rector and equal rights to those in Polish universities with the permission of the King in 1567.

In the 17th century, the town suffered a decline due to a Russo-Ukrainian invasion in 1655 and a Swedish invasion during the Northern Wars. After the Third of the Partitions of Poland in 1795 Lublin was located in the Austrian empire, then since 1809 in the Duchy of Warsaw, and then since 1815 in the Congress Poland under Russian rule. At the beginning of the 19th century a number of modern urban developments took place, with new squares, streets, and public buildings coming into existence. In 1877 a railway connection to Warsaw and Kovel was built, which spurred industrial development in the city. Lublin's population grew from 28,900 in 1873 to 50,150 in 1897 (including 24,000 Jews).^[1]

The Russian rule ended in 1915, when the city was occupied by German and Austro-Hungarian armies. After the defeat of the Central Powers in 1918, the first government of independent Poland operated in Lublin for a short time. In the inter war years, the city continued to develop, its population grew, and important industrial enterprises were established, including the first aviation factory in Poland, the Plage i Laśkiewicz works, later nationalized as the LWS factory. The Catholic University of Lublin was founded in 1918. The city contained a vibrant Jewish community which formed around 40% of Lublin's population.

After the 1939 German invasion of Poland the city found itself in the General Government. During the German occupation the city's population was a target of severe oppression by the occupiers, with a particularly grim fate reserved for the Jewish inhabitants. German plans were aimed towards turning Lublin into Germanised city with its population of Ethnic Germans growing towards 20-25 %, compared with 10-15% in 1939.^[2] Near Lublin, a reservation was set up for Jews according to the Nisko Plan, also known as "Lublin Plan".

The city served as a German headquarters for Operation Reinhardt, the main German effort to exterminate the Jews in occupied Poland. Lublin's Jewish population was forced into the Lublin Ghetto established around the area of Podzamcze. The majority of the ghetto's inhabitants, about 26,000 people, was deported to the Bełżec death camp between 17 March and 11 April 1942. The remainder were moved to facilities around Majdanek, a large concentration camp established at the outskirts of the city. Most of them were killed by the war's end.

After the war the few Jews who survived in hiding or by escaping to Soviet territory reestablished a small Jewish community in the city, but it quickly shrank to insignificance as most Jews left Poland for Israel and the West in the immediate postwar years. The Majdanek camp, together with the prison established in the Lublin castle, also served as a major centre of terror measures aimed at the non-Jewish population of Lublin and the surrounding district.

On 24 July 1944, the city was taken by the Soviet Army and became the temporary capital of a Soviet-controlled communist Polish Committee of National Liberation established in the city, which was to serve as basis for a puppet government. The capital was moved to Warsaw in January 1945. In the postwar years Lublin continued to grow, tripling its population and greatly expanding in area. A considerable scientific and research base was established around the newly founded Maria Curie-Sklodowska University. A large automobile factory (FSC) was established in the city.

In July 1980, the workers of Lublin and nearby Świdnik began the first in the wave of mass strikes aimed against the Communist regime, which eventually led to the emergence of the Solidarity movement. The first strike began on July 8 in the WSK factory in Świdnik. It then quickly spread to other factories in Lublin and the surrounding region. The railroad network and city transit came to a standstill. Ultimately, 150 factories employing 50,000 workers joined the strike. The strikers used a novel tactic of staying inside their factories and occupying them, instead of marching in the streets where the authorities would have found it easy to use force against them. The workers made demands for their economic situation to be improved. They also made political demands, such as: new elections for the leadership of the trade unions, liquidation of privileges for the Communist party governing class, and the reduction of the bureaucracy in the factories.

The July strikes lasted two weeks. The Communist authorities eventually managed to bring them to an end peacefully, mainly by granting economic concessions to the workers. However, the momentum generated by the Lublin strikes quickly gave rise to a new wave of strikes in the Gdańsk region in August 1980. The workers there used similar tactics as the Lublin workers used a month before, and this time the Communist authorities had to agree to the strikers' demand to set up an independent trade union, which soon became the Solidarity.

[edit] Economy

The Lublin region had the lowest per capita GDP in the European Union until Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 (it was 32% of EU average in 2002). It is a part of eastern Poland, which has benefited less from the economic transformation after 1989 than other regions of Poland located closer to Western Europe. While the standard of living in the city of Lublin is considerably higher than in the surrounding countryside, the city's relatively poor economic performance is tied to the poverty of its surrounding region.

Factories built under the Communist regime in the city have performed poorly in the new market economy. The large car factory FSC (Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych) seemed to have a brighter future when acquired by the South Korean Daewoo conglomerate in the early 1990s. With Daewoo's financial troubles in 1998, the production at FSC practically collapsed and the factory entered bankruptcy. Efforts to restart its van production succeeded when the engine supplier bought the company in order not to lose its prime market. With the decline of Lublin as a regional industrial centre, the city's economy is being reoriented towards the service industries. Currently, the largest employer is the Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (UMCS).

The prices of land and investing costs are lower than in western Poland. However, the Lublin area is one of main beneficiaries of the EU development funds-^[3] Mr. Jerzy Kwiecinski, the Deputy Secretary of State in the Ministry for Regional Development at the Conference of the Ministry for Regional Development (Poland in the European Union – new possibilities for foreign investors) said: -

“In the immediate financial outlook, between 2007 and 2013, we will be the largest beneficiaries of the EU - every fifth Euro will be spent in Poland. In total, we will have at our disposal 120 billion EUR, assigned exclusively for post development activities. This sum will be an enormous boost for our country”. ^[4]

In September 2007, the Prime Minister signed a bill creating a special economic investment zone in Lublin that offers tax incentives. It is part of “Park Mielec” – the European Economic Development area.^[5] At least 13 large companies had declared their wish to invest here e.g. Carefaur, Comarch, Safo, Asseco, Aliplast, Herbapol and Perła Browary Lubelskie - ^[6]. At the same time the energy giant Polska Grupa Energetyczna, which will build Poland's first nuclear power station, is to have its main offices in Lublin.

New shopping centers built in Lublin are Lublin Plaza and Galeria Gala, the largest shopping centre in the city, covering 33500 square metres. Similar investments are planned for the near future such as Park Felin (Felicity) and a new gallery between Świętoduska and Lubartowska streets.^[7]

Lublin will take an active part in the upcoming EURO 2012 championships, with several preliminary matches being held in the city. This will bring associated investment in infrastructure.

[edit] Media

[edit] Television

• TVP 1 (channel 9), TVP 2 (channel 23), Polsat TV (channel 35), TVP Info (channel 39), TVP Lublin (channel 39),TVP Lublin(channel 39) , TVN (channel 41), TV 4 (channel 57).

[edit] Radio

• Radio eR - 87,9 FM,
• Radio RMF FM - 89,3 FM,
• Radio Lublin (regional station of the Polish Radio) - 89,9 FM / 102,2 FM,
• Polskie Radio 1 (national station of the Polish Radio) - 90,8 FM,
• Polskie Radio 2 (national station of the Polish Radio) - 91,8 FM,
• Radio Puls (part of the Złote Przeboje) - 95,6 FM,
• Radio Centrum (University radio) - 98,2 FM,
• Radio Maryja - 97 FM,
• Radio Euro (national station of the Polish Radio) - 99 FM,
• Radio Kielce (regional station of the Polish Radio) - 101,4 FM,
• Radio Eska Lublin - 103,6 FM,
• Polskie Radio 3 (national station of the Polish Radio) - 104,2 FM,
• Radio Eska Rock - 106,1 FM,
• Radio Zet - 107 FM.

[edit] Newspapers

• Kurier Lubelski (daily, regional partner of the national newspaper "Polska. The Times") [3]
• Dziennik Wschodni (daily)
• Gazeta Wyborcza Lublin Edition (daily, regional supplement to the national newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza)
• Metro (daily, free)
• Nasze Miasto Lublin (weekly, free)

[edit] Transport

Trains run ten times a day to Warsaw and three times to Krakow as well as all other major cities in Poland. Buses also run from below the castle in the Old Town and serve most of the same destinations as the rail network. The fast train to Warsaw takes around two and half hours and public transport is available from there to Frederic Chopin Airport, which is only 10 km outside the centre and has flights worldwide. The Polski Express bus service runs seven daily buses from the airport direct to Lublin and the journey takes around three and a half hours (^[8];^[9] ).

[edit] Airport

Construction of a new airport at Świdnik, near Lublin, which has been approved and will receive EU funding. Opening is scheduled for 2011.

[edit] Tourism and nightlife

Lublin, by some^[who?] called "little Krakow", has historic architecture and a unique ambiance, especially the Old Town. Catering to students, who account for 35% of the population, the city offers a vibrant music and nightclub scene ^[10] Lublin has many theatres, philharmonic orchestras and museums.^[11] The Zemborzycki Zalew is a large man-made lake used for wind surfing, fishing and other water sports.^[12] Lublin’s Old Town has cobbled streets and traditional architecture. The Old Town Hall and Tribunal in the Market Square is surrounded by burgher houses and winding lanes.^[13] A 104-metre-tall concrete TV Tower consists of a frame structure within which the tower stands.^[14]

[edit] European capital of culture

Since 2007, Lublin has joined the group of Polish cities which are candidates for the title of European Capital of Culture, as the one and only city from the eastern half of Poland. Poland will participate in this title with Spain in 2016.

[edit] Education

There are six schools of higher education, including Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (UMCS) and John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL).

• UMCS - University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska in Lublin
• John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) - Catholic University of Lublin
• Medical University in Lublin
• Technical University in Lublin
• University of Life Sciences in Lublin

Lublin also hosts a number of private higher education establishments. The Polish Government has plans to establish a new University in Lublin in cooperation with the Ukraine Government, which promises to be one of the most innovative international ventures of recent years.^{[citation needed]} The Polish-Ukrainian Academy will support multicultural exchange, and will highlight Polish and Ukrainian heritage and history. It promises to be a milestone in the rapprochement between Poland and Ukraine, and between Ukraine and the European Union.

• Uniwersytet Medyczny – [4] (Medical University of Lublin)
• Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy – [5]
• Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski im. Jana Pawła II – [6]
• Lubelska Szkoła Biznesu – [7]
• Politechnika Lubelska – [8]
• Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej – [9]
• Higher School of Economics and Innovation in Lublin  – [10]
• Wyższa Szkoła Nauk Społecznych z siedzibą w Lublinie – [11]
• Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości i Administracji – [12]
• Wyższa Szkoła Społeczno-Przyrodnicza w Lublinie – [13]

[edit] Sports

• Start Lublin - men's basketball team, 12th in Era Basket Liga in 2003–2004 season.
• SPR Safo iCom Lublin (formerly Bystrzyca Lublin) - women's handball team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League: 2nd place in 2003–2004 season: also a winner of Women's EHF Cup in season 2000/2001.
• Motor Lublin - professional football team competing in the Polish second division.
• Lublinianka - men's football team competing in the Polish league (fourth division as of 2006–07).
• Budowlani Lublin - a local Rugby Union team competing in the Polish, and surrounding district league.
• TŻ Lublin speedway club competing in the Polish league (second division).
• LSKT - Lublin's taekwon-do sport club.

[edit] Notable residents

• Janusz Lewandowski (1951—) - MEP, former minister of privatization; born in Lublin
• Stanisław Kostka Potocki (1755–1821)
• Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin (1745–1815) - "The Seer of Lublin"
• Henryk Wieniawski (1835–1880) - great violin virtuoso; born in Lublin
• Jacek Bąk (polish footballer, captain of Poland on World Cup 2006)
• Wincenty Pol (1807-1872) poet and geographer
• Katarzyna Dolinska (Of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10, came in 5th place, but has become successful post-show.)

[edit] Politics

[edit] Lublin constituency

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Lublin constituency:

• Zyta Gilowska, PIS
• Stanisław Głębocki, Samoobrona
• Arkadiusz Kasznia, SLD-UP
• Elżbieta Kruk, PiS
• Grzegorz Kurczuk, SLD-UP
• Robert Luśnia, LPR
• Andrzej Mańka, PiS
• Gabriela Masłowska, LPR
• Wiktor Osik, SLD-UP
• Zdzisław Podkański, PSL
• Tadeusz Polański, PSL
• Izabella Sierakowska, SLD-UP
• Zygmunt Jerzy Szymański, SLD-UP
• Leszek Świętochowski, PSL
• Marian Widz, Samoobrona
• Józef Żywiec, Samoobrona
• Janusz Palikot, PO

[edit] Sister cities

Brest, Belarus[15] Alcalá de Henares, Spain Debrecen, Hungary Delmenhorst, Germany Erie, Pennsylvania, United States Lancaster, United Kingdom

Luhans'k, Ukraine Lutsk, Ukraine L'viv, Ukraine Münster, Germany Nancy, France Nykøbing Falster, Denmark

Panevėžys, Lithuania Pernik, Bulgaria Rishon Lezion, Israel[16] Starobielsk, Ukraine Viseu, Portugal Windsor, Ontario, Canada

[edit] Gallery

Courtyard of the Lublin Castle - Holy Trinity Chapel	Trinity Tower gate	Krakow Gate	John the Baptist and John the Evangelist Cathedral
Dominican Basilica of Stanislaus of Szczepanów	Carmelite Church	Grodzka Gate, to the Jewish quarter	Juliusz Osterwa Theatre
Wincenty Pol's manor	Main railway station	Old Town	Chociszewska tenement house
Open air museum on rural life	Wiesław Ochman, Lublin Medical Academy Choir	Zembrzycki Reservoir

[edit] See also

• Lublin Department (Polish: Departament Lubelski): a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland's Duchy of Warsaw, 1806–1815
• Nasze Miasto Lublin local newspaper
• Teatr Muzyczny w Lublinie Musical Theatre in Lublin (opera,operetta,musical,balet) [14]
• Filharmonia Lubelska Lublin Philharmonic [15]
• [16]

[edit] References

Lublin - Informator o Lublinie i lubelszczyźnie

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lublin

• Lublin official website (in Polish)
• Lublin 2016 - Official site of candidate for European Capital of Culture (English version)
• Lublin Municipality official website (in Polish) (in English)
• Virtual tour of Lublin
• Official website of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (English version)
• Lublin Museum (in Polish)
• The Virtual Jewish History Tour: Lublin
• Website of the Jewish Community of Warsaw – Lublin Branch
• Lublin map via Encarta World Atlas
• Genealogy in Lublin
• Lublin in Old Postcards

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