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Introduction
Wielkopolska was the core of the early medieval Polish state,
is often termed "the cradle of Poland", and at times
has simply been called "Poland" (Latin: Polonia).
Before that, the area, inhabited by the Polanie, was simply
known as "the land of the Polanian tribe". The fortified
settlements of Kruszwica and Gniezno were built between the
7th and 10th century AD, soon followed by Poznań and Kalisz.
Greater Poland was the central part of the principality ruled
from Gniezno by Duke Mieszko I and King Boleslaus the Brave
(Boleslaw Chrobry). The name of Great Poland is first mentioned
in the Latin form Polonia Maior in 1257, and in Polish in 1449.
Zerkow
Greater Poland Voivodeship (also known as Wielkopolska Province,
or by its Polish name of województwo wielkopolskie) is a voivodeship,
or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on January
1, 1999, out of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno
Voivodeships, pursuant to the 1998 Local Government Reorganization
Act. The province is named after the region called Greater Poland.
The modern province includes most of this historic region, except
for some south-western parts.Greater Poland Voivodeship is second
in area and third in population among Poland's sixteen voivodeships,
with an area of 29,826 square kilometres and a population of
close to 3.4 million. The low-lying landscape of Wielkopolska
(Greater Poland) province is varied by numerous hills, lakes
and forests with the unique flora and fauna. You are likely
to see here old wooden windmills, churches and belfries. The
Wielkopolska region is also a place full of many interesting
and precious monuments of Polish and foreign cultures, representing
different art styles and tendencies. Its capital city is Poznań;
other important cities include Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Gniezno
(an early capital of Poland). It is bordered by seven other
voivodeships: West Pomeranian to the north-west, Pomeranian
to the north, Kuyavian-Pomeranian to the north-east, Łódź to
the south-east, Opole to the south, Lower Silesian to the south-west
and Lubusz to the west. On this page you can read about the
southern Wielkopolska.
Nature
The Southern Wielkopolska Plain represents a type
of landscape shaped outside of the influence of the last glaciation.
It is a large, lakeless and biologically undiversified area.
The river valleys of Warta, Prosna, Lutynia, Orla and smaller
rivers (ex. Olobok) and streams interrupt the monotony of the
land profile. Little forest remains in the region, and the landscape
is dominated by agriculture. Woodlands in this macro-region
belong to the Rychtal Forest which stretches west of Prosna
River. Wielkopolska is a region rich in fauna. Despite significant
changes in the natural environment the region is still inhabited
by a great number of birds, reptiles, fish, insects and other
species of animals.
White Stork
European Bison
The most interesting towns...
Kalisz
Kalisz is situated on the Prosna river in the
southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city
forms a conurbation with the nearby town of Ostrów Wielkopolski.
Sometimes Kalisz is called "the oldest town of Poland"
because the mention by Ptolemy of a town called Calisia that
was situated on the Amber Trail. Although it is still not certain
whether the exact spot where the city centre is located nowadays
was inhabitated in 2nd century, there are many artifacts of
the Roman times in the area, pointing to the fact that it must
have been one of the stops of the Roman caravans heading for
the Baltic Sea. Modern Kalisz was most probably founded in 9th
century as a castellany and a minor fort. In 1792 the town was
struck by a fire that destroyed much of its centre. The following
year, following the II partition of Poland, the town was annexed
by Kingdom of Prussia. After the outbreak of the Great War,
the proximity of the border proved disastrous for the city,
as it was one of the first destroyed towns of that war. After
a series of border clashes, the German army bombed the city
with artillery. During the heavy fights that lasted from August
7 to August 22, 1914, the town was destroyed almost completely.
Town Hall built in 1920-24
View from the Town Hall tower
See
more Kalisz photos
Ostrów Wielkopolski
Ostrow Wielkopolski is a town in central Poland
with round 73.000 inhabitants. In Ostrow we can find some interesting
landmarks. The present Town Hall was built in 1828 and was designed
by J.H.Haeberlin - an associate of famous Prussian architect
K.Schinkel. It is situated in the middle of the main square,
which is built-up with tenements from the 19-th century. At
the beginning it was a brick, two-storeyed building with a loft
and an open courtyard. This structure was converted in 1862
and 1948, since then it hasn't changed a lot. The synagogue
was built in 1857- 1860 year. Now it is closed and abandoned
but in nearly future will be arrange to a culture centre. The
oldest structure in Ostow is a evangelical church built in 1778
year.
Town view
See
more Ostrow photos
Krotoszyn
Krotoszyn is a town with round 30.000 inhabitants.
First mention was in 1405 year. The most interesting buildings
are: the Town Hall built in XVII century, rebuilt in 1898-1899;
churches from XVI and XVIII century; palace from XVI century.
  
See
more Krotoszyn photos
Jarocin
Jarocin is a town with round 25.000 inhabitants.
The establishment and development of medieval Jarocin was due
to a favourable location at the crossing of important trade
routes - from Wroclaw to Torun and from Poznan to Kalisz. For
centuries German and Polish people coexisted here in peace.
Due to the close neighbourhood of Silesia, German settlers first
came here already in medieval ages. Through the centuries the
town changed owners a few times. In 1661 Jarocin was taken over
by the Radolinski family who remained its owners until 1945.
After the second partition of Poland in 1793, for 125 years
Jarocin had been a part of Germany. The town became famous in
the 1980s thanks to the Jarocin Festival, one of the first rock
and punk music festivals in (then under the communist rule)
Eastern Bloc countries. The first one was organised in 1980.
In Jarocin we can see also many landmarks. One of the most beautiful
is the Town Hall from XVIII century, the St. Marcin church from
XVII century, the Treasure-House, relickt of a medieval castle
and the palace of Radolinski family.
  
See
more Jarocin photos
The most beautiful manor-houses,
palaces and castles...
Smielow
Smielow Palace, built in 1797 by Stanislaw Zawadzki
project for Andrzej Gorzenski. In this place live for a few
weeks Adam Mickiewicz and Henryk Sienkiewicz. Adam Mickiewicz-
(December 24, 1798 – November 26, 1855) was one of the most
well-known Polish poets and writers, considered as the greatest
Polish poet, besides Zygmunt Krasiński and Juliusz Slowacki.
Henryk Sienkiewicz (May 5, 1846 - November 15, 1916)
was a Polish novelist, one of the outstanding writers of the
second half of the 19th century. Serializing his novels in newspapers,
he became immensely popular and beloved in his time and, over
a century later, is still highly valued by readers of prose.
In Poland he is best known for his colorful historical novels
(The Trilogy) depicting the derring-do of Polish heroes in the
17th century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; abroad- for his
novel, Quo Vadis, set in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.
At present the palace is part of the National
Museum in Poznan.
See
more Smielow photos
Goluchow
About 1560 Rafal Leszczynski built a renaissance
fortified manor house, which was subsequently altered into a
two-winged chateau with an arcade overlooking the courtyard.
It was in Goluchow where, in 1555, Calvinists from Malopolska
met with Czech Brethren from Wielkopolska to discuss the union
of the two faiths. In 1581 a charter was written down in Goluchow
granting the Czech Brethren a parish church together with its
possessions. At the beginning of the 17th century the chateau
was enlarged. However, after 1695 this splendid building fell
into disrepair. After it was sold by the Leszczynskis it kept
changing hands until in 1853 the estate was bought by Tytus
Dzialynski from Kornik for his son Jan. In 1856 Jan Dzialynski
began work on the restoration of the castle. It was completed
by his wife Izabela Dzialynska nee Czartoryska. The castle,
rebuilt in the years 1872 - 1885, housed a museum famed for
its magnificent collection of Greek vases, paintings, military
accessories and objects of ancient craft, among them enamel
utensils from Limoges. Exhibits from all over Europe were kept
in the Lambert Hotel in Paris before being displayed in Goluchów.
Until 1939 it was one of the biggest private museums in Europe.
At present the castle is part of the National
Museum in Poznan.
See
more Goluchow photos
Antonin
The palace in Antonin, built at the beginning
of the 19th century by Karl Fryderyk Schinkl, is a valuable
monument of Polish wood architecture. Nowadays, Antonin is famous
for its history and also for the events that take place here.
Prince Radziwiłł's salon is still the place where concerts of
Chopin music by Polish and foreign artists are often heard.
Various cultural events devoted to the great composer also take
place here. Moreover, it houses a museum, creative work centre
and hotel.
See
more Antonin photos
Dobrzyca
Dobrzyca was the ancestral residence of Dobrzyckich
family. Their coat of arms was Leszczyc. The first representative
of the family was Mikolaj Dobrzycki. The palace was built in
1795-1799 years by Stanislaw Zawadzki for Augustyn Gorzenski.All
rooms gained splendid painted decoration, made by Antoni Smuglewicz
and Robert Stankiewicz. As Adam Turno, Augustyn Gorzenski’s
nephew, mentions, rooms were decorated with paintings and interiors
were furnished with “royal furniture”. One of the most beautiful
rooms in the palace is the drawing room with stuccowork made
by Michal Ceptowski. Now it's a museum.
See
more Dobrzyca photos
Lewkow
The Lipski family had their palace built in Lewkow
in the years 1786-1791. The design was the work of Jan Chrystian
Kamsetzer, the architect of King Stanislaw August. Both the
buildings and their interiors are of the classicist style, manifesting
itself by the four-column Ionian portico with a triangular tympanum
on the front facade and rich stucco ornaments on the exterior
and interior walls. The palace and two outhouses in the yard
are surrounded by a landscape park with many national monument
trees. The palace was restored in 1972-87 and an exhibition
of interiors restored to their original, classicist appearance
opened on the so-called ceremonial floor in 1991.
See
more Lewkow photos
Infos from: W. Lecki The Nature of Wielkopolska;
Wikipedia; www.jarocin.pl; www.staypoland.com; www.goluchow.pl;
www.infochopin.pl; www.dobrzyca-muzeum.pl; www.culture.pl.
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