Kalisz Poland description, location, history. Poland map.

Kalisz Poland description, location, history. Poland map.

Kalisz is situated on the Prosna River in the south-eastern part of Wielkopolskie Voivodeship (Province). It is the city with county rights being at the same time the seat of Kalisz land county authorities; it is the second largest city in the voivodeship. It is also considered the oldest city of Poland.

In the Early Middle period, the fortified settlemet in Zawodzie, founded in the 9th century, was one of the biggest Piast fortified complex. After 1233, Henry the Bearded (Duke of Silesia) relocated the settlement centre north of Zawodzie to the new town.

Kalisz received city rights and location privilege according to German Magdeburg Law between the years 1253 - 1260.

Around 1257, Duke Boleslaus the Pious granted the town with Środa Śląska Law, a local variation of the Magdeburg Law. The arrangement of the inner city was characterized by the spindly configuration of two trade roads, intersecting with the cross streets, and the rectangular market square in the middle.

The city flourished in the 15th and 16th century. The fact of bringing the Jesuits to Kalisz in 1583, as well as foundation of the Jesuit College and church by Stanisław Karnkowski (Archbishop of Gniezno), had a considerable influence on the architecture and intellectual life of the city.

However, the numerous wars and fires which struck the city in 17th and 18th century hindered the development of the city. The most tragic one of 1792 destroyed almost the whole city.

After the fall of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1815, the city belonged to the Polish Duchy, the so-called Congress Duchy. As one of the biggest cities of the Congress Duchy, Kalisz constituted an important administrative, economic and cultural centre.

The bombardments and arsoning of the city by the German troops commanded by major Herman Preusker almost completely destroyed the city during World War I.

During World War II, Kalisz was incorporated into the Third Reich, and became a part of the so-called Warta Country. The years of occupation brought repressions and persecutions. The Nazis were especially brutal for the Jews, who until 1939 constituted 1/3 of the city population.

The years after the war brought about a rapid industrialization, development of the city's infrastructure and socio-cultural growth.