Wolsztyn
Encyclopedia
Wolsztyn ' is a town in western Poland
, on the western edge of Greater Poland Voivodeship
(from 1975 to 1998 it was in Zielona Gora Voivodeship
). It is the seat of Wolsztyn County
, and of the smaller administrative district of Gmina Wolsztyn
.
Wolsztyn is famous as the location of a locomotive roundhouse
, which is the last place in Europe to supply steam locomotive
s for regular, timetabled train services on the national railway network
. As of 2011 these services run to Leszno
and Zbąszynek
. The site also includes a railway museum featuring restored locomotives. An annual parade of locomotives takes place at the start of May – the 2007 event, which also celebrated the roundhouse's centenary, attracted 20,000 visitors.
Wolsztyn also includes a large lake (Jezioro Wolsztyńskie; Wolsztyn Lake), next to which is a former palace (built in Classical style
in the early 20th century, and now used as a hotel and restaurant), and a park. The town has a parish church dating from the 18th century, as well as several other museums.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, on the western edge of Greater Poland Voivodeship
Greater Poland Voivodeship
Wielkopolska Voivodeship , or Greater Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998...
(from 1975 to 1998 it was in Zielona Gora Voivodeship
Zielona Góra Voivodeship
Zielona Góra Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in years 1950–1998, superseded by Lubusz Voivodeship. Its capital city was Zielona Góra.-Major cities and towns :...
). It is the seat of Wolsztyn County
Wolsztyn County
Wolsztyn County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Greater Poland Voivodeship, west-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Wolsztyn, which lies ...
, and of the smaller administrative district of Gmina Wolsztyn
Gmina Wolsztyn
Gmina Wolsztyn is an urban-rural gmina in Wolsztyn County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. Its seat is the town of Wolsztyn, which lies approximately south-west of the regional capital Poznań....
.
Wolsztyn is famous as the location of a locomotive roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
, which is the last place in Europe to supply steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s for regular, timetabled train services on the national railway network
Polskie Koleje Panstwowe
is the dominant railway operator in Poland.The company was founded when the former state-owned operator was divided into several units based on the requirements laid down by the European Union...
. As of 2011 these services run to Leszno
Leszno
Leszno is a town in central Poland with 63,955 inhabitants . Situated in the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously the capital of the Leszno Voivodeship . The town has county status.-History:...
and Zbąszynek
Zbaszynek
Zbąszynek is a town in western Poland, in Lubusz Voivodeship, in Świebodzin County. It has 5,185 inhabitants .-History:The town was founded in the 1920s, when, as a result of the Greater Poland Uprising as well as the Treaty of Versailles, the railroad hub of Zbaszyn became part of newly...
. The site also includes a railway museum featuring restored locomotives. An annual parade of locomotives takes place at the start of May – the 2007 event, which also celebrated the roundhouse's centenary, attracted 20,000 visitors.
Wolsztyn also includes a large lake (Jezioro Wolsztyńskie; Wolsztyn Lake), next to which is a former palace (built in Classical style
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
in the early 20th century, and now used as a hotel and restaurant), and a park. The town has a parish church dating from the 18th century, as well as several other museums.
Famous people born in or connected to Wolsztyn
- Bruno Asch (1890–1940), politician (SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
) and last mayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Höchst am Main, Germany - Heinrich GraetzHeinrich GraetzHeinrich Graetz was amongst the first historians to write a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from a Jewish perspective....
(1817-1891), Jewish historian. Attended yeshivaYeshivaYeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in Wolsztyn from 1831-1836. - Max Samuel Grifenhagen - (1913–1916) Sheriff of New York County, present day Borough of Manhattan (Father, Benjamin William Grifenhagen was born in Wolsztyn)
- Józef Maria Hoene-WrońskiJózef Maria Hoene-WronskiJózef Maria Hoene-Wroński was a Polish Messianist philosopher who worked in many fields of knowledge, not only as philosopher but also as mathematician, physicist, inventor, lawyer, and economist. He was born Hoene but changed his name in 1815.-Life:...
— mathematician known for the Wronskian determinantWronskianIn mathematics, the Wronskian is a determinant introduced by and named by . It is used in the study of differential equations, where it can sometimes be used to show that a set of solutions is linearly independent.-Definition:...
and numerous outlandish claims - Hans Jürgen Kallmann (1908–1991) — German painter
- Robert KochRobert KochHeinrich Hermann Robert Koch was a German physician. He became famous for isolating Bacillus anthracis , the Tuberculosis bacillus and the Vibrio cholerae and for his development of Koch's postulates....
— German microbiologist - Robert KubaczykRobert KubaczykRobert Kubaczyk is a Polish athlete, sprinter, member of the Polish Team in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He represents the club of AZS Poznań and Poland in the 4 x 100 m relay race.-Achievements:-External links:*...
- Polish athlete - Hans von Kusserow (1911−2001), artist
- Ingeborg von KusserowIngeborg von Kusserow-Biography:Kusserow was born in Wollstein, Province of Posen, Imperial Germany .She married Percy Graf Welsburg in November 1941 and emigrated to Great Britain after World War II, where she usually appeared as Ingeborg Wells. She retired in 1960.-Filmography:-External links:...
(born 1917), actress - Stanisław Piosik — Polish politician
- Otto Plathner (1811–1885), lawyer and politician of the Frankfurt National Assembly of the German PeopleFrankfurt ParliamentThe Frankfurt Assembly was the first freely elected parliament for all of Germany. Session was held from May 18, 1848 to May 31, 1849 in the Paulskirche at Frankfurt am Main...
- Adam SkórnickiAdam SkórnickiAdam Skórnicki is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who was the 2008 Individual Polish Champion and a former Polish Under-21 international. He rides for the Wolverhampton Wolves in the British Elite League.-Career:...
- winner of the 2008 Individual Speedway Polish Championship2008 Individual Speedway Polish ChampionshipThe 2008 Individual Speedway Polish Championship is the 2008 version of Individual Speedway Polish Championship organized by the Polish Motor Union ....
External links
- The Wolsztyn Experience, a society for the preservation of steam railways in Poland
- Gallery of images of Wolsztyn locomotive roundhouse