Leszno | |
---|---|
Village | |
![]() Łuszczewski Palace in Leszno | |
Coordinates: 52°16′N 20°36′E / 52.267°N 20.600°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Voivodeship | Masovian |
County | Warsaw West |
Gmina | Leszno |
Population | 3,500 |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Vehicle registration | WZ |
Primary airport | Warsaw Chopin Airport |
Website | http://www.gminaleszno.pl/ |
Leszno [ˈlɛʂnɔ] is a village in Warsaw West County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Leszno.[1] It lies approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) west of Ożarów Mazowiecki and 28 km (17 mi) west of Warsaw.
Polish professional footballer Robert Lewandowski grew up in Leszno.[2] In 2016 he became an honorary citizen of Leszno.[2]
History
[edit]The history of Leszno dates back to the Middle Ages. It was mentioned in documents in 1423.[3] It was owned by various families, including the Łuszczewski family, which built a Baroque palace, which is the main landmark of the village.[3]
Several men from Leszno died in various battles against the invading Russians during the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1920.[4] A memorial to those soldiers is located in the local Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist.[4]
During the invasion of Poland, which started World War II, in early September 1939, the Germans captured Leszno.[5] On September 16, Poles recaptured the village for tactical purposes, while the Germans retreated in panic.[5] On September 17, the Germans occupied Leszno again, and carried out a massacre of around 50 inhabitants in an act of revenge.[6] Many men were transported to Błonie, from where they were to be deported to forced labor to Germany, but some managed to escape.[5] About 70% of the village was burned down.[5]
Sights
[edit]The main landmark of Leszno is the Baroque Łuszczewski Palace with an adjacent park. There are two historic churches, one Catholic and one Mariavite. In the village there is also a monument commemorating Polish soldiers, partisans and inhabitants killed during World War II.[3]
Sports
[edit]The local football club is Partyzant Leszno. Robert Lewandowski took his first steps in football in the club. It competes in the lower leagues.
Gallery
[edit]-
Architectural decorations on the facade of the Łuszczewski Palace
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Park
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Saint John the Baptist church
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Gmina office
References
[edit]- ^ "Central Statistical Office (GUS) - TERYT (National Register of Territorial Land Apportionment Journal)" (in Polish). 2008-06-01.
- ^ a b "Robert Lewandowski honorowym obywatelem Leszna". ZachodnieMazowsze.info (in Polish). Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Wieś Leszno". Szlaki turystyczne Mazowsza (in Polish). Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ a b Kowalski, Andrzej (1995). "Miejsca pamięci związane z Bitwą Warszawską 1920 r.". Niepodległość i Pamięć (in Polish) (2/2 (3)). Muzeum Niepodległości w Warszawie: 139. ISSN 1427-1443.
- ^ a b c d "79. rocznica spalenia Leszna". Stowarzyszenie Aktywne Leszno (in Polish). Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ Wardzyńska, Maria (2009). Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion (in Polish). Warsaw: IPN. p. 97.