web hosting short URLs photo sharing

Plock, Poland

Plock is one of the oldest cities in Poland. It has been the capital of the province of Mazovia since the middle ages. Traces of settlements in what is now the city of Plock go back approximately 10 000 years back.   Furthermore, permanent type of human habitation are traced back as early as about 4500 years ago. The city has always held great historical significance to the surrounding areas as well as the rest of Poland. During the years of 1075 and 1138 A.D. the city of Plock was the actual capital of Poland, under the monarchal seat of Ledislaus Herman (Wladyslaw Herman) and his son, Boleslaus Wry-mouthed (Boleslaw Krzywousty). Their mortal remains are buried inside the sarcophagus in the Basilica of Plock, which was build between 1130 and 1144 by Bishop Aleksander of Malonne.  Bishop Aleksander was the Bischop of Saint-Berthuin abbey in Malonne, Belgium (Thank you to François Barbieux of Melonne, Belgium for providing the last piece of information). The cathedral is one of the oldest and most sacral building in Poland. 

Over the years the city grew quickly, the prosperity of the city was interrupted by the great fire of 1511, which ruined both the castle and the the town. Again in the years to follow the city was struck with further hardship. In 1526 an epidemic caused the death of at least 1,100 individuals and in 1532 the water of the Vistula eroded the banks causing an avalanche, which destroyed parts of the castle. The 16th century can be seen as the decline of the city. In the second half of the 17th century things were beginning to stabilize. In 1793 due to the partition of Poland, Plock found itself under the control of Perssia.

Many events took place in the years to come. In 1838 the first bridge was build to link the town with the left-bank village of Radziwie. Plock's population grew from about 4,000 in 1793 to about 24,000 in 1870. From 1915 until the end of World War I, Plock remained under German occupation. Moreover, in 1916 a permanent bridge over the Vistula river was build. In 1923 the left bank town of Radziwie was incorporated into Plock. A railway connection was build in 1925, connecting the town with Kutno an important national rail junction. In 1939 World War II brought destruction to the town, with it the population dropped by 34% or 11,500. The town was liberated on September 21st of 1945, with 21,000 inhabitants. The town recovered quickly, bringing economic development and prosperity for many years to come. By 1961 the towns territory extended to 5,194 hectares.

In 1991 the population of Plock reached 125,000 and the city covered 6,645 hectares.  Newer sources, state that the city covers an area of 66.5 sq km and has 127, 000 inhabitants.  It is located no more than 100-120 km from Polish largest cities, Warsaw and Lodz.  The city's most impressive monuments include the Romanesque Cathedral and a castle of Mazowsze princes.  Furthermore, Plock is also a growing academic center, with a local branch of the Warsaw Polytechnic University and other private schools.  One of the largest employers in Plock is the Petrochemistry Plant Plock Co., the largest in Poland.  It employs over 8,500 individuals and supplies 60% of the country's liquid fuel market.  Another large employer in Plock, is the newly opened Levi Strauss Poland plant.  Majority of Plock economy is in private hands.  Approximately 97.4 % (or 7,872) business are private.  Total employment in Plock has reached 46,000, of whom 16,000 are employed in the production industry and 8,000 in the building industry.   

Today, the gothic castle houses the Mazovian Museum.  The history of the castle go back to the 11th century.  The castle's main trademarks include the the noble and clock towers.  Everyday at 12:00 am and 6:00 pm the anthem of Plock can be heard from the clock tower. (refer to pictures below)

The Town Hall was build between 1824 and 1827 by architect Jacub Kubicki.  On September 23, 1831 the last session of the Polish Parliament took place in the building.  The participating Mps were escaping from Warsaw, because of the Russian offensive. (refer to pictures below)

Well, this is all the information I have about Plock, my home town.  I will bring you more information, when it becomes available.  As for the city, I hope it will continue to grew and prosper. 

Here is a small thumbnail gallery of Plock:

City Hall (older picture)	Top view of main the Cathedral	Another top view	View across the river
Downtown	Main town square	Sunset	Local market
Local market	Pathway near the Cathedral	My old school	My former building
The cathedral and castle	Statute of John Paul II	The stadium	Old market
Hotel Angielski	Town's Amphitheatre	Front view of the cathedral	Inside the cathedral
City Hall	Monument to Wladyslaw Broniewski (build 1972)	The official spelling of Plock and the view of town	View of the amphitheatre from the top
View of the city at sunset	Another view of the cathedral	Inside the cathedral