Barczewo

Town hall

Coat of arms

Barczewo

Coordinates: 53°50′N 20°41′E / 53.833°N 20.683°E

Country

Poland

Area

• Total

4.58 km² (1.77 sq mi)

Population (2006)

• Total

7,401

• Density

1,600/km² (4,200/sq mi)

Postal code

11-010

Website

http://www.barczewo.pl

Barczewo [barˈt͡ʂɛvɔ] (German: Wartenburg in Ostpreußen) is a town in Olsztyn County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland. It is located 20 km NE of Olsztyn. The town dates its beginnings from 1325. Initially inhabited by the Baltic Old Prussians, with the Second Peace of Thorn in 1466 the area became part of the Kingdom of Poland until 1772; 1772-1945 Kingdom of Prussia and Germany (East Prussia).

In the 19th century with the rise of liberalism, nationalism and Otto von Bismarcks Kulturkampf repressions and Germanisation against Poles as well as organised resistance by Polish population followed. After the First World War the town voted to remain in Germany. However, after the defeat of Nazi Germany the town once more became part of a Polish state and the local German population was expelled.

The German name of the town ("Wartenburg") has its origins from the town of Wartenburg (Elbe). In Polish the town was known historically as Wartembork, Wartenberg, Wartenbergk, Wathberg, Bartenburg, Warperc, Wasperc, Wartbór or Wartbórz. The modern name Barczewo is honouring Polish national activist who fought against Prussian oppression of Poles in Warmia Walenty Barczewski (1865–1928) and was given in December 1946 after the area was transferred to Poland. It was briefly named Nowowiejsk, after composer and local son Feliks Nowowiejski, in September 1946.

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Wikipedia