Kluczbork

Main Square

Coat of arms

Kluczbork

Coordinates: 50°59′N 18°13′E / 50.983°N 18.217°E

Country

Established

13th century

Town rights

1252

Government

• Mayor

Jarosław Kielar

Area

• Total

12.35 km² (4.77 sq mi)

Elevation

190 m (620 ft)

Population (2015)

• Total

24,111

• Density

1,952.3/km² (5,056/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Postal code

46–200, 46–203

Area code(s)

+48 77

Car plates

OKL

Website

http://www.kluczbork.pl

Kluczbork [ˈklud͡ʐbɔrk] (German: Kreuzburg) is a town in southwestern Poland with 24,962 inhabitants (2011), situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions – westwards to Wrocław and northwards to Poznań. It is also connected with Fosowskie.

Archaeologists have determined that settlement existed at the location of present-day Kluczbork by 1000–800 BC. The Germanic Scirii and Bastarnae settled in the vicinity and were followed c. 100 BC by Celts and various Germanic tribes, including Silingi and Vandals. The latter left Silesia c. 400 and West Slavs came to the region in the 7th century (see Silesians). By 1000 AD Silesian territory was conquered by recently established dukes of Polans.

In the 13th century the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star acquired territory near Wrocław, including the villages Młodoszów, Kuniów, and Chocianowice. The Knights build a settlement on November 2, 1252. Named Cruceburg, it received Magdeburg rights on February 26, 1253, the official date of foundation for the town. The Knights adjudicated in the town until 1274, when it was administered by a vogt of local Silesian dukes and juries were introduced. Dukes holding sway over the town included Henryk IV Probus (until 1290), Henry III, Duke of Głogów (until 1309), and Konrad I of Oleśnica.

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Wikipedia