Wo³ów - history and present times - Urz±d Miasta i Gminy w Wo³owie

Wo³ów - history and present times

Wo³ów – district town situated in 40 km to the northern West from Wroc³aw on railway tract Wroc³aw – Zielona Góra – Berlin. Archaeological excavations confirm colonisation of this area yet in distant history. First books about the town date back to the beginning of 13^th century. Its past is related to the history of Silesia ruled by Piast dynasty as well as period of Czech, Prussian and Habsburg dynasty domination. Years of peaceful colonisation were disrupted by wars frequent in this region; also disasters were not so unusual.

Despite serious damages after the second world war in 1945 settlers coming mostly from previously Polish Eastern Borderland relatively quickly restored the town. Houses, buildings and public utility facilities were reconstructed, as well as technical infrastructure; monumental buildings – including churches, the City Hall and saved fragments of antique city walls were restored. Presently the City and Commune Office is situated in monumental City Hall. Castle build in middle ages after few restorations in past centuries is presently the seat of the District Starosty.

Among the religious buildings two are especially interesting – Karol Boromeusz Catholic Church and dated 1393 St. Wawrzyniec Catholic Church, in which we can see pipe organs constructed in 1716 by Adam Casparini. Exactly in this church for few years concerts of Wratislavia Cantans Festival and Cantus Organi – Organ Music Festival have taken place. Despite numerous difficulties owing to authorities effort cultural life prospers in Wo³ów and established annual events integrate local community. Also cooperation with partner towns from Germany (Buchholtz in Lower Saxony) and France (Canteleu) contributes to animation of cultural life.

Town and its surroundings are also attractive area for investors, what is confirmed by 1495 registered business entities. Local economy is based on metal, wood, building industry, transport, handicraft and trading. Among small and medium enterprises we can mention Przedsiêbiorstwo Przemys³u Metalowego POMET – in 2004 one of top 20 enterprises in country; well prospered family companies: FAMBUD, OKNO-PLAST, TERBUD; companies with foreign capital: FELSDEKOR OST, FRESHTEX, Alco Electronics.

Town and Commune Office in Wo³ów
Rynek-Ratusz
56-100 Wo³ów
Polen
Tel. 0048 71/319 13 05, 319 13 07
Fax. 0048 71/319 13 03
e-mail:
www.wolow.pl

Town and Commune Mayor: Witold Krochmal

Contact person to investor: Irena Pluta
Tel. 0048 71/319 13 17
E-mail:

It's worth to see:

City Hall

Constructed in the second half of the 15^th century in the middle of market square. It is composed of main building, city hall tower, building of former custom house, winery, municipal guardhouse as well as former House of Scales. The building has two floors with high cellar and partially saved baroque barrel vault. Eastern top of the building near square tower is transformed in its upper part into octahedron. Baroque portal with cartouche is situated on axis of city hall front with double baroque stairs and sculpture of saint Jan Nepomucen dated 1723. One-floor building of the Municipal Scales in southern – western corner of city hall has rusticated southern front with double arcades. Two-armed scales, dated the 18^th century, formerly placed there is stored in the city hall interior. Presently the city hall constitutes the seat of Wo³ów City and Commune Office.

Castle of Piast dynasty

The castle was built by Henry the 3^rd from G³ogów on the end of the 13^th century in the place of former wooden hunting castle. Administrator of surrounding villages and duke’s estate resided in the castle. It was the seat of governor of Wo³ów. On the square in front of the main entrance baroque sculpture of Saint Mary is situated on the pedestal. Presently the castle is a seat of District Starosty.

Saint Wawrzyniec Catholic Church in Wo³ów

History of the church begins in 1298. First wooden church was funded by duke Henry the 3^rd from G³ogów. However the wooden church was burnt and in 1391 building of the new one was raised in the same place. It is one of the oldest buildings in Wo³ów made from bricks and stones, which in course of time was transformed into building of late gothic style.
Invaluable monument in the church constitute pipe organs made by one of the most famous then Silesian constructor – Adam Horacy Casparini. Therefore concerts of the International Festival of Organ Music – ‘Cantus Organi’ have taken place for few years in the church.

Saint Karol Boromeusz Catholic Church

Built by Carmelites in 1712 – 1722. Building of the monastery was constructed as elongated rectangle with two floors and gable roof. The nave is lower than the presbytery and has rectangular chapel near the choir. Main baroque front is surmounted by triangular top, the bottom part with pilasters. Monks collected in the monastery many valuable books and then it constitutes the largest library in Wo³ów.

Fragments of antique city walls
City walls made of bricks were constructed in the 15^th century. They were strengthened by towers with three gates: Wroc³aw gate, ¦cinawa gate and castle gate, which protected town from invaders. In their bottom part the walls were build using field stoned, in the upper part – using bricks. They were 1.3 meters wide and 7 meters high. In bottom part fragments build from pebbles are saved. Fragments of city walls with gothic construction type – of 5 meters height – endured till now.

Cistercians monastery in Lubi±z

Group of buildings of the Cistercians monastery was situated on hills about 140 meters above the sea level. Cistercians came to Lubi±¿ in 1163 from Pforta on Saala in Thuringen (Germany). They were settled there by duke Boles³aw Wysoki. In 1681 – 1739 owing to wealth of the monastery new buildings were raised: castle of abbots, monastery, brewery, bakery, hospital and other social buildings. In this period of time also interior of the Saint Mary Church was completely restored, which gained baroque decorations. Interiors of the monastery contain magnificent rooms: duke’s room, library, abbot’s dinner room, refectory and over 300 other beautiful rooms decorated with paintings by famous Silesian painter Micha³ Willman, pictures by Krsytian Bentum and Feliks Acheffler, sculptures by Franciszek Mangoldt and Mateusz Steinl.

Pipe organs

For few years Wo³ów has been organiser of the International Festival of Organ Music Cantus Organi. In 2001 its first edition took place in interior of St. Wawrzyniec Catholic Church on the initiative of priest Stanis³aw Ma³ysa, Witold Krochmal, Piotr Rojek and Katarzyna Szot. September concerts of world-wide popular artists every year attracts lovers of organ music. Owing to gentle sound of unique instrument, which constitutes pipe organs constructed in 1716 by Silesian master Adam Horatio Casparini, Wo³ów becomes more and more popular not only in the region. Since now - among others - the following artists presented themselves in front of audience of Wo³ów commune:

Urszula Grahm (pipe organs - Sweden)
Christoph Krummacher (pipe organs - Germany)
Kare Nordstoga (pipe organs – Norway)
Roman Perucki (pipe organs – Poland)
Jean Paul Ravel (pipe organs – France)
Piotr Rojek (pipe organs - Poland)
Józef Serafin (pipe organs - Poland)
Gerard Weinberger (pipe organs - Germany)

Pipe organs of Adam H. Casparini are one of few almost totally saved instruments of this type in Europe. Front with wealth of ornaments was constructed in the 18^th century. Many authentic pipes as well as internal elements of organs are saved. Disposition (range of sounds and tones) was slightly modified in the 19th century by Silesian company Schlag & Söhne (probably some bowing sounds were added), but it does not differ much from the primary concept of the master. Instrument is equipped with two manual keyboards and pedal one. It fulfil requirements of difficult baroque literature, including works by Jan Sebastian Bach. However also early romantic works can be successfully performed – and even contemporary ones – on this instrument.

Accommodation in Wo³ów

Motel Bis in Wo³ów
ul. Pi³sudskiego 26, Tel. 0048 71 389 30 38

Guest Rooms in Wo³ów
ul. Trzebnicka 6, Tel. 0048 71 389 24 07, 389 19 42
ul. Panieñska 1, Tel. 0048 71 380 22 55

Hotel Magnolia in Wo³ów
ul. Stara 4, Tel. 0048 71 389 27 13

Recreation Center Golina
Tel. 0048 71 389 31 22, 389 28 39

Eco-Farm Three-Pond-Valley in Dêbno
Tel. 0048 71 389 17 16 Emilia and Miko³aj Garbera

Restaurants, Bars, Pubs, Cafes

Restaurant Ratuszowa in Wo³ów
Rynek 2, Tel. 0048 71 389 25 06

Restaurant Pasja in Wo³ów
ul. Waszyngtona 8, Tel. 0048 71 389 51 04

Restaurant Bis in Wo³ów
ul. Pi³sudskiego 26, Tel. 0048 71 389 30 38

Bar Meta in Wo³ów
ul. Kolejowa 1, Tel. 0048 71 389 54 09

Pizza House Samolot in Wo³ów
ul. Rawicka 4, Tel. 0048 71 389 32 52

Pizza House Gradioli in Wo³ów
pl. Szkolny 1, Tel. 0048 71 389 36 00

Cysterska Inn in Lubi±¿
pl. Klasztorny 1, Tel. 0048 71 389 78 71

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