Połczyn-Zdrój is a town in the district of Świdwin, by the River Wogra. The town is in the central part of Zachodniopomorskie [West Pomerania] Province, on the area of the Drawa Lake District, among the moraine hills called Połczyn Switzerland.
Połczyn-Zdrój is the seat of the urban and rural commune of Połczyn-Zdrój. It is a town with a long tradition as a health resort. Neurological disorders, rheumatism and infertility are treated there. Połczyn-Zdrój is a resort known both in Poland and abroad. It is called Poltsin in the town's oldest records. The name comes from the shortcut name of Świętopełk - Połk. The town appears as Połczyn on the 1938's map of Poland. Then, in 1945, the word Zdrój was added, as it is done with towns which a status of a health resort. The town's history is long and dates back to the sixth century. Then, there was a Slavic settlement in its place. Later, Połczyn was a sentry gord of the Białogard Land. A castle was built there in 1290. It was owned by Warcisław of the Wedel family. Połczyn was handed over to the family of Manteuffel. They ruled Połczyn to the nineteenth century. The town was burnt down by the Teutonic Knights in 1433. A few years later Połczyn was looted by the troops participating in the Thirteen Years' War. The town and the castle were consumed by fire in 1500. Połczyn suffered huge losses. The city received the Lubeck rights in 1515. A fire broke out again in the town in 1601. As a result of discovering mineral water in Połczyn in 1688, the town became a health resort. Then, visitors began arriving to Połczyn. Then the first health resort house was built. In the years 1836-1839 Zdrojowy Park was founded. 4481 permanent residents lived there in 1887, and the number of patients exceeded 5,000 people. The growing interest in staying in Połczyn meant that medical facilities, which exist to this day, were built in the years 1870-1907. A railway connection with Świdwin was made in 1897, and with Złocieniec and Grzmiąca in 1903, which had a great impact on the development of the town as a health resort. In addition to the resort, the town's inhabitants also engaged in tanning, weaving, trade. There was also a brewery there. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the headquarters of the Army Group North was in Połczyn-Zdrój. It was one of the Wehrmacht army groups that attacked Poland in 1939. Połczyn-Zdrój was the first stop of a special train Amerika, which was Adolf Hitler's means of transport. After the visit of Germany's leader in Połczyn, a Lebensborn centre was opened in Połczyn. It was one of the largest centres of this type. It functioned until February 1945. It existed in the present sanatorium 'Borkowo'. The aim of the Centre was Germanisation of children, mainly from Polish families. The town suffered losses during the war, 78 houses were destroyed. The gradual reconstruction of the town began after the war. Numerous revitalisation actions have been carried out in recent years, particularly in the town centre, which have been restoring original splendour to small charming streets. Połczyn-Zdrój is now seen as a resort. There are rich deposits of excellent quality peloid and Permian brine. The town uses natural beauty of the health treating properties. There are numerous spas. The most popular ones are: Spa Hospital ‘Gryf’, Spa Hospital 'Borkowo', Spa Hospital ‘Podhale’, Sanatorium 'Hopferówka'. Healthcare facilities of the spas are abundant, about 50 treatments are done there. The most popular ones are: peloid wraps, salt and carbonic acid baths, Scottish showers, massages, paraffin wraps, inhalations. The town has also spring water pump room 'Joasia', located in Zdrojowy Park. The town has several historic sites worth seeing. These include the Old Town from the fourteenth century, and rebuilt in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today its centre is Wolnosci Square, which is surrounded by houses. 5 Marca Street is noteworthy, and also the house with outbuildings from the second half of the nineteenth century situated at it. Besides, it is worth visiting the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It comes from the years 1850-1860. The building was erected on the site of the former one. The church has rich equipment. A tombstone of Bishop Erazm Manteuffel from 1544, saved from the old church; a sculpture of the Last Supper from the seventeenth, and sculptures of the four evangelists from the eighteenth century are worth mentioning. At a distance of about 100 metres from the square, there is a castle built at the turn of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It was rebuilt several times. Today, it is a Baroque one with Gothic cellars. The castle, formed by two storey buildings resembling a plan view of the letter L, is nicely situated on a hill. The biggest attraction of Połczyn-Zdrój is Zdrojowy Park. It was founded in the years 1836-1839. The park area is about 80 hectares. There are beautiful flowers beds, clusters of tall trees and shrubs. There is also an amphitheatre that can accommodate 2,300 people. The brewery is a very interesting place with a long history. The building was built between the years 1824-1825. After numerous ordeals and ownership changes, the brewery still produces beer on an industrial scale. The building itself is nice and spectacular and can be viewed only from the outside. The town hosts numerous events on a national and regional level, including integration event for children with disabilities 'Joy without Borders', National Hunting Meetings 'Darz Bór', Police Cycling Patrols National Tournament, the Skamander Poets National Recitation Tournament. Entertainment and culture is provided by the Community Centre - a communal unit established by the authorities for this purpose. In the Centre there are: the Goplana Cinema, a public library and a castle gallery. The cinema is always up to date with its repertoire, the cinema hall can accommodate 350 people. In addition to film screenings, plays, as well as concerts and performances are held there. In the castle gallery You can admire the works of local artists. Special exhibitions of artists from all over Poland are also organised there. The town has also a wide range of sports facilities. There are: a football stadium, sports fields, tennis courts as well as sports and entertainment arena. There is also a sports club 'Pogoń' in Połczyn-Zdrój, which plays in the fifth division. There are a District Hospital, many pharmacies and private health centres in the town. A Volunteer Fire Brigade and a police station operate there. There are also: one elementary school, one middle school and two secondary schools in Połczyn. The town is naturally prepared for tourists due to its numerous qualities. It offers accommodation and catering facilities. Three hiking trails run through the town: the 15-kilometre strolling trail around Połczyn-Zdrój, the 56.8-kilometre Połczyn Switzerland trail leading from Połczyn-Zdrój through Luboradza and Sikory to Czaplinek, and the 70.8-kilometre Drawa Landscape Park Nature Trail leading from Połczyn-Zdrój through Złocieniec and Lubieszewo. A 30-kilometre cycle path leads from Połczyn-Zdroj to Złocieniec, formed on the embankment of the former narrow-gauge train. All necessary tourist information about the attractions of the town and the surrounding area can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre operating at the Community Centre.
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