The Union of Lublin. Painting by Jan Matejko.

Rzeczpospolita in 1569

The Union of Lublin (Polish: Unia lubelska; Lithuanian: Liublino unija; Ukrainian: Лю́блінська у́нія; Belarusian: Лю́блінская у́нія) replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was largely abandoned. The Duchy of Livonia, tied to Lithuania in real union since the Union of Grodno (1566), became a Polish–Lithuanian condominium.^[1]

It was signed July 1, 1569, in Lublin, Poland, and created a single State, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was ruled by a single elected monarch who carried out the duties of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and governed with a common Senate and parliament (the Sejm). The Union was an evolutionary stage in the Polish–Lithuanian alliance and personal union, necessitated also by Lithuania's dangerous position in wars with Russia.^[2][3][4]

Constituting a crucial event in the history of several nations, the Union of Lublin has been viewed quite differently by many historians. Some identify it as the moment at which the Szlachta rose to the height of their power, establishing an oligarchy as opposed to absolute monarchy: a possible cause of political instability that led to the Partitions of Poland over 200 years later. Polish historians concentrate on its positive aspects, emphasizing its peaceful, voluntary creation and its role in the spreading of Polish culture. Lithuanian historians are more critical of the Union, pointing out that it was dominated by Poland.

History[link]

Coat of arms of the Rzeczpospolita.

Background[link]

There were long discussions before signing the treaty, as Lithuanian magnates were afraid of losing much of their powers, since the union would make their legal status equal to that of the much more numerous Polish lower nobility. However Lithuania had been increasingly on the losing side of the Muscovite-Lithuanian Wars and by the second half of the 16th century it faced the threat of total defeat in the Livonian war and incorporation into Russia. The Polish nobility (the szlachta) on the other hand were reluctant to offer help to Lithuania without receiving anything in exchange. Still, the Polish and Lithuanian elite strengthened personal bonds and had opportunities to plan their united futures during increased military cooperation in the 1560s.^[3]Sigismund II Augustus, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, seeing the threat to Lithuania and eventually to Poland, nonetheless pressed for the union, gradually gaining more followers until he felt enough support to forcibly evict landowners in Ukraine who opposed its transition from Lithuania to Poland.^[3] A clear motivation for Sigismund is that he was the last Jagiello and had no children nor brothers who could inherit the throne. So the Union was an attempt to preserve the continuity of his dynasty's work since the personal (but not constitutional) union of Poland and Lithuania at the marriage of Jadwiga of Poland and Wladyslaw II Jagiello. The Union was one of the constitutional changes required to establish a formal elected monarchy that would simultaneously reign over the two domains.^[3]

Sejm of 1569[link]

The Sejm met in January, 1569, near the Polish town of Lublin, but did not reach an agreement. In protest against heavy pressure by the Poles to sign the Act, the Lithuanians under the leadership of Vilnius voivod Mikołaj "Rudy" Radziwiłł left Lublin on March 1, fearing that Sigismund would make a decision on his own.

On March 26, the king was forced by the szlachta to incorporate^[5][6] the southern Lithuanian-controlled lands of Podlasie, Volhynia, Podolia and the Kiev regions into the Crown of Poland. These historic lands of Rus' comprise over half of modern Ukraine, and were at that time a substantial portion of Lithuanian territory. The Rus' magnates and gentry for the most part wanted Ukrainian lands in Lithuania to become an integral part of Poland.^[7] The upper class in these lands was largely Ruthenian and was loyal to Lithuania. All nobles were required to swear loyalty to the Crown of Poland. Those who refused to do so had their lands confiscated.^{[citation needed]}

The Lithuanians were forced to return to the Sejm under the leadership of Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz (father of Jan Karol Chodkiewicz) and to continue negotiations, using slightly different tactics than Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł. Though the Polish szlachta wanted full incorporation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into the Crown, the Lithuanians continued to oppose this and agreed only to a federal state. On 28 June 1569, the last objections were overcome, and on 4 July an act was accordingly signed by the King at Lublin Castle.^[5]

Attempts to modernise the state[link]

The Union of Lublin was superseded by the Constitution of May 3, 1791 from 1791, when the federal Commonwealth was to be transformed into a unitary state by King Stanisław August Poniatowski. The status of semi-federal state was restored by the Reciprocal Guarantee of Two Nations.

However, the constitution was not fully implemented and the Commonwealth was ended by the late 18th century Partitions of the Commonwealth, with the last one in 1795.

Aftermath[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2011)

Cultural[link]

After the Union, the Lithuanian nobles had the same formal rights as the Polish to rule the lands and subjects under their control. However, political advancement in the Catholic-dominated Commonwealth was a different matter.

In culture and social life, both the Polish language and Catholicism became dominant for the Ruthenian nobility, most of whom were initially Ruthenian speaking and Eastern Orthodox by religion (see Polonization). However the commoners, especially the peasants, continued to speak their own languages and to practise the Orthodox religion.

This eventually created a significant rift between the lower social classes and the nobility in the Lithuanian and Ruthenian areas of the Commonwealth. Some Ruthenian magnates resisted Polonization (like the Ostrogski) by adhering to Orthodox Christianity, giving generously to the Ruthenian Orthodox Churches and to the Ruthenian schools. However, the pressure of Polonization was harder to resist with each subsequent generation and eventually almost all of the Ruthenian nobility was Polonized.

The Cossack uprisings and foreign interventions led to the partitions of the Commonwealth by Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1772, 1793, and 1795. The Union of Lublin was also temporarily not active while the Union of Kėdainiai was in effect.

Many historians like Krzysztof Rak consider the Union of Lublin to have created a state similar to the present-day European Union,^[8] thus considering the Union (along with the Kalmar Union, the several Acts of Union in the British Isles and other similar treaties) to be a predecessor of the Maastricht treaty. The former, however, created a state of countries more deeply linked than the present-day European Union.

Economic[link]

The union brought about the Polish colonization of Ruthenian lands and enserfment of Ruthenian peasantry by the szlachta.^{[9][10][11][12]} Despite the situation of peasants in the Commonwealth being pretty dire compared to the West (see second serfdom), the peasants in the Commonwealth had more freedom than those in Russia; hence peasants (as well as to a lesser extent nobility and merchants) escaping from Russia to the Commonwealth became a major concern for Russian government, and was one of the factors leading to the partitions of Poland.^[13]

A common coin (złoty) was introduced.

Execution of crown lands was not extended to the Grand Duchy.

Geographical[link]

The Union created one of the largest and most populous states in 17th century Europe (excluding the states not completely in Europe, i.e. the Russian or Ottoman Empires).^[14]

Within the Union Lithuania had to accept the loss of Podlaskie, Volhynia, Podolia and the Kiev regions, former territories of the Grand Duchy that were transferred to the Polish Crown.

Legal[link]

Under the Union, the legal systems of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were to be unified, but this never happened.

The drafters of the Union of Lublin expected that Lithuania and Poland would be linked together more closely^{[citation needed]} than they actually were. The 1566 Second Statute of Lithuania had not lost its power, and some of its provisions substantially differed from the acts of the Union of Lublin.^{[citation needed]} Eventually the Third Statute of Lithuania was adopted in 1588, but this still contradicted the Union of Lublin on many points.^{[citation needed]}

The Polish nobility viewed the Statutes of Lithuania as unconstitutional,^{[citation needed]} because at the signing of the Union of Lublin it was said that no law could conflict with the law of Union. The Statutes, however, declared the laws of the Union that conflicted with them to be unconstitutional. The First Statute of Lithuania was also used in the territories of Lithuania that were annexed by Poland shortly before the Union of Lublin (except for Podlaskie). These conflicts between statutory schemes in Lithuania and Poland persisted for many years, and the Third Statute of Lithuania remained in force in territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania even after partitions, until 1840.

Attempts to limit the power of Lithuanian magnates (especially the Sapiehas' family) and unify the laws of the Commonwealth led to the koekwacja praw movement, culminating in the koekwacja reforms of the election sejm of 1697 (May–June), confirmed in the general sejm of 1698 (April) in the document Porządek sądzenia spraw w Trybunale Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskego.^[15]

Military[link]

Poland provided military aid in the war after the union of the two entities, which was crucial for the survival of the Grand Duchy.^[3]

Poland and the Grand Duchy were to have separate military but common defense policies.

Political[link]

The Union of Lublin provided for merger of the two states, though each retained substantial autonomy, having its own army, treasury, laws and administration.^[6] Though the countries were in theory equal, the larger Poland became the dominant partner. Due to population differences, Polish deputies outnumbered Lithuanians in the Sejm by 3:1.^[6]

There was to be a single ruler for both Poland and the Grand Duchy, freely elected by the nobility of both nations and crowned as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Luthuania in Wawel Cathedral, Kraków.

A common parliament, the Sejm, held its sessions in Warsaw; it had 114 deputies from the Polish lands and 48 from Lithuania. The Senate had 113 Polish and 27 Lithuanian senators.

Poland and the Grand Duchy were to have a common foreign policy.

Legacy[link]

Memory of the union lasted long. Painting commemorating Polish–Lithuanian union; circa 1861. The motto reads "Eternal union."

The Union of Lublin was Sigismund's greatest achievement and greatest failure. Although it created one of the largest states in contemporary Europe, one that endured for over 200 years,^[16] Sigismund failed to push through the reforms that would have established a workable political system. He hoped to strengthen the monarchy with the support of the lesser nobility, and balance the power of lesser nobility and magnates. However although all the nobility in the Commonwealth was in theory equal under the law, the magnates' political power was not weakened significantly and in the end they could too often bribe or coerce their lesser brethren.^[5] In addition, the royal power continued to wane, and while the neighbouring states continued to evolve into strong, centralized absolute monarchies, the Commonwealth slid with its Golden Liberty into a political anarchy that eventually cost it its very existence.^[17]

Today's Republic of Poland considers itself a successor to the Commonwealth,^[18] whereas the pre-World War II Republic of Lithuania saw the creation of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth mostly in a negative light.^[19]

See also[link]

• Union of Kėdainiai
• Union of Lublin Mound

References[link]

External links[link]

• Full text of the Union (Polish)
• Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland's Heritage

Lublin
Flag Coat of arms
Lublin
Coordinates: 51°14′53″N 22°34′13″E / 51.24806°N 22.57028°E / 51.24806; 22.57028
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lublin
County	city county
Established	before 12th century
Town rights	1317
Government
• Mayor	Krzysztof Zuk
Area
• City	147 km2 (57 sq mi)
Population (2009)
• City	350,392
• Density	2,400/km2 (6,200/sq mi)
• Metro	664,000
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	20-001 to 20-999
Area code(s)	+48 81
Car plates	LU
Website	http://www.um.lublin.pl/ http://www.lublin.eu/en

Coordinates: 51°14′N 22°34′E / 51.233°N 22.567°E / 51.233; 22.567

Lublin [ˈlublʲin] ( listen) (Ukrainian: Люблін, Liublin, Yiddish: לובלין Lublin) is the ninth largest city in Poland, and the second largest city of Lesser Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship (province) with a population of 350,392 (June 2009). Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula River. Lublin was a candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2016. Lublin is situated around 170 km (105 miles) away from the capital, Warsaw.

Cracow Gate in the Old Town is among the most recognizable landmarks of the city.

Another characteristic building in Lublin is the Royal Castle.

History[link]

The first permanent settlements on the Lublin site were established in the early Middle Ages, though archeological finds indicate a long, earlier presence of various cultures in the general area. The earliest, most significant settlement began in the 6th century, on a hill located in the suburb of Czwartek (in Polish Thursday, most likely in reference to the market day of the settlement). It is likely that the surrounding hills, notably the site of the present day Old Town, were also settled at around this time. In the 10th and 11th centuries the Czwartek settlement developed into an important trade centre. The location of Lublin at the eastern borders of the Polish lands gave it a military significance. The first fortification on the site may have been built as early as the 8th century, possibly on the Castle Hill. Certainly at the end of the 10th century a significant fortification existed there. As the castle grew, the Old Town hill adjacent to it became the main focus of settlement, and the Czwartek settlement declined in relative importance. The castle became the seat of a Castellan, first mentioned in historical sources from 1224, but quite possibly present from the start of the 12th, or even 10th century. The oldest historical document mentioning Lublin dates from 1198, so the name must have come into general use some time earlier.

The city was a target of attacks by Tatars, Ruthenes, Yotvingians and Lithuanians and was destroyed a number of times. It received a city charter in 1317. Casimir the Great, appreciating the strategic importance of the site, built a masonry castle in 1341 and encircled the city with defensive walls.

In 1392, the city received an important trade privilege from king Władysław Jagiełło, and with the coming of the peace between Poland and Lithuania developed into a great trade centre carrying a large portion of commerce between the two countries. In 1474 the area around Lublin was carved out of Sandomierz Voivodeship, and combined to form the Lublin Voivodeship, the third voivodeship of Lesser Poland. In the 15th century and 16th century the town grew rapidly. The largest trade fairs of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were held in Lublin. During the 16th century the noble parliaments (sejm) were held in Lublin a number of times. On June 26, 1569, one of the most important ones proclaimed the Union of Lublin, which united Poland and Lithuania. The Lithuanian name for the city is Liublinas.

Some of the artists and writers of the Polish renaissance lived and worked in Lublin, including Sebastian Klonowic and Jan Kochanowski, who died in the city in 1584. In 1578 the Crown Tribunal was established in the city, this being the highest court of the Lesser Poland region.

Since the second half of the 16th century, Reformation movements developed in Lublin, and a large congregation of Polish Brethren was present in the city. One of Poland's most important Jewish communities was also established in Lublin around this time. It continued to be a vital part of the city's life until the community ceased to exist during the Nazi Holocaust. Between 1580 and 1764 the Jewish Council of Four Lands Arba Aracot (Sejm of 4 countries) was held in Lublin. 70 delegates of Jewish local kahals met to discuss issue of taxations and other important for Jewish communities issues.

Students came to Lublin from all over Europe to study at the yeshiva there. The yeshiva became a centre of learning of both Talmud and Kabbalah. The great scholarship of those who studied there led to the city being named the "Jewish Oxford"; the Rosh yeshiva received the title of rector and equal rights to those in Polish universities with the permission of the King in 1567.

In the 17th century, the town suffered a decline due to a Russo-Ukrainian invasion in 1655 and a Swedish invasion during the Northern Wars. After the Third of the Partitions of Poland in 1795 Lublin was located in the Austrian empire, then since 1809 in the Duchy of Warsaw, and then since 1815 in the Congress Poland under Russian rule. At the beginning of the 19th century a number of modern urban developments took place, with new squares, streets, and public buildings coming into existence. In 1877 a railway connection to Warsaw and Kovel was built, together with Lublin Station, which spurred industrial development in the city. Lublin's population grew from 28,900 in 1873 to 50,150 in 1897 (including 24,000 Jews).^[1]

The Russian rule ended in 1915, when the city was occupied by German and Austro-Hungarian armies. After the defeat of the Central Powers in 1918, the first government of independent Poland operated in Lublin for a short time. In the inter war years, the city continued to develop, its population grew, and important industrial enterprises were established, including the first aviation factory in Poland, the Plage i Laśkiewicz works, later nationalized as the LWS factory. The Catholic University of Lublin was founded in 1918. The city contained a vibrant Jewish community which formed around 40% of Lublin's population.

After the 1939 German invasion of Poland the city found itself in the General Government. During the German occupation the city's population was a target of severe oppression by the occupiers, with a particularly grim fate reserved for the Jewish inhabitants. German plans were aimed towards turning Lublin into Germanised city with its population of Ethnic Germans growing towards 20-25 %, compared with 10-15% in 1939.^[2] Near Lublin, a reservation was set up for Jews according to the Nisko Plan, also known as "Lublin Plan".

The city served as a German headquarters for Operation Reinhardt, the main German effort to exterminate the Jews in occupied Poland. Lublin's Jewish population was forced into the Lublin Ghetto established around the area of Podzamcze. The majority of the ghetto's inhabitants, about 26,000 people, was deported to the Bełżec extermination camp between 17 March and 11 April 1942. The remainder were moved to facilities around Majdanek, a large concentration camp established at the outskirts of the city. Most of them were killed by the war's end.

After the war the few Jews who survived in hiding or by escaping to Soviet territory reestablished a small Jewish community in the city, but it quickly shrank to insignificance as most Jews left Poland for Israel and the West in the immediate postwar years. The Majdanek camp, together with the prison established in the Lublin castle, also served as a major centre of terror measures aimed at the non-Jewish population of Lublin and the surrounding district.

Maria Curie-Sklodowska University

On 24 July 1944, the city was taken by the Soviet Army and became the temporary capital of a Soviet-controlled communist Polish Committee of National Liberation established in the city, which was to serve as basis for a puppet government. The capital was moved to Warsaw in January 1945. In the postwar years Lublin continued to grow, tripling its population and greatly expanding in area. A considerable scientific and research base was established around the newly founded Maria Curie-Sklodowska University. A large automobile factory (FSC) was established in the city.

In July 1980, the workers of Lublin and nearby Świdnik began the first in the wave of mass strikes aimed against the Communist regime, which eventually led to the emergence of the Solidarity movement. The first strike began on July 8 in the WSK factory in Świdnik. It then quickly spread to other factories in Lublin and the surrounding region. The railroad network and city transit came to a standstill. Ultimately, 150 factories employing 50,000 workers joined the strike. The strikers used a novel tactic of staying inside their factories and occupying them, instead of marching in the streets where the authorities would have found it easy to use force against them. The workers made demands for their economic situation to be improved. They also made political demands, such as: new elections for the leadership of the trade unions, liquidation of privileges for the Communist party governing class, and the reduction of the bureaucracy in the factories.

The July strikes lasted two weeks. The Communist authorities eventually managed to bring them to an end peacefully, mainly by granting economic concessions to the workers. However, the momentum generated by the Lublin strikes quickly gave rise to a new wave of strikes in the Gdańsk region in August 1980. The workers there used similar tactics as the Lublin workers used a month before, and this time the Communist authorities had to agree to the strikers' demand to set up an independent trade union, which soon became the Solidarity.

Population[link]

The diagram shows population growth in the last 400 years. As of 1999 the population of Lublin was estimated to 359 154, which was the largest number in the history of the city.

<timeline> ImageSize = width:630 height:300 PlotArea = left:50 right:20 top:25 bottom:30 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = late Colors =

 id:linegrey2 value:gray(0.9)
 id:linegrey value:gray(0.7)
 id:cobar value:rgb(0.2,0.7,0.8)
 id:cobar2 value:rgb(0.6,0.9,0.6)

DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:0 till:360000 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:40000 start:0 gridcolor:linegrey ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:10000 start:0 gridcolor:linegrey2 PlotData =

 color:cobar width:19 align:left
 bar:XVII from:0 till:5000
 bar:1873 from:0 till:28900
 bar:1897 from:0 till:50150
 bar:1939 from:0 till:122000
 bar:1946 from:0 till:99400
 bar:1950 from:0 till:116629
 bar:1955 from:0 till:132234
 bar:1960 from:0 till:181304
 bar:1965 from:0 till:204296
 bar:1970 from:0 till:238500
 bar:1975 from:0 till:271955
 bar:1980 from:0 till:304424
 bar:1985 from:0 till:326991
 bar:1990 from:0 till:351353
 bar:1995 from:0 till:354552
 bar:1999 color:cobar2 from:0 till:359154
 bar:2000 from:0 till:358933
 bar:2005 from:0 till:354967
 bar:2010 from:0 till:348450

PlotData=

 textcolor:black fontsize:S
 bar:XVII at: 5000 text: 5,0 shift:(-8,5)
 bar:1873 at: 28900 text: 28,9 shift:(-10,5)
 bar:1897 at: 50150 text: 50,1 shift:(-8,5)
 bar:1939 at: 122000 text: 122,0 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1946 at: 99400 text: 99,4 shift:(-8,5)
 bar:1950 at: 116629 text: 116,6 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1955 at: 132234 text: 132,2 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1960 at: 181304 text: 181,3 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1965 at: 204296 text: 204,3 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1970 at: 238500 text: 238,5 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1975 at: 271955 text: 272,0 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1980 at: 304424 text: 304,4 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1985 at: 326991 text: 327,0 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1990 at: 351353 text: 351,4 shift:(-14,5)
 bar:1995 at: 354552 text: 354,6 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:1999 at: 359154 text: 359,2 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:2000 at: 358933 text: 358,9 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:2005 at: 354967 text: 355,0 shift:(-12,5)
 bar:2010 at: 348450 text: 348,5 shift:(-12,5)

</timeline>

Economy[link]

DZT Honker produced in Lublin by the DZT Tymińscy factory.

Polish MPs in the PZL Świdnik helicopter factory.

Office building complex "Gray Ofice" near Zana street in Lublin.

The Lublin region had the lowest per capita GDP in the European Union until Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 (it was 32% of EU average in 2002). It is a part of eastern Poland, which has benefited less from the economic transformation after 1989 than other regions of Poland located closer to Western Europe. While the standard of living in the city of Lublin is considerably higher than in the surrounding countryside, the city's relatively poor economic performance is tied to the poverty of its surrounding region.

Lublin is regional center of IT companies. Thanks to near 100 000 university students each year, and 5 universities in Lublin which teach computer science Masters of Arts, Lublin has big supply of specialized work force. Average salary for specialists in Lublin is 2/3 of that in Warsaw (+- 3000 PLN brutto for programmers for example). That makes it a great place for IT companies, and there are many such companies already. Asseco Business Solutions S.A., Eleader Sp z o.o., CompuGroup Medical Polska Sp. z o.o., Abak-Soft Sp. z o.o. and others have their headquarters there. Other companies (for example Comarch S.A., Britenet Sp. z o.o., Simple S.A., Asseco Poland S.A.) outsourced to Lublin, to take adventage of cheap, educated specialists.

Factories built under the Communist regime in the city have performed poorly in the new market economy. The large car factory FSC (Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych) seemed to have a brighter future when acquired by the South Korean Daewoo conglomerate in the early 1990s. With Daewoo's financial troubles in 1998 related to the Asian financial crisis, the production at FSC practically collapsed and the factory entered bankruptcy. Efforts to restart its van production succeeded when the engine supplier bought the company in order not to lose its prime market. With the decline of Lublin as a regional industrial centre, the city's economy is being reoriented towards the service industries. Currently, the largest employer is the Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (UMCS).

The prices of land and investing costs are lower than in western Poland. However, the Lublin area is one of main beneficiaries of the EU development funds-^[3] Mr. Jerzy Kwiecinski, the Deputy Secretary of State in the Ministry for Regional Development at the Conference of the Ministry for Regional Development (Poland in the European Union – new possibilities for foreign investors) said: -

“In the immediate financial outlook, between 2007 and 2013, we will be the largest beneficiaries of the EU - every fifth Euro will be spent in Poland. In total, we will have at our disposal 120 billion EUR, assigned exclusively for post development activities. This sum will be an enormous boost for our country”.^[4]

In September 2007, the Prime Minister signed a bill creating a special economic investment zone in Lublin that offers tax incentives. It is part of “Park Mielec” – the European Economic Development area.^[5] At least 13 large companies had declared their wish to invest here e.g. Carrefour, Comarch, Safo, Asseco, Aliplast, Herbapol and Perła Browary Lubelskie -.^[6] At the same time the energy giant Polska Grupa Energetyczna, which will build Poland's first nuclear power station, is to have its main offices in Lublin.

New shopping centres built in Lublin are Lublin Plaza and Galeria Gala, the largest shopping centre in the city, covering 33500 square metres. Similar investments are planned for the near future such as Park Felin (Felicity) and a new gallery ("Alchemy") between Świętoduska and Lubartowska streets.^[7]

Lublin will take an active part in the upcoming EURO 2012 championships, with several preliminary matches being held in the city. This will bring associated investment in infrastructure.

Television[link]

TVP3 Lublin studio

Radio-TV tower in Lublin.

"TVP Lublin" is a TV Station in Lublin which owns a 104-metre-tall concrete TV Tower.^[8] It put its first program on the air in 1985. In recent years it contributed programming to TVP3 channel, and later TVP Info.

Radio[link]

• Radio stations airing from Lublin:

• • Radio eR - 87.9 FM,
  • Radio Eska Lublin - 103.6 FM,
  • Radio Lublin (regional station of the Polish Radio) - 89.9 FM / 102.2 FM,
  • Radio Centrum (University radio) - 98.2 FM,
  • Radio Złote Przeboje Lublin - 95.6 FM,

• Airing not from Lublin:

• • Radio RMF FM - 89.3 FM,
  • Polskie Radio 1 (national station of the Polish Radio) - 90.8 FM,
  • Polskie Radio 2 (national station of the Polish Radio) - 91.8 FM,
  • Radio Maryja - 97 FM,
  • Radio Euro (national station of the Polish Radio) - 99 FM,
  • Polskie Radio 3 (national station of the Polish Radio) - 104.2 FM,
  • Radio Eska Rock - 106.1 FM,
  • Radio Zet - 107 FM,
  • Radio RMF Classic - 107.6 MHz

Newspapers[link]

• Kurier Lubelski (daily, regional partner of the national newspaper "Polska. The Times") [6]
• Dziennik Wschodni (daily)
• Gazeta Wyborcza Lublin Edition (daily, regional supplement to the national newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza)
• Metro (daily, free)
• Nasze Miasto Lublin (weekly, free)

Transport[link]

A trolleybus in the center of the city.

Lublin Station

From Lublin Station, trains run ten times a day to Warsaw and three times to Kraków as well as all other major cities in Poland. Buses also run from below the castle in the Old Town and serve most of the same destinations as the rail network. The fast train to Warsaw takes around two and half hours and public transport is available from there to Frédéric Chopin Airport, which is only 10 km outside the centre and has flights worldwide. The Polski Express bus service runs seven daily buses from the airport direct to Lublin and the journey takes around three and a half hours (;^[9][10] ).

Airport[link]

Construction of a new airport at Świdnik, about 10 km (6.2 miles) SE of Lublin, has been approved and has received EU funding. Construction started in the Fall of 2010 and according to current plans should finish in 2012.^[11] The runway will be 2500 m long, able to handle large airliners.^[12] The airport will be able to handle 2 mln passengers per year.^[13]

Roads[link]

The first part of bypass road around Lublin.

As of 2009 no motorways or expressways connect the city with the rest of Poland. In the coming decade the construction of expressways S12, S17 and S19 will improve road access to the city. On December 17, 2009 the bidding process for the construction of S17 expressway around Lublin was started. The construction began in 2010 and will finish in 2012. The project will include building a high capacity bypass road around Lublin, removing most the transit traffic from the city streets and decreasing congestion.

Culture and tourism[link]

Lublin is not only the biggest city in eastern Poland, but an important culture core city also. Since accession of Poland into the EU, Lublin has been called "Gate to the East." Since then, many important international events have taken place here, involving Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Russian and Belorussian artists, researchers and politicians. Lublin connects the West with the East. Even frescos at the Holy Trinity Chapel in Lublin are a mixture of Catholic motifs with eastern Russian-Byzantine styles.

Museum[link]

The premier museum in the city is the Lublin Museum, one of the oldest and largest museums of Eastern Poland.

Cinema[link]

Lublin is a city with film-making past. A few important films were recorded here. e.g. Oscar-winning, "The Reader", was partially filmed at the German Majdanek concentration camp, located in Lublin.^[14]

In 2008, Lublin in cooperation with Ukrainian Lviv, filmed promotional materials, to promote them as cinematic cities. Films were handed out between film-makers present at Cannes Festival.^[15] Action, was sponsored by European Union.

In Lublin, there are currently a few cinemas:

• Cinema City (multiplex)
• Cinema Bajka
• Cinema Chatka Żaka
• Cinema Medyk

Theatres[link]

Juliusz Osterwa Theatre

Hans Christian Andersen Theatre and the Dominican Church as seen from Castle Greens

There are many cultural organisations, both municipal, governmental and non-governmental, in Lublin.

• Municipal Theatres, with casual playhouses:
  • Musical Theatre in Lublin - Teatr Muzyczny w Lublinie, opera, operetta, musical, ballet
  • Henryk Wieniawski Lublin Philharmonic - Filharmonia Lubelska
  • Juliusz Osterwa Theatre in Lublin - Teatr im. Juliusza Osterwy w Lublinie
  • Hans Christian Andersen Theatre - with puppet programme for Children

• Fringe Theatres:
  • Centrum Projekt Pracovnia Maat
  • Centrum Kultury w Lublinie
  • Ośrodek Praktyk Teatralnych – Gardzienice
  • Ośrodek „Brama Grodzka - Theatre NN”
  • Theatre "Provisorium"

• Scenes:
  • InVitro Pre-première Scene - Scena Prapremier "InVitro"
  • Scena Plastyczna KUL – created by Leszek Mądzik
  • Theatre Panopticum
  • Teatr ITP
  • Teatr Pierwszego Kontaktu

• Cabaret
  • Pantomimic group MIMIKA
  • Ani Mru-Mru
  • PoMimochodem

• Barnstormers"
  • Lublin Dance Theatre - Lubelski Teatr Tańca
  • Company "Theatre" - Kompania "Teatr"
  • Teatr Widzenie
  • Teatr Jasny
  • Theatrical Group "Collective" - Grupa Teatralna "Kolektyw"
  • Enigmatic Theatre of KUL

Galleries[link]

A street fair in the Old Town.

There are lots of Art-Galleries in Lublin, some of them are run by Private owners, some of them are Municipal, Governmental, NGO's, Associations property. Here are only few most popular:

• "BWA" - Artistic Exhibitions Office - Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych
• "Atu" Gallery
• "Postal Gallery" - Galeria na poczcie
• "Fot-Press" Gallery
• "Galeria Biała"
• Art-Gallery Sceny Plastycznej KUL
• "Pod podłogą" (Under the Floor Gallery)
• Galeria Sztuki "Wirydarz"
• "KONT" Academic Culture Centre Gallery "Chatka Żaka" UMCS
• "Labirynt 2"

• Galeria Grodzka
• Galeria "Po schodach"
• Galeria "Gardzienice"
• Galeria Autorska Michałowski
• Galeria Fotografii "Prospero"
• Galeria "Gala Dom i Wnętrze"
• Galeria Michałowscy
• Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej "Andzelm Gallery"
• Galeria ART
• "31'st Gallery"
• Galeria "Pomost"
• Galeria Sztuki Nieprofesjonalnej "U Lekarzy" (Amateur art-gallery "At doctor's")
• Galeria Przy Bramie (Bramma Cafe)
• Lubelskie Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych

Old Town[link]

The Old Town Hall and Tribunal in the Market Square

Lublin, by some tourists called "little Krakow", has historic architecture and a unique ambiance, especially in the Old Town. Catering to students, who account for 35% of the population, the city offers a vibrant music and nightclub scene ^[16] Lublin has many theatres and museums and a professional orchestra, the Lublin Philharmonic.^[17] Old buildings, even ruins, creates magic and unique atmosphere of the city. Lublin’s Old Town has cobbled streets and traditional architecture.

Pubs and Restaurants[link]

The Old Town Hall and Tribunal in the Market Square is surrounded by burgher houses and winding lanes.^[18]

City of Festivals[link]

A folk music concert during the Jagiellonian Fair

Lublin Graffiti Festival

Holy Trinity Chapel and Castle Tower during the Night of Culture

Kozienalia, Lublin Days of Student Culture, beginning with a street parade.

Lublin could be called "The Capital of Festivals", as every year another new one appears. These are just a few of the most significant:

• Karnawał Sztuk-Mistrzów - Carnival Arts-Masters.
• Noc Kultury - Culture Night - usually the first Saturday night of June, hundreds of events whole the city, cultural manifestation of city's potential, admission is totally free - [7].
• OpenCity Festival - outdoor performances festival, international artists and performers, make art installations in public places in Lublin. - [8]
• Museum Night - like in whole world, Lublin's museums, are opened for visitors.
• Jarmark Jagielloński - Jagiellonian Trades - every year, about 100k of tourists, arriving in Lublin, only to feel middle-age atmosphere.
• Lubelskie Dni Kultury Studenckiej - an annual students' holiday, usually celebrated for about three weeks between May and June, students holiday in Lublin, are the longest in whole Poland. There's usually bunch of student parties, concerts, cultural events, and every year, Main Concert, usually, British artists are invited.
• Słowo daję - Festiwal Opowiadaczy - I give you my word. Storytellers Festival
• Rozstaje Europy - International Festival of Document Film
• Mikołajki Folkowe - International Folk Music Festival ("St. Nicholas Folk Day") - organised by Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
• Strefa Inne Brzmienia ("Different Sounds Area" International Music Festival, which connects Lublin and Lviv citizens together.
• Lublin. Miasto Poezji - Poetry Festival organised by Ośrodek "Brama Grodzka - Teatr NN" and Polish Literature Institute of Catholic University in Lublin.
• Noc z Czechowiczem - A Night with Czechowicz - walking the trace, from "Poem about The City of Lublin" written by Józef Czechowicz at first full moon at July, organised by Ośrodek "Brama Grodzka - Teatr NN"
• Najstarsze Pieśni Europy - The oldest songs of Europe - Festival of Muzyka Kresów Foundation.
• Future Shorts - World Short Film Label
• Międzynarodowe Spotkania Teatrów Tańca - International Lublin Dance Festival
• Międzynarodowy Festiwal Teatralny "Konfrontacje" - International Theatre Festival "Confrontations"
• Festiwal Kultury Alternatywnej "ZdaErzenia" - Festival of Alternative Culture in Lublin
• Sąsiedzi - Festiwal Teatrów Europy Środkowej - Neighbours - Central European Theatres Festival
• Festiwal "Prowokacje" - Young Polish Fashion Creators Festival
• Studencki Ogólnopolski Festiwal Teatralny Kontestacje - Polish Students Theatre Festival
• Międzynarodowe Spotkania Folklorystyczne im. Ignacego Wachowiaka - International Folk Dance Festival

• Lubelska Scena Rockowa - Lublin Rock Scene
• Taniec Znaku - first in Poland Internet Theatre, project of Lublin Maat Theatre,^[19]
• Scena Młodych - Youth Scene, music festival
• Zwierciadła - Mirrors - High School Theatres Revision
• Zaduszki Jazzowe - Jazz All Souls' Day - it takes place in Dominican Order Monastery
• "Invitro" Scena Prapremier - "Invitro" Pre-première Scene ^[20]
• Solo życia - Classical Music Festival - creator of this festival is composer Mieczysław Jurecki
• Letnia Strefa Muzyki - Summer Music Area - Young polish musicians, promotion, on the small scene, organisators: Akwarela Cafe and Lublins' President Council

European capital of culture[link]

In 2007, Lublin joined the group of Polish cities which were candidates for the title of European Capital of Culture, as the one and only city from the eastern half of Poland. Lublin won through to the second round of cities aiming to participate in this title with Spain in 2016, but ultimately Wrocław was chosen.

"Lublin is the city that symbolises European idea of integration, universal heritage of democracy and tolerance and the idea of dialogue between the cultures of the West and East. Lublin is a unique place where the cultures and religions meet. Here the East meets West, and the European Union meets Belarus and Ukraine. It is the perfect place of cooperation for European artists living within and outside the European Union. Lublin is a city open to artists, a place where unique initiatives and activities take place. Lublin means the experience of hundreds of years of rich history and cultural heritage which constitutes endless source of inspiration for new generations. European Culture is not only modern museums and enormous festivals, but first of all people and their activities, aims, aspirations, possibilities, potential and the desire for development.The development of culture and being granted the title of European Capital of Culture is a chance for development of one the poorest regions of the European Union.^[21]

Mr. Adam Wasilewski, President of Lublin

Since 2007, there are special meetings, enter2016, which anyone could take part in. The City's Marketing Office have created a web page: Lublin2016.eu, available in Polish, English, Ukrainian, Spanish and Portuguese.

Lublin is also a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission Intercultural cities programme.

Education[link]

John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

WSPA lecture hall

There are six schools of higher education, including Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (UMCS) and John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (JPII CUL).

• Medical University of Lublin– [9] (Medical University of Lublin)
• University of Life Sciences in Lublin– [10]
• John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) – Catholic University of Lublin
• Politechnika Lubelska–Lublin University of Technology
• Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej– (English version)

Lublin also hosts a number of private higher education establishments. The Polish Government has plans to establish a new University in Lublin in cooperation with the Ukraine Government, which promises to be one of the most innovative international ventures of recent years.^{[citation needed]} The Polish-Ukrainian Academy will support multicultural exchange, and will highlight Polish and Ukrainian heritage and history. It promises to be a milestone in the rapprochement between Poland and Ukraine, and between Ukraine and the European Union.

• University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin – [11]
• Lubelska Szkoła Biznesu– [12]
• Wyższa Szkoła Nauk Społecznych z siedzibą w Lublinie– [13]
• Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości i Administracji– [14]
• Wyższa Szkoła Społeczno-Przyrodnicza w Lublinie– [15]

Sports[link]

"Globus" sports hall

Zemborzyce Lake

• Start Lublin - men's basketball team, 12th in Era Basket Liga in 2003–2004 season.
• SPR Safo iCom Lublin (formerly Bystrzyca Lublin) - women's handball team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League: 2nd place in 2003–2004 season: also a winner of Women's EHF Cup in season 2000/2001.
• Motor Lublin - professional football team competing in the Polish second division.
• Lublinianka - men's football team competing in the Polish league (fourth division as of 2006–07).
• Budowlani Lublin - a local Rugby Union team competing in the Polish, and surrounding district league.
• KMŻ Lublin speedway club competing in the Polish league (first division).
• LSKT - Lublin's taekwon-do sport club.

Notable residents[link]

• Jacek Bąk (Polish footballer, captain of Poland during World Cup 2006)
• Katarzyna Dolinska (of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10, came in 5th place, but successful post-show)
• Albert Kitmacher (1920–2000) (Holocaust survivor)
• Janusz Lewandowski (1951—), MEP, former minister of privatization; born in Lublin
• Wincenty Pol (1807–72) poet and geographer
• Stanisław Kostka Potocki (1755–1821)
• Yitzhak Sadeh (born Isaac Landsberg; 1890-1952), a founder of the Israel Defense Forces
• Henryk Wieniawski (1835–80), violin virtuoso; born in Lublin
• Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin (1745–1815) - "The Seer of Lublin"
• Wladyslaw Zmuda (Polish footballer and four-time World Cup participant)

Politics[link]

Lublin constituency[link]

Joanna Mucha, currently sports and tourism minister in the government of Donald Tusk.

Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, a Member of the European Parliament representing the Lublin region.

Current and former Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Lublin constituency:

• Joanna Mucha, PO
• Zyta Gilowska, PIS
• Stanisław Głębocki, Samoobrona
• Arkadiusz Kasznia, SLD-UP
• Elżbieta Kruk, PiS
• Grzegorz Kurczuk, SLD-UP
• Robert Luśnia, LPR
• Andrzej Mańka, PiS
• Gabriela Masłowska, LPR
• Wiktor Osik, SLD-UP
• Zdzisław Podkański, PSL
• Tadeusz Polański, PSL
• Izabella Sierakowska, SLD-UP
• Zygmunt Jerzy Szymański, SLD-UP
• Leszek Świętochowski, PSL
• Marian Widz, Samoobrona
• Józef Żywiec, Samoobrona
• Janusz Palikot, PO

Members of the European Parliament elected from the Lublin constituency:

• Lena Kolarska-Bobinska, PO

International relations[link]

• Lublin is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the EU Intercultural cities programme.^[22]

Twin towns — Sister cities[link]

Lublin is twinned with:

See also[link]

• Lublin Department (Polish: Departament Lubelski): a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland's Duchy of Warsaw, 1806–1815
• Intercultural cities

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lublin

• Lublin official website (in Polish) (in English)
• Lublin 2016 - Official site of candidate for European Capital of Culture (English version)
• Lublin Municipality official website (in Polish) (in English)
• Virtual tour of Lublin
• Lublin Online - Travel Guide
• Lublin Cinematic City - Portal for film-makers
• Lublin Museum (English)
• Lublin archive documents (Polish)
• The „Grodzka Gate – NN Theatre” Centre
• The Virtual Jewish History Tour: Lublin
• Website of the Jewish Community of Warsaw – Lublin Branch
• http://www.lublinstrefa.pl/ (Polish)
• TNN

External files[link]

City Council has produced information materials:

• THE CITY OF CULTURE - The most important cultural events of 2009
• TOURIST GUIDE - PDF
• SIMPLE LEAFLET - Short, and most important information.

• InfoScreens:
  • Clip 1
  • Clip 2
  • Clip 3
• Lublin Cinematic City

v t e Principal cities of Poland Warsaw Kraków Łódź Wrocław Poznań Gdańsk Szczecin Bydgoszcz Lublin Katowice Białystok Częstochowa Radom Kielce Toruń Olsztyn Rzeszów

v t e Counties of Lublin Voivodeship City counties Lublin (capital) Biała Podlaska Chełm Zamość Land counties Biała Podlaska Biłgoraj Chełm Hrubieszów Janów Lubelski Kraśnik Krasnystaw Łęczna Lubartów Lublin Łuków Opole Lubelskie Parczew Puławy Radzyń Podlaski Ryki Świdnik Tomaszów Lubelski Włodawa Zamość

v t e Lublin County Urban-rural gminas Gmina Bełżyce Gmina Bychawa Rural gminas Gmina Borzechów Gmina Garbów Gmina Głusk Gmina Jabłonna Gmina Jastków Gmina Konopnica Gmina Krzczonów Gmina Niedrzwica Duża Gmina Niemce Gmina Strzyżewice Gmina Wojciechów Gmina Wólka Gmina Wysokie Gmina Zakrzew Seat (not part of the county) Lublin

vep:Lüblin