Uniejów

Uniejów [uˈɲejuf] is a town in Poddębice County, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,960 inhabitants (2004). The town lies in northwestern corner of Poddebice County, near the border with Wielkopolskie Voivodeship. Uniejów is famous for its landscape park (34 hectares), regarded as one of the best preserved and most beautiful parks of central Poland.

History

The history of the town dates back to the early years of Polish statehood. Mentioned as Uneievo in a bull of Pope Innocent II (1136), Uniejów is one of the oldest towns of Poland. At that time it belonged to the Archbishops of Gniezno, and received its town charter most likely before 1290. In the late 13th century, Archbishop Jakub Swinka founded Church of the Holy Spirit, and in 1331, Uniejów was burned by the Teutonic Knights. The town was rebuilt, and in the late 14th - early 15th century, it was a local center of commerce and crafts. For centuries, Uniejów enjoyed several privileges, granted to it by the Archbishops of Gniezno. In 1360-1365, a defensive castle was built here. It became one of residences of the Archbishops, here several councils and meetings took place.