Strzelin
Strzelin is a town in southwestern Poland, in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It sits on the Oława river, about 39 kilometers south of Wrocław, and is part of the Wrocław metropolitan area. It is the seat of Strzelin County and the gmina of Strzelin. The town is known for its large granite quarries, including Europe’s deepest one, which is 123 meters deep and covers about 19.5 hectares.
Strzelin has a long history. It began in the early Polish state, and in the 12th century the Romanesque St. Godehard’s Rotunda was built. The name Strzelin comes from the Polish word for “arrow,” and the town’s coat of arms features an arrow. It was granted town rights in 1292 by Duke Bolko I the Strict, who also built defensive walls. Over the centuries it passed under Polish, Bohemian (Czech), and German rule. The town was plundered by Hussites in the 15th century but later prospered from crafts such as clothmaking, shoemaking, tanning, brewing and metalworking. It also suffered during the Thirty Years’ War.
In the 17th century the area remained mostly Polish-speaking, with growing German and Jewish communities due to immigration. After the death of the last Piast duke in 1675, Strzelin became part of the Habsburg-ruled Bohemian Kingdom, and religious tolerance declined. In 1742 it was annexed by Prussia, which led to Germanisation. The 19th century brought new factories and, in 1871, a railway line to Wrocław, linking Strzelin with the region.
During World War II the Germans used prisoners of war from several countries in the area. In January 1945 most of Strzelin’s population was displaced, and the town was heavily damaged as the Red Army advanced. In May 1945 it returned to Polish administration.
As of 2019 the town had about 12,460 residents.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:56 (CET).