ZBKOWICE LSKIE

MY TOWN

Zbkowice lskie (German: Frankenstein in Schlesien) is a town with 14,986 inhabitants ( 2007), in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, and the capital of Zbkowice laskie County.

Zbkowice lskie County (in Polish powiat zbkowicki) is a unit of territorial administration and local government in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in Poland, created on 1st January 1999 as a result of the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998.

CountryPolandVoivodeshipLower SilesianPowiatZbkowice lskie CountyGminaZbkowice lskieGovernment-MayorMarcin OrzeszekArea-Town13.63 km (5.3sqmi)Population (2007)- Town14.986- Density1,197.8/km(3,102.3/sqmi)

The town was established as Frankenstein in the early 13th, following the Mongol invasion and received city rights about the year 1280. Since 1335 it belonged to Bohemia and since 1742 to Prussia.

In the early 1600s the plague killed about one third of the population and events at that time gave a rise to the Frankenstein legend Since the time of its establishing in the second half of XIII th century till 1945 Zbkowice was called Frankenstein. It seems probable that the first settlers, the founders of the city, coming from Frankony - the historical land of Germany located on the Middle Rhine-"brought" the name of the town with them. The word Frankenstein is associated with the monster Frankenstein from the novel by Mary Shelley and with horror films based on that novel. Consequently, the question arises if there is a connection between the name of the town and the monster Frankenstein.

In 1858, the town burned down and had to be rebuilt. Due to that event, the upper part of the 15th century The Leaning Tower was reconstructed in a straight manner.

From 1816 to 1945, the town was the seat of a county. After The World War II the town was renamed to Zbkowice lskie in 1946 after the German population fled or was expelled.

LAST ANIVERSARY From the 10th of October to the 20th of October 2007 The inhabitants were celebrating the 720th anniversary of setting up of the town. On that occasion there were many different presentations, performances and contests on the Market Square. Some students from my school wrote tests concerning the history of Zkowice lskie. Others drew the monuments of Zbkowice lskie. The entire town took part in preparing to that event.

Lets visit Zbkowice lskie Zbkowice lskie is a very nice town although it is very small.People sometimes think that small towns arent interesting and dont have monuments or beautiful places. But it is a mistake because Zbkowice lskie is a picturesque area full of beautiful places and friendly people. Become convinced about it, visiting the town.

The Leaning TowerThe Leaning Tower was build in 1413. The height of the tower is 34 m and the current deviation from the vertical 2 , 14 m . Its worth seeing, becaause its only two of them in the world and one of them is in Poland. In 1863 there was suspended a new clock, made by Hoffman (a clockmaker from Oawa) .

INTERESTING PLACES TO VISITThe ruins of the castle

INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT The Local Museum and the Market Square

Town Hall The Town Hall was build between the 1862- 1864 in Neo-Gothic style , in place of the previous town hall , which burned down in 1858 . In 1992 1996 the building was completly renovated . In the Town Hall there is a Library, which is open for everyone.

City walls The first city walls were built probably in the days when the city was founded. It was probably a small, square ring measuring 200 to 400 m with four gates surrounding the market square. Part of the fortification was in the form of wood earthen walls. Part of the walls made of broken stone. The oldest part of the walls, preserved to this day is a wall running form street to street Grunwaldzka Prusa .

Dr Frankenstein Laboratory

The Lab was opened in the Regional Souvenir Chamber in Zbkowice l. on 26.05.2001 in order to enliven the museum exhibition and to stress Zbkowice's monster tradition. The museum's founders were: Lower Silesian Tourist Organisation and PZU SA. Regional Branch. The initiator and the executor of all was Krzysztof Andrzejewski - an artist.

Was Frankenstein - the monster 'born' in Zbkowice ?

The legend of FrankensteinThe fact, that the legend of Frankenstein was still alive even a few hundred years after that terrible incident is proved by an account of Wadysaw Grabski in his book called "300 towns returned to Poland", published in 1960 where he says quoting the local legend: "There was the monster Frankenstein living in the castle of Zbkowice, who by his infamous dealings took 2000 lives until the hand of God`s justice tauched him".

WEEKENDS WITH FRANKENSTEIN

18-20.10.1996 - 1st Weekend with Frankenstein 10-12.10.1997 - 2nd Weekend with Frankenstein 26-27.05.2001 - 3rd Weekend with Frankenstein 08-09.06.2002 - 4th Weekend with Frankenstein

Thank you for your attentionThats our school