Płock

Płock
Płock Cathedral
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Virtute et labore angere
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Masovian
County	city county
Establishedf	9th century
Town rights	1237
Government
• President	Andrzej Nowakowski
Area
• Total	88.06 km2 (34.00 sq mi)
Elevation	60 m (200 ft)
Population  (2009)
• Total	126,675
• Density	1,400/km2 (3,700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	09-400 to 09-411, 09-419 to 09-421
Area code	+48 024
Car plates	WP
Website	Płock City Hall

Płock - the Tumskie Hill over the Vistula River.

Płock [pwɔt͡sk] is a city in central Poland, on the Vistula river. According to the data provided by GUS on 30 June 2009 there were 126,675 inhabitants. It is located in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), having previously been the capital of the Płock Voivodeship (1975–1998). It now is a capital of a Powiat (county) at the extreme west of the Mazovian Voivodeship. In years: 1079 - 1138 Płock was capital of Poland. Płock is also a historical capital of Mazovia.

History

Płock was the capital city of Poland during the reign of the Polish monarchs Władysław I Herman and Bolesław III Krzywousty (1079–1138). It was also a seat of several of the Dukes of Masovia and one of the capitals of that state.

During the german occupation of Poland (1941 to 1945) it was named Schröttersburg, after the former Prussian Upper President Friedrich Leopold von Schrötter.

• Masovian Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral

Duke Capital City of Płock

Large Representational Coat of Arms of Płock

The Duke Capital City of Płock (Polish: Stołeczne Książęce Miasto Płock) is the official title of Płock used in ceremonial documents and for preserving traditions. It is the formal legal title included in the preamble to the City Statute of Płock. The title is a result of the fact that from 1079–1138 Płock was the capital of Poland. It performed this function during the reign of the Polish monarchs Władysław I Herman and Bolesław III Krzywousty.

Formerly, during the rule of the first monarchs of the Piast dynasty, even prior to the Baptism of Poland, Płock served as one of the monarchial seats, including that of Prince Mieszko I and King Bolesław I Chrobry, the latter of which raised the original fortifications on Tumskie Hill, overlooking the Vistula River. From 1037–1047 Płock was capital of the independent Mazovian state of Masław.

Płock has been the historical capital of Mazovia (region of Poland), the residence of many Mazovian princes, and is the oldest town in the region (town rights in 1237). It is also the oldest legislated seat of the diocese, with the Cathedral in Płock built in the first half of the 12th century and housing the sarcophagi of Polish monarchs. The cathedral in Płock is one of the five oldest cathedrals in Poland.

Religion

Mariavites

This site is the main seat of the Mariavite bishops. Their most important church was built here in the beginning of the 20th century - it is called Temple of Mercy and Charity and is situated in a pleasant garden on the hill on which the historical centre of Płock is built, near the Vistula river.

Jews

The Jewish presence in Płock dates back many centuries, probably to 1400. In 1938, almost 25% of the population was Jewish, making Płock one of the cities in Poland with the highest proportional Jewish presence. The Jewish population of Płock was destroyed by the Germans during the Holocaust.

Economy

The main industry is oil refining. The country's largest oil refinery, (Płock refinery), and parent company, PKN Orlen are located here; it is served by a large pipeline leading from Russia to Germany. There are several industrial activities connected with the refinery, such as servicing and construction. There is also a Levi Strauss & Co. factory in Płock.

Education

• Szkoła Wyższa im. Pawła Włodkowica
• Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Płocku
• Płock Campus of Warsaw University of Technology
• LO im. Marszałka Stanisława Małachowskiego w Płocku - the oldest school in Poland
• LO im. Wladysława Jagiełły w Płocku
• III LO im. Marii Dąbrowskiej w Płocku

Transport

Routes

The Temple of Mercy and Charity, the main seat of the Mariavite Church

St. Bartholomew's Church.

Mazovian Museum.

• DK 60 - Łęczyca - Płock - Ciechanów - Ostrów Mazowiecka
• DK 62 - Strzelno - Włocławek - Płock - Wyszków - Sokołów Podlaski - Siemiatycze
• DW 559 - to Lipno
• DW 562 - to Szpetal Górny
• DW 567 - to Góra
• DW 575 - to Kazuń Nowy

Mass transit

Buses

• KM Płock - Komunikacja Miejska Płock

Bus service covers the entire city, with 41 routes.

• PKS Płock - Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacji Samochodowej w Płocku S.A.

Bridges in Płock

• Solidarity Bridge

Sport

• Wisła Płock - football team (1st league in season 2003/2004)
• Wisła Płock - handball team (repeated Polish Champion and repeated winner Cup of Poland)

Politics

Płock constituency

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Płock constituency

• Julia Pitera, PO
• Mirosław Koźlakiewicz, PO
• Andrzej Nowakowski, PO
• Wojciech Jasiński, Pis
• Marek Opioła, Pis
• Robert Kołakowski, Pis
• Dariusz Kaczanowski,Pis
• Waldemar Pawlak, PSL
• Adam Struzik, PSL
• Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz, SLD+SDPL+PD+UP (died in a plane crash 10 April 2010)

Twin towns - sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Płock is twinned with:

• Loznica, Serbia, since 1972
• Darmstadt, Germany, since 1988
• Fort Wayne, United States, since 1990
• Mažeikiai, Lithuania, since 1994)
• Navapolatsk, Belarus, since 1996
• Forlì, Italy, since 1998
• Auxerre, France, since 2000
• Bălţi, Moldova, since 2000
• Thurrock in United Kingdom, since 2004
• Mytishchi in Russia, since 2006

See also

• Duke Capital City of Płock
• New Holland Agriculture
• Płock Department

Gallery

• 
  Tumskie Hill featuring Płock Castle
• 
  Płock Castle
• 
  Solidarity Bridge
• 
  Pier in Płock at Vistula River

External links

• Official website
• Interactive map
• Jewish Community in Płock on Virtual Shtetl
• Zumi maps
• Anthem of Plock