Szprotawa

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Szprotawa

Szprotawa is a town in western Poland, in Lubusz Voivodeship, Żagań County. It is the seat of the Gmina Szprotawa and lies near the Szprotawa River, close to where it joins the Bóbr. The town covers about 10.94 square kilometers. In 2019 it had a population of 11,820. The mayor is Mirosław Gąsik.

History in brief
- The area has been part of Poland since the early medieval era. Szprotawa is first mentioned around the year 1000.
- It received town rights around 1260, and full city rights in 1304.
- In the 14th century Germans settled there as part of the eastward expansion (Ostsiedlung).
- In 1331 Szprotawa became a fief of the King­dom of Bohemia and was later ruled by the Bohemian Crown and, from the 16th century, by the Habsburgs.
- From the Middle Ages, Szprotawa grew as a trade town, dealing in cattle, salt and grain, and hammer mills operated there from the 14th century.
- After the First Silesian War in 1742, Szprotawa (German: Sprottau) became part of Prussia, later part of the German Empire.
- In the 20th century the town experienced industry growth in iron, textiles and wax goods. By 1939 its population was about 12,500.
- During World War II the town suffered heavy destruction (about 90% destroyed). After the war, in 1945, it was transferred to Poland. Most of the German population was expelled and Polish settlers rebuilt the town.
- From 1950 to 1975 Szprotawa served as the capital of a county (poviat).
- In 2024 the town was affected by Central European floods, with some areas evacuated.

Sights and features
- Old Town area and the Żagań Gate (the Renaissance-era Town Hall area and nearby historic buildings)
- Museum of the Szprotawa Land (housed in the Żagań Gate)
- Saint Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church (13th century)
- Church of the Assumption (13th century)
- Evangelical Church (18th century; the old castle site nearby)
- Castle Chrobry site (archaeological)
- Silesia Walls
- The Szprotawa River mouth to the Bóbr River is visible nearby

Nature and parks
- Oak “Chrobry,” about 750 years old and the oldest in Poland
- Buczyna Szprotawska nature reserve
- Park Słowiański and the surrounding Lower Silesia Forest
- A historic city park from the 19th century

Notable people
- Jakob Ebert, theologian (1549–1614)
- Heinrich Göppert, scientist (1800–1884)
- Heinrich Laube, author (1806–1884)
- Karl Bartsch, Germanist (1832–1888)
- Manfred Steinbach, sportsman (born 1933)
- Klaus Hänsch, politician and former President of the European Parliament (born 1938)
- Rudolf Langer, sportsman (born 1939)
- Detlev Kittstein, sportsman (1944–1996)
- Monika Ciecierska, basketball player (born 1973)
- Maciej Boryna, writer (born 1974)
- Konrad Michalak, footballer (born 1997)

Twin towns
- Szprotawa’s broader municipality (Gmina Szprotawa) has twin towns in its own sister-city relationships.

Gallery and other
- The town features various historic and scenic photos, including views of the town center, churches, and parks.