Barlinek

Barlinek
Lakeside Lakeside
Coat of arms of Barlinek Coat of arms
Barlinek
Coordinates:
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	West Pomeranian
County	Myślibórz
Gmina	Barlinek
Town rights	1278
Government
• Mayor	Zygmunt Siarkiewicz
Area
• Total	17.54 km2 (6.77 sq mi)
Population (2006)
• Total	14,156
• Density	810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	74-320
Area code(s)	+48 95
Car plates	ZMY
Website	http://www.barlinek.pl

Barlinek [barˈlʲinɛk] (German: Berlinchen) is a small town in Myślibórz County, in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northwestern Poland. It is the administrative seat of Gmina Barlinek.

Geography

Barlinek is located in the historic Neumark region on the Płonia River, about 30 km (19 mi) north of Gorzów Wielkopolski. The town has 14,162 inhabitants (as of 2009).

History

The settlement of Nova Berlyn was first mentioned in a 1278 deed, when it was founded by the Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg. It was meant as a stronghold in the newly acquired Neumark region, bordering on the Pomeranian estates around nearby Pełczyce, which the margraves nevertheless conquered soon afterwards.

File:Berlinchenmarket.jpg

Market place, about 1900

In the 14th century, the town gained its first fortified walls (still partly visible) and in the first half of the 15th century, the town was under control of the Teutonic Knights. Before and after, the Neumark was part of Brandenburg, which from 1701 on belonged to the Kingdom of Prussia. From the 18th century onwards the town prospered as a centre of brewing and cloth manufacturing.

After World War II, the town with the eastern part of Brandenburg was annexed by the Republic of Poland and renamed Barlinek. The remaining German population was expelled.

Notable people

Berlinchen is the birthplace of the chess players Berthold (1860-1928) and Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941).

International relations

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

Twin towns — sister cities

Barlinek is twinned with:

• Schneverdingen, Germany
• Eksjö, Sweden
• Courrieres, France
• Prenzlau, Germany
• Gryfino, Poland

External links

• Official town webpage
• Official Barlinek Sailing Club webpage
• Jewish Community in Barlinek on Virtual Shtetl