Section:  SSI wersja angielska » MUNICIPALITES » Rakoniewice

Rakoniewice

Area: 201,1 square km

Population: 12.599

 

Town Authority

Os. M. Drzymały 25

62 – 067 Rakoniewice

tel.  +48 61 44 41 002, 44 41 009

fax. +48 61 44 41 139

www.rakoniewice.pl

e-mail: umrakoniewice@wp.pl

 

Head of Authority: Józef Jerzy Sieradzan

 

 

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GMINA

 

         Rakoniewice is a typical agricultural gmina, well known for its rich cultivation of mushrooms and peaches. The terrain has extensive woodland coverage, in which can be found plants of special interest.

         In 1996 the Council of Europe awarded Rakoniewice the „Diploma of Honour” and two years later the town was awarded the ‘Flag of Europe’ for its work in opening up the way to mutual understanding and closer contacts among young people, forging contacts with other countries, neighbourly exchanges and co-operation with gminas in Holland, Germany and Denmark.

 

THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN AND GMINA

 

         The first written references to Rakoniewice, then still a village, date back to 1252. From the second half of the 16^th century onwards Protestants began to the settle in this area, as a result of which a town, oryginally called Freystad, was established here in 1662. After 34 years Rakoniewice was established again.

         From 1842 to 1849 the inhabitants of Rakoniewice were involved in the leech trade, selling leeches bought from southern Russia to France and England. The considerable income acquired from the leech trade was instrumental in the quick development of the town.

         In years 1869-1872 Dr Robert Koch, who was later discover the tuberculinosis bacilli, carried out his first medical practise at no. 13, Pocztowa Street.

         The figure of Michał Drzymała is inextricably linked to the gmina of Rakoniewice. The story of his struggle against the policy of the Prussian goverment became well known both in Poland and abroad. He became a symbol of pertinacity and endurance in the struggle of the Polish lands and by his example he inspired other Poles. When refused permission to built his own house, he lived togheter with his familly in a circus caravan. By his conduct he confirmed and strenghthened the participle of a just battle for the rights of Poland and Poles living in the Russian partition. A replica of „Drzymała caravan”, made in 1977, can be seen in Drzymałowo.

 

OBJECTS OF INTEREST, TOURISM, RECREATION

 

         Arcaded houses are typical style of architecture on the Rakoniewice market square. In the years 1763-1793 the market square in Rakonieiwce was lined with such wooden houses and in the middle stood the unique town hall. These buildings are chaacterized by two-storey gables with beamed ceilings. Unfortunately most of them were burnt during the serious fire of 1927. Today we can only admire the four buildings that survived and form one of the town’s attractions.

         Another interesting feature of the gmina is the historical town hall in Rostarzewo built in 1768. Because of its location in the very middle of the market square, the main road through the town ran under the building, through two gates. This unusual building was renovated in 1954 and now houses a branch of the Rakoniewice Public Library.

         The only museum in the gmina, one of two in the district, is the Wielkopolski Museum of Fire-fighting in Rakoniewice. It is the only institution of its kind in Wielkopolska Region and is the pride of Rakoniewice and the Grodziski district. Housed in the historic former Ewangelical church, it has functioned since 1974. From the outside the eye is drawn by the splendid construction and the tower with its historic clock. The assembled documents, and recording the traditions, tools and different people and institutions, voluntary and regular firemen, the fire service authority and private collectors, mainly from the Wielkopolska region. There’re over of 3700 exhibits.

         Another attraction of the gmina is the Youth Wind Band at the Primary School in Rostarzewo. It was established in 1992 on the initiative of the bandmaster Henryk Basiński and consists of pupils and former pupils of the school. With its wide reportoire, ranging from pop music and marches to religious music, the band enjoys great popularity, and not only within the immediate neighbourhood. Audiences are above all attracted by the performance of dance groups with drill parades, which form part of the show. The Rostarzewo Youth Wind Band  has already given concerts in Wienhausen in Germany and has performed in Wielkopolski Festival of Wind Bands, the All-Poland Festival of Youth Wind bands and Rajmund Gronowski Wind Band Tournament in Swarzędz. Other actively functioning organisations in the gmina include the sports club „Sokół” in Rakonieiwce and „Orzeł” in Rostarzewo, and the singing groups and choirs „Cecylia” in Rostarzewo and „Nuta w nutę” in Rakoniewice.

 

PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

 

         The Gmina of Rakoniewice has widely developed contacts with other countries. To date agreements have been signed with the following towns:

·         Diessen Hilvarenbeek in Holland (1986)

·         Flotwedel in Germany (agreement signed 28 August 1998)

·         Strovring in Denmark (signed 12 September 1999)

·         Sirvintos in Lithuania (agreement concluded 10 October 2003)

·         Morino in Russia (agreement signed 6 October 2003)

·         Pisoczyn in the Kharkov district in Ukraine (agreement signed 1 May 2004).

 

         These partnerships ambrace the daily life of the community, cultural and economic life, and the exchange of experience in local goverment. The partners are working together to increase links between local organisations and enterprises in their respective countries, exchange visits by children and young people, the sharing of experience and information concerning the development of towns, technical infrastructure, transport, protection of the environment and building. In the course of visiting each other residents have the opportunity to become acquainted with the way of life, history, culture and customs of corresponding regions in other countries.