Węgliniec [vɛŋˈɡliɲɛt͡s] (German: Kohlfurt) is a town in Zgorzelec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland, close to the border with Germany. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Węgliniec.
Węgliniec | |
|---|---|
 Building of the local fire brigade | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Węgliniec  Węgliniec | |
| Coordinates: 51°17′18″N 15°13′32″E / 51.28833°N 15.22556°E | |
| Country |  Poland |
| Voivodeship |  Lower Silesian |
| County | Zgorzelec |
| Gmina | Węgliniec |
| Town rights | 1967 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mariusz Wieczorek |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.71 km2 (3.36 sq mi) |
| Population (2019-06-30[1]) | |
| • Total | 2,846 |
| • Density | 330/km2 (850/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 59-940 |
| Area code | +48 75 |
| Car plates | DZG |
| Climate | Cfb |
| Website | http://www.wegliniec.pl |
The town lies approximately 22 kilometres (14 mi) north-east of Zgorzelec, and 128 kilometres (80 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław. As of 2019, the town has a population of 2,846.
History
The oldest known historical mention of the settlement dates back to 1502 [2] in the context of medieval German Ostsiedlung, receiving the name Kohlfurt.[3] In 1742 it was annexed by Prussia. [citation needed] It was plundered by different armies during the Third Silesian War (1756–1763).[4] In 1846 a railway line connecting Wrocław and Berlin, running through the village, was opened.[2] In 1847 a line to Dresden was built, and in 1865 to Lubań.[2] The settlement became an important railway junction.During World War II, the Germans located there two prisoner-of-war labor subcamps and a forced labor camp.[2] Near the end of World War II, in February 1945, the almost completely abandoned village was captured by the Soviets.[4] After World War II the region was placed preliminary under Polish administration according to the post-war Potsdam Agreement. It was repopulated with Poles, some of whom were from the Eastern Borderlands, which were annexed by the Soviet Union.
Węgliniec was granted town rights in 1967.[2]
Transport
Węgliniec railway station remains a major railway junction, located on strategic passenger and freight routes between Poland and Germany, with regular cross-border passenger services to Görlitz/Dresden and a limited service to Cottbus/Berlin.