Milanówek [mʲilaˈnuvɛk] is a town and urban commune in central Poland, in the Grodzisk Mazowiecki County in the Masovian Voivodeship. Located near Warsaw, it is often considered an outlying suburb of the capital of Poland but is in fact an independent entity administratively and culturally. Milanówek is however part of wider Warsaw metropolitan area. Located on the Middle Masovian Plain, between Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Pruszkow, the town has approximately 15,449 inhabitants. Milanówek is served by Milanówek railway station.

History

Post office in the interwar period

Milanówek was established in the late 19th and early 20th century as a result of parceling land belonging to Michał Lasocki, and lying along the Warsaw-Vienna Railway.

Since the beginning, Milanówek was a summer resort for wealthy residents of Warsaw, who set up lavish summer homes that often, when the owners decided to move permanently, were turned into grand villas. The most famous of the early holiday-makers was Polish writer, Boleslaw Prus. Another permanent resident of the town was sculptor Jan Szczepkowski.

Developed in the interwar period, and still dominant in the older part of town, is some residential architecture. In 1924, the Central Experimental Station of Silk Production was founded.[1]

During World War II, an urn with the heart of Frédéric Chopin, transferred from Holy Cross Church in Krakowskie Przedmieście in Warsaw, was stored in St. Hedwig Church in Milanówek. The German occupiers operated a forced labour camp for Jews.[2] During the Warsaw Uprising vital organs of Polish Underground State moved to Milanówek and gave the town the nickname "Little London".

In 1951 the town received city rights. In 1961 the city limits were extended, taking over villages including Nowa Wieś (now this part of the city is called Milanowek Kazimierówka). In the communist period there was further development of industry, especially the creation of a factory for surgical and dental instruments: "MIFAMA".

After the administrative reform of 1999, Milanówek became one of the six municipalities forming the Grodzisk Mazowiecki County.

Sights

Villa Borówka

Monuments of Milanowek include the parish church of St. Hedwig, the "Turczynek" villa, accommodation for soldiers from World War II and many villas built between 1896 - 1945, including "Potęga", "Matulinek", "Hygea", and "Borówka". They are all in the national register of historic monuments (26 items). 388 pre-war villas and other valuable buildings in the middle of Milanowek have been included in the national register of historic monuments.

The Milanówek Museum of Games and Computers (Milanowskie Muzeum Gier i Komputerów) contains a collection of computers and video games from the 1980s and 1990s.[3]

Economy

Central Experimental Station of Silk Production in the interwar period

The Jedwab Polski silk factory, established in 1924, is based in Milanówek.[1]

There are several krówki (traditional Polish candy) production companies in Milanówek.[3]

Sports

Football club Milan Milanówek was founded in 1986.[4] As of 2021, they compete in the fifth-tier IV liga in the Masovian II group.[5]

Notable residents

Twin towns – sister cities

Milanówek is twinned with:[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Modzelewski, Rafał; Jarosz, Monika. Industrialne Mazowsze (in Polish). Warszawa: Mazowiecka Regionalna Organizacja Turystyczna. p. 35. ISBN 978-83-8218-191-3.
  2. ^ "Zwangsarbeitslager für Juden Milanówek". Bundesarchiv.de (in German). Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b Modzelewski, Rafał; Jarosz, Monika. Industrialne Mazowsze (in Polish). Warszawa: Mazowiecka Regionalna Organizacja Turystyczna. p. 40. ISBN 978-83-8218-191-3.
  4. ^ "Skarb". Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  5. ^ "ForBET IV liga 2021/2022, grupa: Mazowiecka II".
  6. ^ "Miasta partnerskie" (in Polish). Milanówek. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan%C3%B3wek
No tags for this post.