About the town and community

Grodzisk Wielkopolski is situated in the southern part of Poznań upland, near an old trade route connecting towns of Lower Silesia and Poznań. The oldest documents which mention its civic rights date back to 1303. Since the 15th century the town has been developing and was in hands of different families, successively: the Ostrorógs and the Opalińskis. Grodzisk citizens actively took part in many important historical events. After Poland had regained independence, Grodzisk became a significant administrative and industrial centre. Till 1932 the poviat (the name of a Polish administrative unit) seat was situated here. The interwar period brought a quick development of food industry in the town. The United Breweries of Grodzisk, Meat Works, a Dairy and a Sawmill were operating here. After the World War II two spatial arrangements of old municipal organisms in the town were left here, which were connected by Szeroka Street. At present it is a commercial centre of the town and a pedestrian zone.
The centre of the oldest part of the town is dominated by the Old Square with a splendid Town Hill located in the middle. It dates back to the 19th century. In the Square there is also a well named after Saint Bernard of Wąbrzeźno. It was reconstructed after the local Brewery had ceased to draw water from it and was renovated later, in 1995. In the neighbourhood of the Old Square there are several interesting buildings from the 18th century, situated mostly in Poznańska Street and Wawrzyniaka Street.
However, Grodzisk’s most valuable monument is St. Hedwig’s Church constructed in the first half of the 15th century and redecorated in mannerist style 200 years later. Inside one can find many interesting sculptures - examples of sacral art. In front of the church there is a Lime tree/linden - a natural monument, about 5 meters in circumference. West of the Old Square there stands a palace erected in the middle of the 19th century – nowadays it houses the Museum of Grodzisk Land. Around the museum a park spreads and on its southern edge stands a wooden Holy Spirit’s church that dates back from 1663. Another beautiful example of sacral architecture in Grodzisk is the post-Bernadine baroque church which has been under thorough repairs for several years now. Other buildings worth seeing date back to the 19th century, of which some should be mentioned here: the post office, the school, the seat of district authorities, the court and house of detention, which at present serves as a reformatory.

Area in km2:
In all: 134,5
City: 18,08
Population:
In all: 18 879
City: 13 852
Area of soils
in hectares:
Arable soils: 6768
Orchards: 132
Meadows
and pastuers: 1046
Forests: 4106

The commune also includes:
ALBERTOWSKO, BORZYSŁAW, BIAŁA WIEŚ, CHRUSTOWO, CZARNA WIEŚ, GRĄBLEWO, KĄKOLEWO, KOBYLNIKI, KUROWO, LASÓWKI, PTASZKOWO, ROJEWO, SŁOCIN, SNOWIDOWO, SWORZYCE, WOŹNIKI, ZDRÓJ.