Reszel

Reszel
Reszel The castle and church
Flag File:POL Reszel COA.svg Coat of arms
Reszel
Coordinates:
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Warmian-Masurian
County	Kętrzyn
Gmina	Reszel
Area
• Total	3.82 km2 (1.47 sq mi)
Population (2012)
• Total	4,896
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,300/sq mi)
Postal code	11-440
Website	http://www.reszel.pl/

Reszel [ˈrɛʂɛl] (German: Rößel; Prussian: Resel or Resl) is a town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northeastern Poland.

A small town of Warmia, with a long history, many historical monuments and various tourist attractions, as of December 31, 2012, the city's population was 4896. The gothic Castle and the medieval city center surrounded by brick defense walls are very popular among tourists.

History

Reszel was originally a settlement built by the Bartian tribe of Old Prussians and conquered by the Teutonic Knights in 1241. The native Prussians later recaptured the settlement and held it for five years, but were eventually defeated by the German crusaders. Reszel received its town privileges in 1337 under Magdeburg law. In 1466 Reszel became part of the Kingdom of Poland.

In 1811 Barbara Zdunk was sentenced to death for witchcraft and setting the castle alight in 1807. The trial lasted three years. The case was controversial, however the court approved the verdict in Königsberg and she was sentenced to burn, but was mysteriously strangled before the process. The trial is sometimes described as the last burning of witches in Europe.

As a result of the treaty of Versailles on 11 July 1920 the Warmia and Masuria plebiscite was organized under the control of the League of nations, which resulted 97,90% of votes to remain in Germany and 2,10% for Poland.

The town was transferred from Germany after the Second World War to Poland following the Potsdam Conference of 1945.

Tourist attractions

The main tourist attraction is the Gothic Episcopal castle. It was built 1350−1401 on a steep hill side above the right bank of the river Sajna by the Teutonic Order.

The Gothic St Peter's Church dating back to the 14th century boasts the painting of the church's patron dating back to the end of the 18th century. Other worthy of note buildings are the Jesuit complex, St John's Church and the church and convent of the nuns of the Order of St Catherine − all from the 15th and the 16th century. Large fragments of preserved defensive walls and the Classicist town hall in the market square dating back to the 19th century are also worth visiting.

Near Reszel is the Catholic shrine of Święta Lipka (German: Heiligelinde), a baroque church and Late Medieval shrine augmented in the 17th century. Since its beginning it has attracted German pilgrims from Warmia, as well as Polish and Lithuanian pilgrims.

Notable residents

• Jodocus Willich (1501–1552), physician
• Barbara Zdunk (1769–1811), arsonist and witch
• Andreas Thiel (bishop) (1826–1908), Bishop of Ermeland (1885-1908)
• Julius Dinder (1830–1890) Bishop of Gnesen-Posen

Images

• 

  Historic city center

• 

  Tenements, part of the gothic city center

• 

  Town Hall

• 

  Market Square

See also

• Rema S. A. headquarters

External links

• Municipal website (Polish)
• Site of Reszel (Polish)
• Site of Reszel (English)
• Statistics of inhabitants, birth, marriage, deaths, from 1569