Ołbin | |
|---|---|
 Saint Michael Archangel church | |
 Location of Ołbin within Wrocław | |
| Country |  Poland |
| Voivodeship | Lower Silesian |
| County/City | Wrocław |
| First mentioned | 1175 |
| Established the modern-day district | 1991 |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 31,216 |
| [1] | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Area code | +48 71 |
| Website | Osiedle Ołbin |
Ołbin (Polish pronunciation:[ˈɔwbin],German:Elbing,[ˈɛlbɪŋ]) is adistrict inWrocław,Poland, located in the northern part of the city. It was established in the territory of the formerDowntown district.
The settlement was first documented in 1175 under the nameOlbin. It was later referred to asOlpinow (1202),Vlbim andUolbim (1253),Olbina,Albingum,Olbingum, andElbinga (1264). By the end of the 13th century, the village was known asOlbing.[2]
The origin of the name Ołbin has not been clearly established. According to some historians, the name may derive from the Latin nameAlbin, which was popular in the 11th and 12th centuries.[2]
The second theory regarding the origin of the name comes from an old Slavic word 'olbąd' ('swan'). Currently, swans of this species can be observed daily at a small pond inStanisław Tołpa Park [pl], located in the center of the district.[2]
The Abbey of Ołbin was founded byPiotr Włostowic in between 1080 and 1153. A sarcophagus was erected for him around 1270 in the middle of the abbey choir. It was probably destroyed in 1529 when the abbey was torn down, and fragments of its architecture were incorporated into buildings in the city. The Breslau City Council made this decision in the face of the threat of Turkish invasion; officially to prevent the complex from being exploited by enemies, but in fact the decision was also part of the resentment against the Catholic monastery complex and its inhabitants.[3][4]
Elbing was outside the borders of Breslau (Wrocław) until the early 19th century. Only a portion of it, which was closely associated with the foreground of the city fortifications protecting theCathedral Island, was incorporated into the city's administration in the second half of the 18th century. The area, located on the northern bank of theOder, was frequently plundered by the besieging armies of Breslau. After Napoleon's army captured the city in 1807, the French command decided to demolish the city's fortifications and fill in part of the moat. Soon after, Elbing, along with several other areas bordering theOld Town, was incorporated into the city limits.[5]
The settlement, densely built up mainly withtenement houses, was established at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. During thesiege of Breslau in 1945, the buildings in the area sustained less damage compared to other parts of the city, such as the neighboringGrunwald Square. Only 30% of the buildings in the neighborhood were damaged.[5]
The present-day districts of Ołbin andNadodrze played a significant role immediately after the war. Starting in July 1945, Wrocław Nadodrze was the only train station receiving trains from the east. The firststreetcar line (No. 1) in Wrocław connected it toBiskupin, a relatively less damaged part of the city. Ołbin and Nadodrze were ideal places for repatriates to settle and for locating post-war city authorities and public institutions due to their well-preserved public and residential infrastructure. The first elementary school was established on Nowowiejska Street, followed by the first high school on Poniatowskiego Street, and the first branch of the Polish Post Office on Jedności Narodowej Street.[5]
In 1991, after reforms in the administrative division of Wrocław, Ołbin became one of the city's 48 districts.[6]
