View source for Kraśnik

{{other places|Kraśnik (disambiguation)}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kraśnik
| image_skyline = Krasnik.png
| imagesize = 250px
| image_caption = Kraśnik
| image_flag = POL Kraśnik flag.svg
| image_shield = POL Kraśnik COA.svg
| pushpin_map = Poland
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{POL}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Lublin Voivodeship|name=Lublin}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Powiat|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kraśnik County|Kraśnik]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Gmina]]
| subdivision_name3 = Kraśnik <small>(urban gmina)</small>
| leader_party = Independent 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Krzysztof Staruch
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 14th century
| established_title3 = Town rights
| established_date3 = 1377
| area_total_km2 = 25.29
| population_as_of = 2024
| population_total = 30 842
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|50|55|N|22|13|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}}
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 05-085, 05-000
| area_code = +48 81
| blank_name = [[Polish car number plates|Car plates]]
| blank_info = LKR
| website = http://www.krasnik.eu
}}
'''Kraśnik''' {{IPAc-pl|'|k|r|a|ś|ń|i|k}} is a town in southeastern [[Poland]] with 30 842 inhabitants (2024), situated in the [[Lublin Voivodeship]], historic [[Lesser Poland]].{{TERYT}} It is the seat of [[Kraśnik County]]. The town of Kraśnik as it is known today was created in 1975, after the merger of its two districts - ''Kraśnik Lubelski'', and ''Kraśnik Fabryczny''.

==Location and districts==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2020}}
Kraśnik is located in Lesser Poland, among the hills of [[Lublin Upland]], 49 kilometers south-west of [[Lublin]]. The town is divided into two major parts, which are a few kilometers apart: ''Kraśnik Fabryczny'' and ''Kraśnik Lubelski'' (or ''Kraśnik Stary, Old Kraśnik''). The town has an area of 25.28 square kilometers, of which arable land makes up 45%, and forests 17%.

===Kraśnik Lubelski===
Kraśnik Lubelski is the original part of the town where all historic buildings are located. It is made of several districts, such as ''Old Town, Bojanówka, Koszary, Góry, Zarzecze, Kwiatkowice'', and ''Osiedle Kolejowe''. Kraśnik Lubelski has old churches and the oldest cemetery of the town, as well as a rail station, a bus station and main administrative offices of the county. It is also a major road junction, where future [[Expressway S19 (Poland)|Expressway S19]] (current National Road No. 19) meets National Road No. 74. Until 2010, the Road 74 went through the center of Kraśnik, but now there is a by-pass.

===Kraśnik Fabryczny===
Kraśnik Fabryczny was founded in the late 1930s, as a settlement for ''State Ammunition Factory No. 2'' (''Panstwowe Fabryka Amunicji nr. 2''), one of the enterprises built as part of the [[Central Industrial Region (Poland)|Central Industrial Region]]. Previously, in the location of Kraśnik Fabryczny there was the village of Dąbrowa Bór, placed a few kilometers northwest of Kraśnik, in a forest between Kraśnik and [[Urzędów]]. The government of the [[Second Polish Republic]] planned a new settlement, built from scratch, for 6,000 people around the new Ammunition Factory No. 2, FLT-Kraśnik. After the war, the settlement of Dąbrowa Bór was expanded, and in 1954 its name was changed to Kraśnik Fabryczny. In the 1960s, a number of single-family houses was built, later on, several blocks of flats were constructed. On October 1, 1975, Kraśnik Fabryczny merged with Kraśnik Lubelski, and the villages of Budzyń and Piaski, creating the town of Kraśnik. Currently, Kraśnik Fabryczny has some 20,000 inhabitants.

==History==
[[File:Church.of.the.Assumption.JPEG|thumb|upright|left|[[Gothic architecture|Gothic]]-[[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] Church of the Assumption]]
The area of Kraśnik was first settled in the 13th century, and the town received its city charter in 1377, by King [[Louis I of Hungary]]. At that time it belonged to [[Sandomierz Voivodeship]], one of two voivodeships of Lesser Poland ([[Lublin Voivodeship]] was created in 1474, out of parts of Sandomierz Voivodeship). Located on a busy merchant road from [[Silesia]] to [[Kyiv]], Kraśnik in the 14th century belonged to the Gorajski family. In 1403, it had a [[St Paul's Church, New Southgate|parish church of Saint Paul]], and in 1410, as a [[dowry]] of Anna of Goraj, it passed into the hands of the [[Tęczyński family]]. Later on, it belonged to other families, such as the [[Radziwiłł family|Radziwiłł]]s, and in 1604, the town was purchased by [[hetman]] [[Jan Zamoyski]]. Until 1866, Kraśnik belonged to the Zamoyski family. The town frequently suffered from fires, it was also destroyed by the Swedes in 1657, during the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]].
[[File:Kraśnik, kościół szpitalny p.w. Św. Ducha.JPG|thumb|[[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] Holy Spirit church|alt=|left]]
Since the 14th century, Kraśnik was surrounded by a [[Defensive wall|rampart]], and ca. 1465, stone-brick walls were built on initiative of Jan Tęczyński, with two gates - ''Lublin Gate'' and ''Sandomierz Gate''. The walls were demolished in the second half of the 19th century. Kraśnik also had a defensive church, surrounded with a high wall, and a castle, built in the 14th century on a hill surrounded by swamps. By 1646, the castle was already neglected. In 1657, it was completely destroyed by the Swedes.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Until the [[Third Partition of Poland]] (1795), Kraśnik belonged to Lublin Voivodeship, then passed into [[Habsburg monarchy|Austrian]] hands. In 1807 it was included in the short-lived Polish [[Duchy of Warsaw]], and from 1815 until 1915 the town was in the [[Russian Empire]] ([[Congress Poland]]). In August 1914, the town and surrounding area were a focal point of [[Battle of Kraśnik]], an opening battle of the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|World War I]] struggle between [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and [[Central Powers]] over control of [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]]. During the war, the town gained its first railway connection, as a line was built through it by the Russians in 1914 in order to deliver supplies to the front. Later on, the line was expanded, and now it joins Lublin with [[Stalowa Wola]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Kraśnik, pomnik na Placu Wolności.jpg|thumb|upright|Monument to [[National Independence Day (Poland)|Poland's independence]], Freedom Square]]
In 1938 Kraśnik was selected as the location for an ammunition factory (see [[Central Industrial Region (Poland)|Central Industrial Region]]). The factory was not finished by the time [[World War II]] broke out in 1939, and during the [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|German occupation]] it was used to manufacture parts for [[Heinkel]] planes and other purposes. After the war, in 1948, the factory was started up again, this time to produce [[ball bearings]] (the first factory to do that in Poland).{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

===Jews in Kraśnik===
====16th century to WWII====
As with much of the [[Lublin]] district, Kraśnik was a major center of [[Judaism]], with 5,000 Jews (almost 50% of the population) prior to [[World War II]]. Historical accounts place Jews in the area in 1531, but the official right to settle there was granted to Jews in 1584. In 1654, Jewish residence was officially limited to the area near the synagogue, but in practice this was not rigidly enforced.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}[[File:Synagoga w Kraśniku.jpg|thumb|Great Synagogue (1654) in Kraśnik]]

====WWII and Holocaust====
Following the [[invasion of Poland]] by [[Nazi Germany]] and the [[Soviet Union]] in World War II, Kraśnik was taken over by the Soviets in 1939 and later by the Nazis during [[Operation Barbarossa]]. It was the site of the [[Budzyń concentration camp]], where the prisoners worked for the ''[[Heinkel]] Flugzeugwerke'', an initially Polish aircraft production factory which had been taken over by the Germans. This camp, with around 3,000 Jews, became a subcamp of [[Majdanek]].<ref name= free1>{{cite web |title= Memorial to the Victims of the Budzyn and Krasnik Labor Camps: Budzyn Labor Camp; Skret Labor Camp |website= chelm.freeyellow.com |url=https://chelm.freeyellow.com/budzyn.html |access-date= April 13, 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160828141609/http://chelm.freeyellow.com/budzyn.html |archive-date= August 28, 2016}}</ref>

There was another labor camp in Kraśnik called the WIFO Labor Camp, Kraśnik Labor Camp, or ''[[Nazi concentration camps#Types of camps|Arbeitslager]] Skret'', lit. 'Skret Labor Camp', located in the ghetto at Szkolna and Bóżnicza streets. It held a similar number of inmates (around 3,000), most of whom were murdered.<ref name= free1/>

From a population of more than 5,000 Kraśnik Jews, only an estimated 350 survived the Holocaust; most or all of these survivors left Poland.<ref name= free2>{{cite web |title= Remember Jewish Kraśnik |website= chelm.freeyellow.com |url=http://chelm.freeyellow.com/krasnik.html |access-date= April 13, 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131206191536/http://chelm.freeyellow.com/krasnik.html |archive-date= December 6, 2013}}</ref>

==Local attractions==
[[File:Misc6DSC 0318.JPG|thumb|upright|Monastery bell tower]]
* Ruins of the 17th-century Zamoyski castle,
* The 18th-century [[Baroque]] former [[Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit]] (1758–1761) and hospital,
* The Lateran Canons, containing St Mary's Ascension church (ca 1469) with paintings by [[Tommaso Dolabella|T. Dolabella]], gravestones of the [[Teczynski]] family, and the monastery (15th-18th centuries),
* An unusual double [[synagogue]] from the 17th century, partially renovated but now in disrepair<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forward.com/issues/2004/04.01.16/living5.html|title=FORWARD : Forward Living|date=March 15, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315175022/http://www.forward.com/issues/2004/04.01.16/living5.html|archive-date=2006-03-15}}</ref>
* 2nd [[SOS Children's Village]] in Poland, established in 1991,
* Tsubaki-Hoover Polska Limited Liability Company, a [[subsidiary]] of Tsubaki Nakashima, which manufactures [[ball bearings|ball]] and [[roller bearings]]

==Sports==
Kraśnik has a sports club [[Stal Kraśnik|Stal]], which was founded in 1948.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stalkrasnik.pl/page/show/historia-klubu|title=Historia Klubu|work=FKS Stal Kraśnik|access-date=2018-09-08|language=pl-PL}}</ref>

==International relations==
===Twin towns===
Kraśnik is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:
* {{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Hajdúböszörmény]], Hungary
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Ruiselede]], Belgium
* {{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Šilalė]], Lithuania
* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Korosten]], Ukraine
* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Turiisk]], Ukraine
* {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Trogir]], Croatia

Former twin towns:
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nogent-sur-Oise]], France (In February 2020, the French commune suspended its partnership with Kraśnik as a reaction to the passing of an [[anti-LGBT]] resolution by the Kraśnik local authorities.)<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103085,25718116,kolejna-francuska-gmina-zawiesza-partnerstwo-z-polskim-miastem.html|title=Kolejna francuska gmina zawiesza partnerstwo z polskim miastem ze "strefą wolną od LGBT"|access-date=23 February 2020}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===LGBT-free zone (2019-2021)===
{{further|LGBT "ideology"}}

[[File:Krasnik lgbtfreezone 01.jpg|thumb|One of the [[Bartosz Staszewski]] art instillations portraying the municipality as what he calls an "LGBT-free zone"]]

In 2019, Kraśnik's city council has adopted an [[LGBT-free zone]] resolution, which led to the city's budget losing 10 million euros from [[EEA and Norway Grants]], getting expelled from a [[European Union]] twin town cooperation program and losing twin town status with [[Nogent-sur-Oise]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite news|title = Kraśnik nie uchylił uchwały anty-LGBT. Radny: nie mogę poddać się presji i naciskom|url = https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/krasnik-miasto-moze-stracic-miliony-euro-przez-uchwale-anty-lgbt/15x75s3|date = 22 September 2020|website= wiadomosci.onet.pl}}</ref> In 2021, an appeal to repeal the vote by the mayor was rejected by the town council.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/10/world/europe/poland-lgbt-free-krasnik.html|title=After Going 'Free of L.G.B.T.,' a Polish Town Pays a Price|work=The New York Times |access-date=11 April 2021|date=2021-04-10 |last1=Higgins |first1=Andrew }}</ref> The resolution was finally overturned on April 29, 2021.
<ref name=domagala>{{cite news|last = Domagała| first = Małgorzata|date= 2021-04-29| title = Kraśnik odrzucił uchwałę "przeciw ideologii LGBT". Motywacją były fundusze norweskie| url = https://lublin.wyborcza.pl/lublin/7,48724,27032938,krasnik-uchylil-stanowisko-w-sprawie-ideologii-wolnej-od-ideologii.html| work = [[Gazeta Wyborcza]]| location= | access-date = 2021-04-29}}</ref>

===5G-free zone===
{{further|5G conspiracies}}

On 24 September 2020, Kraśnik councilors voted to consider the [[5G#Misinformation|ban on 5G]] [[mobile telephony]] in the city. Support was given to the petition of the "Poland Free from 5G Coalition Association" ''(pl: Stowarzyszenie Koalicja Polska Wolna od 5G)'', which also provides for an order to dismantle Wi-Fi networks in schools.<ref>{{cite news|title = Kraśnik podtrzymał kontrowersyjną uchwałę ws. LGBT. Teraz dołącza do niej petycja o 5G|url = https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/krasnik-podtrzymal-kontrowersyjna-uchwale-ws-lgbt-teraz-dolacza-do-niej-petycja-o-5g-6557555859622784a|date =24 September 2020 |website= wiadomosci.wp.pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Kraśnik: "strefa wolna od 5G" poparta przez radnych|url = https://biznes.radiozet.pl/News/Krasnik-strefa-wolna-od-5G-poparta-przez-radnych|date = 24 September 2020|website= radiozet.pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Przykryć cały Kraśnik folią. Radni walczą z 5G i chcą wyłączenia WiFi w szkołach|url = https://spidersweb.pl/2020/09/5g-krasnik-wi-fi.html|date = 24 September 2020|website= spidersweb.pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Sprzeciw "wobec wprowadzania standardu 5G" i "sieci Wi-Fi w szkołach". Rada Kraśnika poparła petycję |url =https://tvn24.pl/polska/krasnik-radni-poparli-petycje-przeciw-5g-bez-wi-fi-w-szkolach-telefony-na-lekcjach-w-trybie-samolotowym-4701628 |date =24 September 2020 |website= tvn24.pl}}</ref>{{clarify |Weasel eords. Meaning WHAT? Were 5G systems banned? Were Wi-Fi networks in schools actually dismantled? 5 years have passed since; what's the status now?|date=April 2025}}

==See also==
* [[Jelita Coat of Arms]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.krasnik.pl/ Official home page]
* [http://chelm.freeyellow.com/krasnik.html Remember Jewish Krasnik] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131206191536/http://chelm.freeyellow.com/krasnik.html |date=2013-12-06 }}
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~pollubel/aplace/krasnik.html Places in Lubelskie Kraśnik page, with pictures]
* [http://www.jewishgen.org/jri-pl/surnames/krasnik.htm Compilation of Jewish family names appearing one or more times in the vital records of Kraśnik]
* [https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/krasnik/kra545.html A list of those from the town of Kraśnik who were murdered in the Holocaust, taken from ''Sefer Krasnik (Book of Krasnik)'']
* [http://www.diapozytyw.pl/en/site/slady_i_judaica/krasnik Adam Mickiewicz Institute - Jewish History in Kraśnik]
* {{JewishGen-LocalityPage|510726|Kraśnik, Poland}}

{{Commons category|Kraśnik}}
{{Kraśnik County}}
{{Gmina Kraśnik}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Lublin Voivodeship]]
[[Category:Kraśnik County]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Poland]]