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{{Short description|City in Łódź Voivodeship, Poland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kutno
| motto = Kutno – Miasto Róż<br />Kutno – City of Roses
| image_skyline = Kutno, Ratusz, mur., 1 poł. XIX (bakel2006).jpg
| imagesize = 260px
| image_caption = City Hall in Kutno
| image_flag = POL Kutno flag.svg
| image_shield = POL Kutno COA 1.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|Łódź Voivodeship}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Powiat|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kutno County|Kutno]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Gmina]]
| subdivision_name3 = Kutno <small>(urban gmina)</small>
| leader_title = City mayor
| leader_name = Mariusz Sikora
| established_title3 = City rights
| established_date3 = 1386
| area_total_km2 = 33.59
| population_as_of = 31 December 2021
| population_total = 42704 {{decrease}}<ref name="population">{{cite web|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/teryt/jednostka|title=Local Data Bank|access-date=19 August 2022|publisher=Statistics Poland}} Data for territorial unit 1002011.</ref>
| 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|52|14|N|19|22|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}}
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 99–300 to 99–302
| area_code = +48 24
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Poland|Car plates]]
| blank_info = EKU
| website = {{URL|http://um.kutno.pl/ }}
}}
'''Kutno''' {{IPAc-pl|AUD|Pl-Kutno.ogg|'|k|u|t|n|o}} is a city in central [[Poland]],{{TERYT}} with 42,704 inhabitants (2021)<ref name="population" /> and an area of {{convert|33.6|km2|abbr=on}}. It is the capital of [[Kutno County]] in the [[Łódź Voivodeship]].

Founded in the medieval period, Kutno was a local center of crafts and trade, owing its growth to its location on the Royal Route connecting [[Warsaw]] with [[Poznań]] and [[Dresden]] in the 18th century, and the railway from Warsaw to [[Toruń]] and [[Bydgoszcz]] since the 19th century. During the [[invasion of Poland]] in 1939, Polish armies under General [[Tadeusz Kutrzeba]] conducted an offensive in and around Kutno, that was later named the [[Battle of the Bzura]].

Based on its central location and the intersection of multiple rail lines, Kutno is an important railroad junction in Poland. Two main lines cross there ([[Łódź]] – Toruń and Warsaw – Poznań – [[Berlin]]). Another connection also starts in Kutno, which connects the town to [[Płock]]. Kutno is the location of the European Little League Baseball Center and hosts the annual [[Kutno Rose Festival]].

==Geographical position==
Kutno is located in the northern part of the [[Łódź Voivodeship]] and is {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=off}} to the northwest of the geographical center of [[Poland]].

According to the data from 1 January 2009, the area of the town amounts to {{convert|33.59|km2|2|abbr=out}}.

According to the physical–geographic division of [[Poland]], the town is placed on the western edge of Kutno plain, which is the part of Middle–[[Masovia]] macro region. At the south of Kutno plain, Kutno straddles the boundary of the [[Łowicz County|Łowicko]] – Błońska plain, which belongs to the same region and the [[Kłodawa]] Upland plain, which spreads in the west and is counted in the southern [[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]]. To the north of the Przedecz – [[Gostynin]] line Kujawskie lakeland begins, which is included in the [[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]] lakeland.

Kutno is located on the edge of four historical lands. [[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]], [[Kuyavia]], [[Masovia]], and [[Łęczyca]]. It is located in what is virtually the center of [[Poland]], at a point where geographical and historical borders, as well as in the crossing of communication lines, are of major importance to the development of the city.

=== Administrative divisions ===
Kutno has maintained the [[administrative division|administrative units]] of a town (Districts, [[housing developments]]), although certain parts of the town are simply called housing developments (e.g.: Łąkoszyn housing development). These divisions are mostly historical references. For instance, the Łąkoszyn housing development is part of what remains of the town of Łąkoszyn town which was incorporated to Kutno.

The following parts of Kutno have been formulated in the National Register of Country's Administrative Division: Antoniew, Azory, Bielawki, Dybów, Kościuszków, Kotliska Małe, Łąkoszyn, Puśniki, Sklęczki, Stara Wieś, Stodółki, Walentynów, Wiktoryn, Żwirownia.

'''Customary Administrative Division of Kutno:'''

Dybów, Piaski, Rejtana, Tarnowskiego, Kościuszków, Olimpijska, Sklęczki, Łąkoszyn (New Łąkoszyn – houses and Old Łąkoszyn – [[housing development]]), Majdany, Grunwald, Batorego, Rataje (between Solidarność roundabout, Targowica and The Kutno House of Culture).

==Natural environment==

===Climate===
The climate of Kutno is similar to that of the entire lowland region of [[Poland]]. The [[temperature]] is influenced by continental and oceanic airflow patterns. Kutno is in the lowest zone of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] in [[Poland]]. It averages {{convert|550|mm|2|abbr=on}} per year, but this can be significantly lower in some years. This is a problem for Kutno, exacerbated by low forest cover and intensive agriculture in the area. Kutno has about five storms during the year (about half of the national average). Snow falls, on average, 39 days in a year. There are about 21 foggy days during the year in the municipal area. But near the Ochnia river fog occurs quite often. On average there are 50 sunny and 130 cloudy days every year. The wind comes mostly from the west, veering southwest in winter and northwest in summer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kutno - informacje o mieście|url=http://www.kutno.net.pl/?pd=kutno&pg=kutno|access-date=11 January 2017}}</ref>

July and August are the hottest months with average highs of {{convert|24|°C|2|abbr=on|lk=on}}. December and January are the coldest with average highs of {{convert|2|°C|1|abbr=on}} and lows of {{convert|-3|°C|1|abbr=on}}. July has the most rainfall with an average of 73mm and January has the least with 30mm.<ref>{{cite web|title=Average High/Low Temperature for Kutno, Poland|url=https://www.worldweatheronline.com/kutno-weather-averages/pl.aspx|access-date=11 January 2017}}</ref>

==History==

===Early history===
There are indications that the origin of the town may have taken place in the 12th century. The first mention of it was found in a document{{Clarify|date=October 2011}} concerning an endowment of [[Łęczyca]] prepositure published due to a consecration of the collegiate church in [[Łęczyca]] in the year 1161.

[[File:Kutno-Piłsudski square (2).jpg|thumb|right|Piłsudski Square is one of the oldest areas of the town]]
According to the local folklore, both the town and the parish came into being in 1250, although official documentation to that effect is lacking. Most probably, the town began to be settled some time between the 12th and the 14th centuries; its name appeared for the first time in a document from the year 1301. The document had been published for his son Ziemysław by Leszek, Przemysł, and Kazimierz – duke of [[Kuyavia]] in the presence of three [[Estate (land)|estate]] dignitaries as well as other people gathered during a convention in [[Włocławek]]. References to Kutno concern the appearance of rector Michał from the church in Kutno on the list of witnesses. In 1386, [[Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia]] had given to Andrzej de Kutno the privilege of freeing Kutno and [[Łódź Voivodeship|Sieciechów]] villages from all charges and burdens excluding two coins ([[Kraków grosz|grosz]]) out of every crop fee. The role of the provincial courts was transferred to the Duke. In 1386, the village of Kutno was given trade and town rights, and 46 years later, in 1432 a [[Municipal corporation|municipal town charter]]. The first records that define Kutno as a town appeared in 1444.

Kutno was historically famous for its rose fair which after 1989 changed its name to The Festival of Roses/The Rose Festival.

===Early modern period===
[[File:Muzeum Pałac Saski w Kutnie.jpg|thumb|left|[[Baroque in Poland|Baroque]] residence of King [[Augustus III of Poland]], place of his stay during travels between Warsaw and Dresden, now a museum]]
1 July 1504: [[Mikołaj of Kutno]] gained the right to hold the St. Wawrzyniec fair, improving the development of the town's trade. In 1701, the [[Kucieński]] family gave up Kutno to Anna Zamojska. The [[Zamoyski family]] fought amongst themselves for the property for a long time. The town fell into debt but the situation had normalized when [[Andrzej Hieronim Zamoyski]] became the owner of Kutno. During that time Kutno was a town of prosperity and development. A route connecting [[Warsaw]] with [[Poznań]] and [[Dresden]] ran through the town in the 18th century and King [[Augustus III of Poland]] often traveled that route.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dresden-warszawa.eu/pl/prolog/informacja-historyczna/|title=Informacja historyczna|website=Dresden-Warszawa|accessdate=9 May 2021|language=pl}}</ref> The town's prestige increased after Augustus III ordered the construction of the Postal Palace and consequently, the Saxon Palace was built between 1750 and 1753, after a royal track leading from [[Dresden]] to [[Warsaw]] had been built. The palace was decorated with rich interiors according to John M Walter's plans. In 1753, Kutno was completely burned, resulting in the loss of the town records along with the settlement grant. After the fire, the King's Lord Councillor [[Zamoyski family|Andrzej Zamoyski]] left Kutno in order to obtain another settlement grant, however, the town suffered another fire due to one of the many army march-passes in 1774 and the easygoing attitude of soldiers.

[[File:AGAD Stanislaw August, krol polski, zezwala Andrzejowi Zamoyskiemu, kanclerzowi wielkiemu koronnemu, na lokacje Kutna 1.png|thumb|right|The 1766 royal decree granting city rights and privileges based on [[Magdeburg Law]]]]
In 1775, Andrzej Zamoyski sold Kutno to [[Stanisław Kostka Gadomski]] – governor of [[Łęczyca]] province. Under his reign, Kutno became one of the biggest settlements in central [[Poland]]. The [[Second Partition of Poland]] occurred in 1793. Kutno had been completely under [[Prussia]]n control and became part of the newly created province of South Prussia. The whole province of Kutno became part of the [[Łęczyca]] department, then after the [[Third Partition of Poland|Third Partition]], it became part of the [[Warsaw]] department.

===Late modern period===
On 4 January 1807, [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] passed through Kutno. In 1807, under the [[Treaties of Tilsit]], Kutno became part of the [[Duchy of Warsaw]]. An 1808 fire, most likely set by Napoleon's army, destroyed 180 houses. In 1809 Kutno was visited by [[Jan Henryk Dąbrowski]]. After 1815, the area was incorporated into the [[Congress Kingdom of Poland]]. In 1826, the first town map was published due to the planned rebuilding of the town. In 1826, [[Fryderyk Chopin]] travelled through the town.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Załuski|first1=Pamela|last2=Załuski|first2=Iwo|title=Szlakiem Chopina po Polsce|year=2000|language=pl|publisher=Wydawnictwo JaR|location=Warszawa|page=66|isbn=83-88513-00-1}}</ref>

In 1840, a chapel was built which later became the Museum of the [[Battle of the Bzura]] river. Built in the [[Neo-Renaissance]] style and rotunda shape and crowned with a dome, it is part of the [[Revolutions of 1848|Wiosny Ludów]] park. It formerly served as a mausoleum for the Rzątkowski and Mniewski families. Another fire destroyed nearly all of the houses on Królewska St. Only two buildings remained – nowadays Crocantino and MDM. In 1844, the first hospital in Kutno was opened, sponsored by Kutno's former owner Feliks Mniewski. A [[Seat of local government|City Hall]] was built in 1845 in [[Classicism|classicistic]] style. The building, located in the [[Marshal of Poland|Marshal]] [[Józef Piłsudski|Piłsudski]] square, currently serves as the Regional [[Museum]], in which one can see [[Souvenir|mementos]] and records from the history of Kutno.

[[File:L'Illustration 1862 gravure Vue de la station de Kutno le jour de la réception officielle.jpg|thumb|left|Kutno train station in the 1860s]]

In 1862, the [[Warsaw]] – [[Bydgoszcz]] railway line opened, leading Kutno to become an important railway junction and a trade and industry center. Directly before and during the period of the [[January Uprising]], Kutno was the seat of the head of the [[Gostynin]] province. During the [[January Uprising]], clashes between Polish insurgents and Russian troops took place in Kutno on 1–2 July and 8 August 1863.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zieliński|first=Stanisław|title=Bitwy i potyczki 1863-1864. Na podstawie materyałów drukowanych i rękopiśmiennych Muzeum Narodowego w Rapperswilu|year=1913|language=pl|publisher=Fundusz Wydawniczy [[Polish Museum, Rapperswil|Muzeum Narodowego w Rapperswilu]]|location=Rapperswil|pages=36, 42}}</ref>

In 1867, Kutno district was formed. This state endured until World War I outbreak. In 1886, on the place of the former [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] church, the St. Lawrence Church (designed in a [[Gothic Revival architecture|neo-Gothic]] style by Konstantyn Wojciechowski) was built.

On 5 January 1904, the Polish writer [[Henryk Sienkiewicz]], a [[Nobel Prize]] laureate, stayed in the Town Theatre, which was the seat of the Fire Brigade at that time. Income from his lecture was given to the poor children of Kutno. After his speech, a ball was held, to which only men were allowed, while women could watch it only from open windows.

The famous Polish-Jewish writer [[Sholem Asch|Szalom Asz]] was born in Kutno in 1880. In his collection of short stories "Miasteczko" ("The Town"), he described the situation of [[Jews|Jewish people]] from this town – Kutno. Every two years, the town holds the Szalom Asz Festival, which includes a literary contest about his works. In the 19th c. Kutno was a center of a sizeable Jewish community. In 1900, 10,356 Jews lived there.<ref>[http://data.jewishgen.org/wconnect/wc.dll?jg~jgsys~shtetm~-512009 JewishGen.org]</ref>
[[File:37 pułk piechoty.jpg|thumb|Honourable Guard of the 37th Infantry Regiment with banner – 1933]]

From 15 to 16 October 1914, the Battle of Kutno took place between the [[Imperial Russian Army|Russian]] and the [[German Army (German Empire)|German]]. The Russians lost the battle, and the loss of Kutno provided the Germans with a direct access to [[Warsaw]]. In 1915, a local parish priest Franciszek Pruski was executed by a firing squad. A plaque commemoratinf this event has been placed in the St. John the Baptist church.

Many Kutno inhabitants took part in the Polish-[[Bolshevik]] War. They also fought in the [[Siberian Division]]. After the war, hundreds of 15-year-old boys enlisted in the Army Mining Corps, today known as the miner–soldiers.

From April 1919 to January 1921, a future French president [[Charles de Gaulle]] stayed in Kutno, as an instructor with the French military mission under general [[Louis Faury]]. On 5 March 1938, Kutno received its [[blazon]], which depicts two rampant wild boars on the yellow background, leaning against a green bulrush.

===World War II===
[[File:Kutno-Adolf-Hitler-Platz-postcard.jpg|thumb|left|150px|German postcard from Kutno showing the central city square, renamed ''Adolf Hitler Platz'' under German occupation, now Piłsudski Square]]

The [[Battle of the Bzura|Battle of the Bzura river]] took place from 9 to 12 September 1939 during the German [[invasion of Poland]], which started [[World War II]]. On 9 September the [[Poznań Army]] (''Armia Poznań'') operational group, led by General [[Edmund Knoll-Kownacki]], attacked the [[8th Army (Wehrmacht)|German 8th Army]] led by General [[Johannes Blaskowitz]]. On 11 September Poland's [[Pomorze Army]] reinforced the Polish troops in battle. At first, the Polish assault was successful but the [[Germans]] reinforced their troops on 12 September and started to counterattack. General [[Tadeusz Kutrzeba]] ordered [[Edmund Knoll-Kownacki|Knoll]] to retreat beyond the [[Bzura]] river. Kutno remained outside the battle area. Despite the ultimate defeat of [[Polish army order of battle in 1939|Polish army]], the [[Battle of the Bzura]] river made the Germans change their strategy and regroup and also delayed [[History of Warsaw#World War II|the capitulation of Warsaw]].

On 16 September 1939, the German [[Wehrmacht]] moved into Kutno, bombarding trains, the railway station, and houses throughout the district. At the junction of what is now [[Jan Kochanowski|Kochanowski]] Street and Maja Street, a German [[Sabotage|saboteur]] laid down a target for the bombers bombing the railway station.

[[File:Kutno-Memorial stone of railwaymen.jpg|thumb|Memorial to Polish railwaymen who died in fight during World War II]]

The area was annexed directly to Germany, and administratively became part of the Third Reich's [[Reichsgau Wartheland]], within the district/county (''kreis'') of Kutno. In December 1939 [[Expulsion of Poles by Nazi Germany|expulsions]] began in accordance with [[Racial policy of Nazi Germany|Nazi Germany's racial and ethnic policies]], which aimed to make the town population purely [[Germans|German]]. People were forced to leave their houses early in the morning with only an hour's notice and could take only {{convert|50|kg|0|abbr=on}} of baggage and a small amount of money. Expulsion was very often carried out with violence. People were transported by trucks or wagons and then in sealed trains. The trip was up to eight days long, in terrible conditions. [[Polish people|Poles]] from Kutno were also among the victims of a massacre carried out by the German police in February 1940 near [[Gostynin]] (see ''[[Nazi crimes against the Polish nation]]'').<ref>{{cite book|last=Wardzyńska|first=Maria|year=2009|title=Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion|language=pl|location=Warszawa|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|page=210}}</ref> On 14 April 1940, during the ''[[German AB-Aktion in Poland|AB-Aktion]]'', most of the Polish teachers from the Kutno district were arrested. Only a few survived having had left their houses earlier or having been prewarned. At least 173 Poles from Kutno and the county were murdered by the Soviets in the [[Katyn massacre]] in April–May 1940 or died in Soviet camps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kutno.naszemiasto.pl/73-rocznica-zbrodni-katynskiej-obchody-w-glogowcu/ar/c1-1816337|title=73 rocznica Zbrodni Katyńskiej. Obchody w Głogowcu.|website=Kutno Nasze Miasto|author=Tomasz Dębowski|accessdate=9 May 2021|language=pl}}</ref>

[[File:Bundesarchiv R 49 Bild-1731, Polen, Ghetto Kutno.jpg|thumb|Ghetto in Kutno]]
Subsequently, the [[Germans]] created a [[Nazi ghettos|ghetto]] in Kutno on 15 June 1940. The entire area of a former sugar factory ("Hortensja" or "Konstancja" according to various sources) was surrounded by barbed wire. On the first day, the Poles were forbidden to leave their houses, while the Jews were forced to take all their belongings and proceed to the factory. The German soldiers and [[Schutzstaffel|SS members]] beat the Jews standing in the street. Eight thousand people were transferred to the area of the factory, within five buildings. On the first day, crowded and without any first-aid facilities, a few people died. The only food they had was a small amount of potatoes and bread. Prices of extra food were very high. For instance, one kilogram of potatoes cost 40 Pfennig in the ghetto, while it was 5 Pfennig in the rest of the town. However, a true nightmare started in winter, when there was not enough firewood, so that the Jews had to burn furniture or [[scaffolding]].

In the following year, 1941, due to overcrowding of resettled people and transport difficulties, a [[concentration camp]] was established at 7 Przemysłowa St. Due to terrible conditions in the camp, about 10 persons died of [[dysentery]] every day.

On 9 June 1941, at present-day Wolności Square, three Poles, Kalikst Perkowski, Wilhelm Czernecki and Piotr Sanda, were publicly executed in punishment for smuggling food to [[Warsaw]]. Their deaths were intended to be a lesson and the presence of locals at the execution was compulsory; even the families of the executed were there.

On 19 March 1942, the [[Nazi ghettos|ghetto]] was closed. All Jews, in alphabetical order, were deported to [[Koło]] and then to the [[Chełmno extermination camp]]. The 6,000 Jewish inhabitants of Kutno were killed there, while elder people who had been ghetto administrators were killed in Kutno itself. Additionally, a [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labor camp]] operated in the area from January 1942 until January 1945.<ref>''Zwangsarbeit im NS-Staat'' at German Federal Archive (Bundesarchiv). [https://www.bundesarchiv.de/zwangsarbeit/haftstaetten/index.php.en?action=2.2&tab=3&id=2398] Accessed 9/29/11.</ref> In 1943, 31 members of the [[Polish resistance movement in World War II|Polish resistance]] were sentenced by the Germans in [[Dresden]], 24 of them to death and executed there.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sack|first=Birgit|year=2015|title=Plac Monachijski w Dreźnie i jego znaczenie w kontaktach gostyńsko-drezdeńskich|magazine=Rocznik Gostyński|language=pl|location=Gostyń|publisher=Muzeum w Gostyniu|issue=2|page=103|issn=2353-7310}}</ref> On 19 January 1945, the [[Red Army]] arrived in Kutno, ending the [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|German occupation]], and the town was restored to Poland, although with a Soviet-installed communist regime, which remained in power until the [[Fall of Communism]] in the end of the 1980s.

===1945–1989===
[[File:Kartka z kutna pozne lata 50te ver2.jpg|thumb|View of present-day Marshal Piłsudski Square on postcard 1950–1960]]

Cultural institutions resumed activity during first years after the liberation. Firstly, posts that had existed before 1939 were reopened. In June 1945 the Kutno District Public Library was opened. Thanks to donations by the public and the regaining of books that had been kept during the War, the library's collection grew rapidly. The public library was and still is fulfilling its important role in broadening culture. Because of developed [[Rail transport|railway]] and road trails, Kutno has been attractive for investors. Among the many branches of industry in Kutno, the most important was the electronics industry. In 1957 [[Electronic component|Radio Components]] Company Miflex opened, and would eventually employ over three thousand people. The Company is one of the important distributors of [[capacitor]]s, anti-[[Interference (communication)|interference]] filters. At the [[Marshal of Poland|Marshal]] [[Józef Piłsudski|Piłsudski]] square Polish – [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] brotherhood was constructed, depicting two persons: [[Red Army]] soldier and [[People's Army of Poland]] soldier shaking hands with each other. After the monument had been constructed incidents such as vandalism and defacing it with paint by local high school students occurred. They were part of the group called "Bloody Hawk" ("Krwawy Jastrząb").

In 1968 Kazimierz Jóźwiak, who was a choreographer and manager as well as director of the Kutno House of Culture founded the "Song and Dance of Kutno`s Land Band" ("Zespół Pieśni i Tańca Ziemi Kutnowskiej"). In 1971, the former [[Seat of local government|Town Hall]] at the [[Józef Piłsudski|Marshal Piłsudski]] square Kutno Regional Museum was reopened. In 1975, the city was adjoined to the [[Płock Voivodeship (1975–1998)|Płock Voivodeship]] and would remain so for the next 23 years. Annually, since September 1975, the [[Kutno Rose Festival]] takes place at the Kutno House of Culture, which has long been a center of cultural events in Kutno.
[[File:Kutno-Królewska street.jpg|thumb|Królewska Street is the town's main promenade]]

===After 1989===
In 1990 formula of the fair has been changed as well as its name: from The "Rose Fair" to "[[Kutno Rose Festival|The Rose Festival]]"

In 1996 International Little League Baseball Tournament took place in Kutno. Since that time Kutno is the world-famous seat of the European Little League Baseball Center. On 18 August 1998 Higher School of Economics has been opened in Kutno in 7th [[Joachim Lelewel|Lelewel]] St. In 1999 because of an administrative [[Resolution (law)|resolution]], Kutno district once again become part of the [[Łódź Voivodeship|Łódź province]] after 24 years. In 2001, Królewska St. and Marshal [[Józef Piłsudski]] Square were renovated.

==Economy==

===Kutno Agro–Industrial Park (KAIP)===
As a result of decisions made in the 1970s, industry investments began being located in the eastern part of Kutno - Sklęczki - now Kutno Agro-Industrial Park. The decisive factor was access to the [[A2 autostrada (Poland)|A2 motorway]] and the presence of a system of sidings connected with the E20 railway. KAIP began in 1996 during construction of the National Center for [[Food industry|Food Processing and Distribution]]. Construction was led by the [[Urban Institute]] and the [[United States Agency for International Development|U.S. Agency for International Development]] and was opened in 1998. KAIP is constructed on 370 hectares, and now has over 60 businesses of local and foreign capital operate within its boundaries. Nearly 6,000 people are employed here. The food industry, packaging, plastics processing, manufacturing of agricultural equipment, and pharmaceuticals are the dominant branches. 111 hectares were set aside as part of the Special Economic Zone of Łódź.

===Kutno subzone of the Łódź Special Economic Zone===
[[File:Wschodnia 2009.jpg|thumb|Wschodnia St. industrial park in 2009]]
In 2000, the Town Council created the [[Łódź]] Special Economic Zone in Kutno Agro-Industrial park. It was originally 23 hectares and had four zones: Odlewnicza St. (4.24ha), Sklęczkowska St. (6.48 ha), Stalowa I and II (7.87ha and 4.49ha). The Sub-zone has been broadened in the following years: 2002, 2005, twice in 2007 and in 2010.

According to data from the end of January 2010, the whole area of Kutno sub-zone is 111 hectares. Capital investments of companies operating only in the Kutno sub-zone have exceeded the value of 1 billion PLN over the last 10 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kutno Agro-Industrial Park|url=http://www.paiz.gov.pl/investment_support/industrial_and_technology_parks/kutno|access-date=11 January 2017}}</ref>

===Industry in Kutno===
*Pharmaceutical industry: [[Teva Pharmaceutical Industries|Teva]] Kutno, [[Polfarmex]], [[Fresenius Kabi]] Poland, Nobilus Ent, [[Trouw Nutrition International]] (a part of [[Nutreco]])<ref>[http://www.um.kutno.pl/en/dokumenty/przemysl Kutno City Hall website - The industry in Kutno] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411082533/http://www.um.kutno.pl/en/dokumenty/przemysl |date=11 April 2010 }}</ref>
*Engineering and Metallurgic industry: [[Kongskilde]], [[Skiold BL]], Ideal Europe, Florian Centrum, Kraj, Miflex-Masz, [[AMZ-KUTNO Ltd|AMZ Kutno]], [[Libner]] Poland, [[Fermator]] (Enginova), [[Profilplast]]
*Electronics industry: Miflex (a former branch of [[Unitra]]),
*Transportation: [[Nijhof-Wassink]], Hartwig Poland
*Food industry: Exdrob, [[Kofola]], Polmos, [[Pini Polonia]],<ref>[http://www.wbj.pl/article-48959-italian-giant-opens-largest-slaughterhouse-in-region.html Italian giant opens largest slaughterhouse in region] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927070845/http://wbj.pl/article-48959-italian-giant-opens-largest-slaughterhouse-in-region.html |date=27 September 2010 }}</ref> [[Pringles]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kellogg's oficjalnie otwiera fabrykę w Kutnie i zapowiada jej rozbudowę. Trwa rekrutacja pracowników|url=http://biznes.newseria.pl/news/kelloggs-oficjalnie,p971681487|access-date=2022-02-04|website=biznes.newseria.pl}}</ref>
*Construction industry: [[Schomburg Polska]], Vester, Urbud, Mavex, Trakt, Kutnowska Prefabrykacja Betonu (Kutno Concrete Prefabrication), Mawex, Aarsleff, ProfilPas
*Packaging and plastic industry: [[DS Smith]], [[Fuji Seal]] Poland, [[PrintPack]] Poland, Paja Folie, Sirmax Poland, [[PolyOne]] Poland Manufacturing, Elplast

==Tourism==
[[File:Budynek dawnego teatru w *Domu Dochodowym" Ochotniczej Straży Ogniowej,a potem kina.JPG|thumb|Old theatre building]]
[[File:Kutno szkoła muzyczna.jpg|thumb|Complex of Gierałty's palaces, currently K.Kurpiński's National Music School of 1st and 2nd degree in Kutno]]
* Old Town – two markets connected to Królewska St. that after the modernisation made along with [[Józef Piłsudski|Piłsudski]] square has become town's showcase, a place where Kutno citizens can spend their free time. Taking a walk around Old Town one can easily find marks of the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] concept of Wolnośći square, church or Zduński fair (Zduńska St. and Tetralna St.). Current buildings at New Town and in Królewska St. have been constructed in the first half of the 19th century.
* Kutno Town Hall – currently place where Regional Museum is located
* Museum of [[Battle of the Bzura|the Battle of the Bzura river]] – at [[Revolutions of 1848|Wiosny Ludów]] park where grave chapel of Mniewscy family is located. It was built in the 19th century. Currently, the place where Museum of the [[Battle of the Bzura]] River is located
* Postal Palace – known also as the [[Saxons|Saxon]] Palace that was used by king [[Augustus III of Poland|Augustus III]] on his travel way from [[Warsaw]] to [[Dresden]]. The building is one of the oldest in town; it was constructed in the 18th century. On 11 December 1812, [[Napoleon I|Napoleon Bonaparte]] stayed there during his escape from [[Russia]].
* Complex of Gierałty's palaces – property of the owners of Kutno. Currently seat of [[College or university school of music|National Music School]]. Palace was constructed between 1781 and 1785 years. In 1920 [[Charles de Gaulle]] paid a visit there. [[Revolutions of 1848|Wiosny Ludów]] park is located behind the palace.
* [[Manor house]] of Chlewiccy (also called Modrzewiowy) with column-shaped veranda from the 1st half of 19th century – currently seat of the Companionship of Friends of The Kutno land.
* [[Manor house]] of Szymańscy – constructed in the first half of the 18th century. Currently it a hotel with restaurant.
* Izaak Holcman's [[villa]] by the Solidarność rotary. Currently a health center.
* [[Villa]] in the 8th [[Jan Matejko|Matejki]] St – constructed during the years 1927 to 1929 for the family of engineer Ryszard Macher
* "New Inn" building – formerly seat of the [[Provisional government]] on the first days of the [[January Uprising]].
* Former [[Saint Valentine|St. Valenine]] hospital
* [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] church
* Dr Antoni Troczewski's [[Villa]]
* Complex of postfactory buildings of "Kraj" owned by Alfred Vaedtke
* Former city theatre at the Zduński Market (formerly House of Volunteer [[Fire department|Fire Brigade]])
* Motor mill in Warszawskie Przedmieście St.

===Churches in Kutno===
[[File:Kutno-Towers of Saint Lawrence church.jpg|thumb|Saint Lawrence Catholic Church]]
* [[Lawrence of Rome|St. Lawrence]] Parish – founded in 1301. The first reference about St. Lawrence the Martyr comes from 1301 and mentions parish priest Michał. The first presumed wooden construction of the church was in the 13th century during the efforts to construct village parishes. It was a small church made in a [[Gothic style]] that had lasted until 1483 when burned down. The new one was funded by the Mikołaj from Kutno in 1484. It was made in gothic style, a one-aisled church with set apart presbytery and tower on the west side and [[Saint Anne|St. Anne chapel]] adjacent to the [[aisle]]. In 1883 because of high-level of damage church had been decided to be pulled down. Construction of the current one ended in 1886 according to a design made by Konstantyn Wojciechowski. Basilical, [[Gothic Revival architecture|neo-gothic]] church has two towers with clock placed on the top of one.
* [[John the Baptist|St. John the Baptist]] Parish – founded in 1988. The main altar consists of a [[relief]] depicting [[Resurrection|Resurrected Christ]], [[consecrated|Consecration]] by [[Pope John Paul II]] in [[Łowicz]] on 1 June 1999.
* [[Jadwiga of Poland|The Saint Queen Jadwiga]] Parish – founded in 1990. On 8 June 1997 on Kraków grasslands [[Pope John Paul II]] [[consecrated|Consecration]] [[Cornerstone]] for the construction of this church.
* [[Stanislaus of Szczepanów|St. Stanislaus the Martyr Bishop]] Parish – founded in 1297
* The [[Our Lady of Perpetual Help]] Parish church – founded in 1988
* [[Michael (archangel)|Saint Michael the Archangel]] Parish – is placed in [[Woźniaków]] district.

===City parks===
[[File:Wiosny Ludow Park Kutno 11.jpg|thumb|''Park Wiosny Ludów'' ([[Spring of Nations]] Park)]]
* [[Revolutions of 1848|Wiosny Ludów]] Park – is the oldest and simultaneously biggest park in Kutno (area 17,1ha). Once it was a palace garden by the Gierałty's Palace and came into being during the years 1775 to 1791. Park is separated in two parts, first one is a [[Garden|symmetric garden]] that is similar to the shape of [[Garden à la française|French garden]]. The other one is landscape [[English garden]], which came into being during the years 1826 to 1840. In the western edge of the park stands chapel in the memory of Mniewscy family (owners of Kutno from the 19th century).
* [[Romuald Traugutt]] City Park – placed in the central part of town on the area of 4,2ha. Has been founded during [[Poland]]'s [[Interwar period|twenty years of independence after World War I]] as a place where one can reSt. Park is placed on terrain with diverse heights which gives him interesting landscape composition with pond being placed on the lowest part. At first, it was just an industrial pond nowadays it is adapted to leisure functions. Most of the cultural events in Kutno take place there. [[Stefan Żeromski]]'s public library and Kutno [[Cultural center|House of Culture]] are placed in there.
* City park by the Ochnia river – is the newest park in Kutno. Groundworks ended there in 2003 year. Park's small woodiness gives it a modern image. [[Association football|Football]] and Basketball pitches located in the neighborhood create opportunity to practice sports.

==Education==
'''Kindergartens, elementary schools and middle schools:'''
* Jarzębinka Integrational Municipal Kindergarten nr.3
* Stokrotka Municipal Kindergarten nr.5
* Municipal Kindergarten nr.8
* Fable's Municipal Kindergarten nr.15
* Cindarella's Municipal Kindergarten
* Forget-me-not's Municipal Kindergarten nr.17
* Catholic Kindergarten
* Elementary school in Gołębiew
* [[Tadeusz Kościuszko|T.Kościuszko]] Elementary school nr.1
* [[Nicolaus Copernicus|M.Kopernik]] Elementary school nr.4
* Elementary school nr.5
* [[Marie Curie|M.Skłodowska-Curie]] Elementary school nr.6
* [[Jogaila|W.Jagiełło]] Elementary school nr.9
* Catholic Elementary school of catholic school friends association in Wierzbie
* [[Adam Mickiewicz|A.Mickiewicz]] Middle school nr.1
* [[Józef Piłsudski|J.Piłsudski]] Middle school nr.2
* [[Henryk Sienkiewicz|H.Sienkiewicz]] Middle school nr.3
* [[Władysław Anders|W.Anders]] Catholic Middle school of catholic middle school friends association in Wierzbie
* Middle school in Byszew
* [[Stanislaus Kostka|St.Stanislaus Kostka]] Catholic Middle school of catholic middle school friends association

[[File:Kutno, Liceum 2017.jpg|thumb|[[Jan Henryk Dąbrowski]] High School No. 1]]
'''High schools'''
* [[Zbigniew Religa]] Academic High School
* [[Jan Henryk Dąbrowski]] High School No.1 (so called "Dąbrowszczak")
* [[Jan Kasprowicz]] High School No.2
* [[Stanislaus Kostka|St.Stanislaus Kostka]] Catholic High School association of catholic school friends (so called "Katolik")
* [[Stanisław Staszic]] nr.1 set of schools (so called "Mechanik")
* A. Troczewski nr.2 set of schools (so called "Margaryna")
* [[Władysław Grabski|Wł.Grabski]] nr.3 set of schools (so called "Ekonomik")
* Z. Balicki nr.4 set of schools in Kutno – Azory

[[File:WSGK 1.JPG|thumb|[[Higher School of National Economy in Kutno]]]]
'''Higher education'''
* [[Higher School of National Economy in Kutno]] 
* Commuting didactic facility of Łódź University Economic – Sociological department
* Commuting facility of High schools of social skills – Law department (master's studies)

'''Art schools'''
* K.Kurpiński National Music School of Ist and IInd degree

==Communions==
Pastoral services are provided by the following churches:

* [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic church]]
* [[Lutheranism|Lutheran church]]
* [[Pentecostalism|Pentecost church]]
* Christian church "Jesus lives"
* [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]

==Culture==

===Events===
[[File:Swietorozy2.jpg|thumb|[[Kutno Rose Festival]] in 2009]]
* [[Kutno Rose Festival|The Rose Festival]] – a cultural event organized by Kutno House of Culture. It was held for the first time from 20 to 21 September 1975 as Kutno's Roses Fair. Main element of this event is [[exhibition]] of roses that comes from different Kutno growers along with performances of music bands (mostly [[Folk music|folk bands]]), exhibition of the local artist and trade stalls. Since 1990 name of the festival has been changed to [[Kutno Rose Festival|The Rose Festival]] (Święto Róży) along with its theme. Exhibition of roses has been extended with arts and [[Scenic design|set design]] arrangements.
* Kutno Station – Nationalwide Competition of Honorable Songs of Kutno District Governor – [[Jeremi Przybora]]. For the first time, took place in 2005.
* [[Sholem Asch|Szalom Asz]] Festival – A nationwide contest that is held once every two years. [[Jewish music]], photographic exhibitions and film screenings also are [[Immanence|immanent]] part of the festival.

==Sport==
Kutno is the seat of the European [[Little League]] Baseball Center. In 1984, Juan Echevarria Motola, a [[Cubans|Cuban]] living in Kutno, started teaching baseball to groups of young people. Therefore, a baseball section of "Stal Kutno" club was created. It is the biggest youth center of baseball in Europe. The [[European Baseball Championship]] is hosted annually in various age categories. The complex consists of two lighted stadiums that have enough space to hold up to two thousand spectators named for Edward Piszka and [[Stan Musial]]. The complex also includes three training fields and a dormitory for over 200 players.

Sports club City Stadium in Kutno on Tadeusz Kościuszki St. is named by [[Henryk Reyman]].

===Sports clubs===
* [[KS Kutno]] – Football, currently in third league, founded in 2014.
* [[KKS Pro-Basket Kutno|KKS Kutno]] – basketball, currently [[Polish Basketball League]].
* Tytan Kutno – rugby club founded in 2009
* Stal Kutno – baseball club, first league
* Stal Kutno II – Baseball club, second league

==International cooperation==
Kutno cooperates with various cities and regions in Europe. For instance with [[Bat Yam]] city in [[Israel]] ([[Sholem Asch|Szalom Asz]] festival connects both towns). Thanks to Commune Association of Kutno Region town maintains relationship with the [[Counties of England|English county]] [[Northumberland]].

==Transport==
[[File:ALEJE PAPIEŻA JANA PAWŁA II - panoramio.jpg|thumb|''Aleje Papieża Jana Pawła II'' ("[[Pope John Paul II]] Avenues")]]
Kutno is an important communication junction in [[Central Europe]]. Two main roads lead through town: [[National roads in Poland|national road]] No. 92 (former road No. 2) connecting [[Miedzichowo]] near [[Nowy Tomyśl]] with [[Łowicz]] and [[Warsaw]]; national road No. 60 connecting Kutno with [[Płock]] and [[Ostrów Mazowiecka]] national road which is the transit corridor for trucks, leading from the [[Baltic states]] to Germany. Both roads leading through town are bypassed which helps transport though country and to reduce traffic in the town.

Fourteen kilometers ({{convert|14|km|abbr=off|disp=output only}}) from Kutno is Krośniewice. This is where the junction of roads nr 91 and 92 is situated.

Beside country roads through Kutno leads a system of Province and District roads connecting town with [[Łódź]] and other nearby towns.

The A1 motorway which opened to traffic in November 2012 has greatly improved the importance of the town in road [[transportation]]. Kutno is served by two exits from the A1 motorway (Kutno North, {{convert|7|km|0|abbr=in}} from the town and Kutno East, {{convert|2|km|0|abbr=in}} from the town).

===List of country and province roads in Kutno===
* country road nr 60: [[Łęczyca]] – Kutno – [[Płock]] – [[Ostrów Mazowiecka]]
* country road nr 92: Miedzichowo – Poznań – Konin – Kutno – Łowicz
* province road nr 702: Kutno – [[Piątek, Łódź Voivodeship|Piątek]] – [[Zgierz]]

===Railway===
[[File:Kutno dworzec (1) WK13.jpg|thumb|Kutno train station]]
Kutno is served by the [[Kutno railway station]]. 
Kutno has been an important [[Transport hub|railway hub]] in [[Poland]] since the 19th Century. The railways enjoyed its greatest development in the 1920s and 1930s.

The history of rail in Kutno dates from 1861. Intensive railway development started during the [[interwar period]]. Between 1922 and 1926, the connection linking Kutno with [[Poznań]] (thereby construction of [[Warsaw]] - [[Poznań]] railway) was completed and [[Łódź]] with [[Płock]] was finished. During the [[Post-war|postwar period]], the current platform and underground passage was constructed.

One can now travel by train from Kutno to most of the big cities in [[Poland]] ([[Warsaw]], [[Łódź]], [[Bydgoszcz]], [[Szczecin]], [[Poznań]], [[Wrocław]], [[Katowice]], [[Kraków]], [[Lublin]]) and also to various tourism centers ([[Kołobrzeg]], [[Krynica-Zdrój]], [[Hel, Poland|Hel]], [[Zakopane]]).

==Bus service==
PKS Kutno enables coach connection with neighbouring localities for which Kutno is the administrative and regional center. There are also possible regional connections to Łódź and Płock.

Municipal Transportation Company serves Kutno inhabitants around town and its closest surroundings. The 13-day bus line and one marked "N" (night bus) route through Kutno. Remaining lines with numbers from 5 to 16 service the city area and also route to neighbouring areas.

There are also private carriers servicing line: Kutno – Piątek – Zgierz – Łódź

==Honorary citizens==
[[File:Troczewski pomnik 1.jpg|thumb|190px|Antoni Troczewski memorial in Kutno]]
List of individuals granted with the [[Honorary citizen]] title by the [[City council]]

*[[Edward Piszek|Edward John Piszek]]
*[[Stan Musial|Stanley Frank Musial]]
*Eugeniusz Filipowicz
*PhD Antoni Troczewski
*Robert Sczcepanik

==Former names in the city==
During the times of German occupation, the square at the center of Kutno (nowadays Marshal [[Józef Piłsudski]] square) was named [[Adolf Hitler]] Platz, while [[Gabriel Narutowicz]] St. was named [[Paul von Hindenburg|Hindenburg]] Strase.

During the times of [[People's Republic of Poland]], [[Józef Piłsudski|Piłsudski]] square was named [[Joseph Stalin|Józef Stalin]] square. After his death, the name of the square was changed to 19 January Square (the date related to the liberation of Kutno by the [[Red Army]]).

Former names of the streets in Kutno:

* nowadays cardinal [[Stefan Wyszyński]] st – former General [[Karol Świerczewski]] (before war Szosowa St.),
* nowadays Wilcza St. – former [[Hanka Sawicka|Hanki Sawickiej]] St.
* nowadays [[Maria Skłodowska-Curie]] St. – former Głogowiecka St.
* nowadays Peowiacka St. – former [[Marian Buczek|Mariana Buczka]] St.
* nowadays [[Augustyn Kordecki]] – former [[Marcin Kasprzak]] St.
* nowadays General [[Władysław Sikorski]] – former General [[Siemion Kriwoszein|Siemiona Kriwoszeina]] St.
* nowadays General [[Władysław Anders]] – former [[Feliks Dzierżyński]] St.

==Legends==
According to a widespread story, Kutno was supposed to have been founded by Count Piotr from [[Kutná Hora]], who had escaped in 997 with the brother of [[Adalbert of Prague|Bishop Adalbert]] from [[Bohemia]] to [[Poland]]. Kutno, the town, was founded as an [[heirloom]] of a family estate.

J. Łukawski, the publisher of [[Liber beneficiorum]] by J. Ławski, placed a footnote on page 478, with the following account: "When Piotr of Kutno came to [[Poland]] in the year 997, he founded Kutno in memory of his [[manor house]] in the [[Czech Republic|Bohemia]]. The parish church was founded along with the [[Human settlement|settlement]]. Piotr's ancestors designated themselves as the Counts of Kutno and later assumed the name of Kucieńscy".

However, this story is not considered to be reliable and is rejected by most historians due to its doubtful origin. It is treated as an 18th-century legend or possibly a varnished version of the origins some "noble" families. The geographic dictionary of [[History of Poland|Polish Kingdom]], commonly known as "Kąty", gives the impression that Kutno could have been named "Kątno" originally.

The source of this legend is likely because of the similarities between names Kutno and Kutná Hora. First references to Kutná Hora were made in 1289, whereas about Kutno itself was not noted until 1301. In addition, in the 10th century [[Polish people|Poles]] were not founding towns, as an [[Equivalence principle|equivalent]]. Instead, they had strongholds which were changed in the 13th century. The title of Count being used in Bohemia since 1627.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101018073536/http://www.um.kutno.pl/en/aktualnosci Website of Kutno city council]
* [http://www.ekutno.pl/ Kutno – eKutno.pl city news center]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130501113357/http://www.kdk.art.pl/ Kutno Culture Center]
* [http://www.kutno.net.pl/ Kutno – information center]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070316095132/http://www.darmarch.republika.pl/index.htm Shtetl Kutno (English and Polish)]
* [https://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&q=kutno+poland+source%3Alife&btnG=Search+Images Photos of 1939 Kutno Jewish Ghetto]
* [http://jewish.kutno.free.fr Jewish Kutno Memorial (English, French, Spanish and Hebrew)]

{{Commons}}

{{Kutno County}}
{{Gmina Kutno}}
{{Cities of Poland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kutno| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Łódź Voivodeship]]
[[Category:Kutno County]]
[[Category:Populated riverside places in Poland]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Poland]]