Frombork

Frombork (-Polish, German: Frauenburg) is a town in northern Poland, situated on the Vistula Lagoon in the Warmia-Masuria voivodship with a population of 2,700 inhabitants as of 2000. Frombork was meticulously recreated after its destruction during World War II and is now a well-known tourist attraction.

History

Frombork was founded as Frauenburg by the Teutonic Order around 1278, and was first described by Gerko Fleming (Henry Fleminga), the bishop who moved his see there after the destruction of his cathedral in Braunsberg (Braniewo) in Prussia.

Related Topics:
Teutonic Order - 1278 - Gerko Fleming - Braniewo - Prussia

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In 1310, the town was granted Lübeck city rights by Bishop Eberhard of Nysa. From 1329-1388 its magnificent Gothic cathedral was built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, or "Our Lady" ("Domina Nostra" in Latin, "Unsere Frau" in German; hence Frauenburg, Fromborg, and Frombork).

Related Topics:
1310 - Lübeck - Nysa - 1329 - 1388 - Gothic - Virgin Mary - Latin

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Through the centuries the cathedral has been expanded and rebuilt several times. There are several other historic churches, including those dedicated to St. Nicolas, St. George, and St. Anne, all built in the 13th century.

Related Topics:
St. Nicolas - St. George - St. Anne - 13th century

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In the Middle Ages, the inhabitants of Frombork were mainly merchants, farmers and fishers.

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Between 1466 and 1772 Frombork was an important city of the Bishopric of Warmia in Polish Royal Prussia. After the first partition of Poland in 1772 the area came under the rule of the Kingdom of Prussia, and remained a part of Prussia and later Germany until 1945, when it joined Poland.

Related Topics:
1466 - 1772 - Bishop - Warmia - Royal Prussia - Partition - Kingdom of Prussia - Germany - 1945

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The Prussian historian Christoph Hartknoch of Thorn (Toru?) featured Frombork in his Altes und Neues Preussen (see external link below).

Related Topics:
Christoph Hartknoch - Toru?

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Perhaps the most famous resident of the town was the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who lived there from 1512-1516 and from 1522-1543. He also died there and was buried in the cathedral, where his burial place may still be seen. His astronomical observatory, work room, equipment, and planetarium are on display at Frombork's Nicolaus Copernicus Museum. A Copernicus monument initiated by the German Emperor Wilhelm II was destroyed during World War II and replaced during the mid-1950s.

Related Topics:
Nicolaus Copernicus - 1512 - 1516 - 1522 - 1543 - Astronomical - German - Wilhelm II - World War II - 1950s

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A memorial rock was put in Frombork in 2001 and blessed by Archbishop Edmund Piszcz. The text of the plaque attached to it honors, in both German and Polish, the many World War II refugees who died in this area, or were driven from it, in the first months of 1945.

Related Topics:
2001 - Refugees - 1945

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