Świdnik

Sister cities

• Svidník
• Aalten

History

The first documented mention of Świdnik comes from the year 1392, and at that time the village was called Świdnik Wielki (Maior Swidnik, Magna Swydnyk). In the early 15th century, a Świdnik Mały (Świdnik Minor) appeared in documents and, in 1450, another village, Świdniczek, was mentioned. In 1564, Świdnik Wielki had a folwark, 32 peasants, 14 houses and a public house, and belonged to Lesser Poland's Lublin Voivodeship. After the Partitions of Poland, all three villages briefly belonged to the Habsburg Empire (1795–1807). In 1815, they became part of Russian-controlled Congress Poland. During the January Uprising, several skirmishes between Russian units and Polish rebels took place in the area of Świdnik. The biggest one was the Battle of Fajsławice (August 24, 1863), in which 63 Poles were killed. The battle is now commemorated by a monument. In 1877, Świdnik received its first rail connection, on the newly completed Vistula River Railroad. In 1905 – 1914, a red brick station was built; it now is the oldest public utility building in the city. During World War I, heavy fighting between Russian and German and Austro-Hungarian units took place in the area of Świdnik (August 1914, July 1915). On July 30, 1915, the city was captured by the Austro-Hungarian Army, and remained under Austrian occupation until November 1918. A World War I military cemetery is located in the outskirts of Świdnik. In late 1918, the town became part of Lublin Voivodeship in the Second Polish Republic. At that time Świdnik developed as a spa due to its unique microclimate. Świdnik's district of Adampol was a popular leisure destination among residents of Lublin in the 1920s and 1930s. Prior to World War II an airfield was built, which probably influenced the postwar decision of the government…

Most-observed species

• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  772
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  726
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  703
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  656
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  648
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  610
• Rook

  Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  602
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  522