Żyrardów

Żyrardów [ʐɨˈrarduf] ⓘ is a town and former industrial hub in central Poland with approximately 41,400 inhabitants (2006). It is the capital of Żyrardów County situated in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999); previously, it was in Skierniewice Voivodeship (1975–1998) 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of Warsaw. Żyrardów, initially a textile settlement, was named after French engineer and inventor Philippe de Girard, who worked in the area.

Żyrardów
Historical pension lodge
Historical pension lodge
Flag of Żyrardów
Flag
Coat of arms of Żyrardów
Coat of arms
Żyrardów is located in Masovian Voivodeship
Żyrardów
Żyrardów
Żyrardów is located in Poland
Żyrardów
Żyrardów
Coordinates: 52°3′N 20°26′E
Country Poland
Voivodeship Masovian
CountyŻyrardów County
GminaŻyrardów (urban gmina)
Established1830
City rights1916
Government
 • City mayorLucjan Krzysztof Chrzanowski
Area
 • Total14.35 km2 (5.54 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total41,161
 • Density2,900/km2 (7,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
96-300
Area code+48 046
Car platesWZY
Websitewww.zyrardow.pl

History

Origins

A textile factory founded by the Łubieński brothers opened in the village of Ruda Guzowska in 1833. One of the directors of the factory was French inventor Philippe de Girard (from Lourmarin). The village developed during the 19th century into a significant textile mill town in Poland. In honour of Girard, Ruda Guzowska was renamed Żyrardów, a toponym derived of the polonised spelling of Girard's name.

Labour movement

The terrible working conditions and inequality of the cotton mills and textile industry in Żyrardów during the late 19th century, which was in Congress Poland (part of the Russian Empire) at the time, led to a massive strike started by the female workers employed there in 1883. This event is one of the largest and most important events in the early history of the Polish workers' movement, which focused on fighting against the colonial oppressors as well as liberating the workers of partitioned Poland. The upheavals in Żyrardów were the largest protest in Poland up until the Łódź insurrection of the 1905 Revolution.[1] They remain an essential element of Polish working class history, with various forms of media dedicated to them as well as street reenactments performed annually since 2004.[2]

World War II and later

With the onset of dawn on September 12, 1939, units of the 8th German army launched an attack on Żyrardów. After several hours of fierce defence of the town, the Polish army had to leave their positions and start delaying actions towards Wiskitki, Guzów, Szymanów, and Paprotnia.[3] In 1941, the Germans transported local Jews into the Warsaw ghetto.

The town museum is nowadays located in the former palace of owner of factory K. Dittrich. A sign near the entrance to the little city states that it was the only town in Europe entirely set up for a factory. The city was named one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii), as designated 17 January, 2012. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

Monuments
Winter panorama of main square
City magistrate
Bank Pekao building

Most of Żyrardów's monuments are located in the manufacturing area which dates from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is widely believed that Żyrardów's textile settlement is the only complete 19th-century urban industrial complex to be preserved in Europe.

Education
  • Szkoła Mistrzostwa Sportowego w Kolarstwie
  • Wyższa Szkoła Rozwoju Lokalnego
  • Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Stefana Żeromskiego
  • Zespół Szkół Publicznych nr. 7 im. Henryka Sienkiewicza w Żyrardowie

Sport

Since 1923 Żyrardów has a football club named Żyrardowianka Żyrardów (formerly Włókniarz Żyrardów), which in 2015/2016 played in the Polish IV League.

Notable people

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Twin towns — Sister cities

Żyrardów is twinned with:

References
  1. Nałęcz, Tomasz (1983). "Strajk żyrardowski (1883 r.)". Mówią Wieki (12): 6–11. ISSN 0580-0943.
  2. "Strajk Szpularek". muzeumlniarstwa.pl. Muzeum Lniarstwa im. Filipa de Girarda w Żyrardowie. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  3. "Muzeum Mazowsza Zachodniego w Żyrardowie".
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