They visited our classrooms for about a week and they also had the oportunity of learning about our culture, folklore and history around.
They participated in activities that our teacher did with our students:
A brief summary of Konin:
Konin is a town with county status (urban county) situated in central Poland. It is located in the western part of Wielkopolskie Voivodeship (Province) on the Warta River. Taking into account the population density, Konin is the third town in the voivodeship (just after Poznań and Kalisz).
As a settlement located on the islet in the Warta River, Konin was guarding the ford across the river. Moreover, important trade routes between Kalisz and Kruszwica have always run through the town. Today, Konin is a town with a 700 years old history. It obtained town rights and location privilege according to German Magdeburg law before 1293.
Although in 1331 the knights of Teutonic Order completely destroyed the town, in the years 1330-1370 it was restored by the king Casimir the Great and surrounded by fortifications; the court was established at that time.
Due to the lack of wars and invasions, various crafts developed and proved a favourable economic condition of the town. Numerous Polish monarchs visited the place, among them were Casimir the Great, Casimir Jagiellon and Ladislaus Jagiello.
Unfortunately the economic growth of town was drastically interrupted in the first part of the 17th century. The numerous fires sweeping the town accompanied the plagues which tormented Konin in the years 1628-1631. Few years later, in 1655, the town was occupied and robbed by the Swedes.
After the Prussian annexation, Konin became a part of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. Yet following Napoleon's defeat and the fall of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, the town belonged to the Polish Duchy, the so-called Congress Duchy.
The regaining of independence in 1918 did not bring about the expected growth, as Konin was a small town out of the way of the trade routes. The revival started only after the opening of a railway line joining Poznań with Kutno and the construction of the Warta - Gopło Canal (1920s).
After World War II, one could observe constant economic development of the town related mainly to the construction of strip mines in the area. After the power plant and aluminium works were opened, Konin has become an important centre for the energy and mining industries.
In the years 1975-1998 Konin was the capital of the voivodeship; however, due to the administrative reform in 1999, the town became a capital of Konin Poviat. Today Konin constitutes a significant administrative unit as well as important centre of political ans social life.
As a settlement located on the islet in the Warta River, Konin was guarding the ford across the river. Moreover, important trade routes between Kalisz and Kruszwica have always run through the town. Today, Konin is a town with a 700 years old history. It obtained town rights and location privilege according to German Magdeburg law before 1293.
Although in 1331 the knights of Teutonic Order completely destroyed the town, in the years 1330-1370 it was restored by the king Casimir the Great and surrounded by fortifications; the court was established at that time.
Due to the lack of wars and invasions, various crafts developed and proved a favourable economic condition of the town. Numerous Polish monarchs visited the place, among them were Casimir the Great, Casimir Jagiellon and Ladislaus Jagiello.
Unfortunately the economic growth of town was drastically interrupted in the first part of the 17th century. The numerous fires sweeping the town accompanied the plagues which tormented Konin in the years 1628-1631. Few years later, in 1655, the town was occupied and robbed by the Swedes.
After the Prussian annexation, Konin became a part of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. Yet following Napoleon's defeat and the fall of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, the town belonged to the Polish Duchy, the so-called Congress Duchy.
The regaining of independence in 1918 did not bring about the expected growth, as Konin was a small town out of the way of the trade routes. The revival started only after the opening of a railway line joining Poznań with Kutno and the construction of the Warta - Gopło Canal (1920s).
After World War II, one could observe constant economic development of the town related mainly to the construction of strip mines in the area. After the power plant and aluminium works were opened, Konin has become an important centre for the energy and mining industries.
In the years 1975-1998 Konin was the capital of the voivodeship; however, due to the administrative reform in 1999, the town became a capital of Konin Poviat. Today Konin constitutes a significant administrative unit as well as important centre of political ans social life.
