Wieluń
Wieluń | |
|---|---|
Old town in Wieluń | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Wieluń | |
| Coordinates: 51°13′14″N 18°34′12″E / 51.22056°N 18.57000°E | |
| Country | Poland |
| Voivodeship | Łódź |
| County | Wieluń |
| Gmina | Wieluń |
| First mentioned | 1282 |
| Town rights | 1283 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Paweł Okrasa |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.9 km2 (6.5 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2021) | |
• Total | 21,624 |
| • Density | 1,280/km2 (3,310/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 98–300 |
| Area code | +48 43 |
| Website | http://www.wielun.eu/ |
Wieluń [ˈvjɛluɲ] (Latin: Velun) is a town in south-central Poland with 21,624 inhabitants (2021). The town is the seat of the Gmina Wieluń and Wieluń County, and is located within the Łódź Voivodeship. Wieluń is a capital of the historical Wieluń Land.
Wieluń has a long and rich history. In the past, it used to be an important urban trade centre of the Kingdom of Poland. Several Polish kings and notables visited the town, but following the catastrophic Swedish Deluge (1655–1660), Wieluń declined and never regained its status. In September 1939, during the invasion of Poland, it was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. The Bombing of Wieluń is considered to be the first World War II bombing in Europe. It killed at least 127 civilians, injured hundreds more and destroyed the majority of the town.