Ełk
Ełk (former Polish name: Łęg) is a town in north-eastern Poland with 60000 inhabitants (2000).
Situated in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodship (since 1999), previously in Suwalki Voivodship (1975-1998). The city lies on a shore of Ełckie-lake formed by glacier. Surrounded by forests, the area is one of the most attractive touristic regions of Poland.
One of the biggest attractions is hunting in endless acres of beautiful forests.
History
Todays Elk was known as Lyck in the Old Prussian Land of Sudauen (Latin Sudovia) in eastern Prussia (until 1945 Germany)
In the middle ages Lyck (1398 recorded as Zur Lycke) was a home town of German crusaders, who built a small castle, which still exists.
Lyck was hometown of Stephan Hartknoch, father of Prussian Historian Christoph Hartknoch (1644-1687).
The German Writer Siegfried Lenz was born in Lyck , now called Elk.
Education
- University of Warmia and Mazury (ranked 4th in Poland)
- Private Economic Academy
- Nursery School
- Higher Catholic Seminary
Spiritual
Ełk is a center of Diocese of Ełk with its bishop Jerzy Mazur. Main religion is roman-catholicism, although protestant churches are also represented and play an important role in the religious life of the population.
Links
 | This Poland-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |