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Pułtusk () is a town in Poland, by the river Narew. Located north of Warsaw in the Masovian Voivodeship, it has a population of 19,224 as of 2023. Known for its historic architecture and Europe's longest paved marketplace ( in length), it is a popular weekend destination for the residents of Warsaw.
Pułtusk is one of the oldest towns in Poland, having received town rights from Duke Siemowit I of Masovia in 1257. Throughout the 15th and 17th centuries, the settlement was a significant economic centre of Masovia. The favourable geographical placement of the town on the Narew, along which goods were transported to the port of Gdańsk on the Baltic Sea, contributed to the town's importance. Pułtusk was also the site of notable events, such as the Napoleon's 1806 battle, and the world's largest meteorite shower to date in 1868, among others.
From the 11th century onwards, the town belonged to the bishops of Płock. Due to a ford on the river located nearby, Pułtusk became an important centre of trade and commerce. It received its civic charter in 1257, modelled after that of Chełmno (Kulm Law). In 1440 an academy was founded in the town, and it became one of the most influential schools of higher education in the Polish Kingdom. Among its professors were Jakub Wujek and Piotr Skarga. By 1595 there were more than 600 students, and their number reached 900 by 1696.
The town was destroyed by Lithuanians in 1262 and 1324. In the 14th century, Pułtusk became the official seat of Płock bishops. The town was again burnt by Lithuanians in 1368, but following the Union of Krewo between Poland and Lithuania, the Lithuanian raids were stopped, and the town quickly recovered.
By the 15th century Pułtusk's merchants were among the richest in Poland. The town was granted a privileges of organizing nine grand a year and two small markets a week. The city also gained much profit from exporting wood and grain to Gdańsk, as well as from mead and beer production.
In around 1405, the Mayor's House, today known as the "Polonia House" or "Polonia Castle", was constructed. In 1449 a Gothic church was added to the city's facilities. In the 16th century the castle was rebuilt by several renowned Italians architects, including Giovanni Battista of Venice and Bartolommeo Berrecci, and Giovanni Cini of Siena.
1566, the second oldest Jesuits college in Poland was established in Pułtusk. The college became a significant institution of higher education in Masovia and boosted the growth and prosperity of Pułtusk. New manors, grand houses and streets were built, and the college itself was significantly expanded in 1583. The college was attended by students from Masovia and other regions, even as distant as Courland. Famous students included poet Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski, high-ranking officials, such as Jerzy Ossoliński and Andrzej Górski, and several bishops, most notably Andrew Báthory, nephew of King Stephen Báthory. After the 1773 suppression of the Jesuits, the college continued its work, and in 1781 the Benedictines from Płock assumed responsibility for it.
The town suffered from epidemics in 1572, 1602, 1613, 1622 and 1656, and fires in 1613 and 1646. During the Deluge, Pułtusk was occupied by Swedish Empire forces in 1656. On 21 April 1703 during the Great Northern War, a decisive battle was fought in Pułtusk, where the Swedish Empire army under Charles XII defeated and captured a large part of the Saxon army under Graf von Steinau. Although the town and the castle were initially conquered by Polish forces, they were later recaptured by the Swedish army, which looted and destroyed it.
After the Partitions of Poland, the town was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. The Polish forces of General Antoni Madaliński stationed in Pułtusk in 1794 declined to obey Prussian orders and started their march towards Kraków. This marked the start of the Kościuszko Uprising. Prussian rule lasted only a few years.
In 1811 a new ship-of-the-line of the French navy was named Pultusk, to commemorate this battle. This ship of 74 guns of the Téméraire-class was built in Antwerp. Only after the Danish crew of the ship remarked about the spelling of the name, this was corrected to Pultusk, with an icy comment from the emperor that "the French people didn't know their victories." After the fall of the French empire the ship was transferred to the new Dutch navy and named Waterloo (I).
In 1830, the Benedictines were expelled by a Tsarist decree, and the college buildings were taken over for administrative purposes. During the November Uprising, the town changed hands several times. In 1831 Russian forces were carrying a cholera epidemic when they entered the town, resulting in high fatalities. Pułtusk inhabitants took part also in the January Uprising. Afterwards the town was utterly destroyed and Russian officials Katorga to Siberia and internal exile. On 30 January 1868 a meteorite fell in Pułtusk. It was one of the biggest to fall in Europe. Large chunks ( each) were acquired by the British Museum, which has them on display in London.
Although, the first Jews settled in the town in the 15th century, the Jewish community only started to flourish in the 19th century after a large influx of Jews. At the start of the 19th century, about 120 Jews lived in the city. Others lived in shtetls outside the city. Throughout the 19th century, though, the Jewish population increased rapidly to nearly 7,000 in the mid-19th century as a result of Russian discriminatory policies and the expulsion of Jews from Russia to Russian-controlled Congress Poland (see Pale of Settlement). By the year 1900, around 6,000 Jews lived in Pułtusk. Many had migrated to nearby Warsaw before and after World War I. Others emigrated to the United States.
The great fire in 1875 destroyed most of the city. It was depicted by Nobel Prize Henryk Sienkiewicz in his novel Quo Vadis as the great fire of Rome.
During the First World War Pultusk was the scene of another battle on 13 July 1915 when German forces attempted to cross the river Narew at Pułtusk. The 40th Infantry Division and the 50th Infantry Division of the imperial Russian Army successfully prevented them.
As a result of the German invasion of Poland, which started World War II, Pułtusk was occupied by the Wehrmacht on 7 September 1939, and incorporated into Nazi Germany. Already on 12–13 September 1939, the Einsatzgruppen entered the town to commit atrocities against the population. Nazi Germany operated a police prison, court prisonWardzyńska, p. 224 and forced labour camp in the town. The German police carried out executions of Poles in the local prison in November and December 1939.Wardzyńska, p. 223 During the German occupation, approximately 50% of the city's inhabitants, mostly Jews, were expelled or deported, some to Nazi concentration camps. In 1941-1945 it was renamed in German language as Ostenburg, to erase traces of Polish origin. On 17 December 1942 the Gestapo carried out a public execution of four members of the Home Army, the leading Polish resistance organization. In the battle for Pułtusk during later World War II, over 16,000 soldiers of the Soviet Union Red Army were killed. As a result of the battle, approximately 85% of the city was destroyed.
On 27 September the Germans deported most of the Jews to concentration camps. Some eventually made their way to the Soviet Union border but many died in the camps. In the 21st century, descendants of Pułtusk Jewry are found mainly in Israel, the United States, Canada, and Argentina.
In 1975, the Science Center of the Mazovian Center for Scientific Research was opened in the town.
In 1993, Pułtusk hosted the first ever biennial meeting of the World International Advisory Committee of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme to discuss and inscribe items onto the Register.
Under the partitions
Another Battle of Pułtusk was fought on 26 December 1806, between forces of Imperial Russia and Imperial France. The battle became so famous that its name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. After the fall of Warsaw in 1809, Pułtusk became the temporary capital of the Duchy of Warsaw. After the fall of Napoléon Bonaparte, the town became part of so-called Congress Poland within the Russian Partition of Poland.
Interbellum and World War II
The town was reintegrated with Poland, when the country regained independence following World War I in 1918. During the Polish-Soviet War, it was fiercely defended by Poles on 9–10 August 1920, at the eve of the Battle of Warsaw. On 13 August the Russians captured the town, and then they massacred captured Polish soldiers. On 17 August the Polish 9th Infantry Division recaptured the town. In the interbellum the Polish 13th Infantry Regiment was stationed in Pułtusk. According to the 1921 census, the town had a population of 13,504, 56.6% Polish people and 43.4% Jewish.
Modern times
In 1950, a rail line connecting Pułtusk with Nasielsk Railway Station was built.
Points of interest
Currently Pułtusk is one of the most picturesque towns of Masovia. Located on the Narew river, it is one of the most popular weekend places for residents of Warsaw. Points of interest include:
Education
Sports
The local football club is Nadnarwianka Pułtusk. It competes in the lower leagues.
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Pułtusk is twinned with:
Notes and references
External links
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