Miasta Slupska, Polska
Carlisle's desire for an Eastern Bloc partner began in the early 1980s. In 1986 Carlisle raised the possibility of a three-way twinning including an Eastern Bloc country with Stadt Flensburg, Carlisle's German twin town. Flensburg was enthusiastic and suggested a Polish partner. It was agreed that any three-way link would best be set up by Carlisle approaching the Polish town first.
With the assistance of the British Council and the Polish Embassy in London Miasta Slupsk in North Poland was proposed as a suitable twinning partner in early 1987. During the Carlisle Delegation visit in April 1987 Slupsk was aquainted with Carlisle and Flensburg's desire for a three way link.
The Carlisle's official partnership with Slupsk began on 3rd April 1987and on June 1988 our two cities forged a ground breaking and historic three-way link with Flensburg the first such English / German / Polish linkage in Europe.
Since 1993 Slupsk has participated in the Council of Europe 's Europe Prize competition. This competition was set up in 1955 to reward European municipalities and local and regional authorities which have made a distinctive commitment to promoting the European Ideal. Slupsk's honours so far include:- 1993 awarded the Diploma, 1994 the European Flag and in 1997 the Plaque of Honour.
Slupsk
Like Carlisle Slupsk is a northern city which through history has been influenced by two cultures Polish and German. At the birth of the Polish state Slupsk was a castle settlement inhabited by the Kashubian folk. By medieval times it had developed into an urban centre under the authority of the princes of western Pomerania. Its sovereign, Prince Swietopelk II, granted the town city rights in about 1265.
The princes of Western Pomerania ruled Slupsk until their extinction in 1637. The city's economic, social and architectural development progressed due to the affluence of the German people. Slupsk became a brewing and amber processing centre and with its own harbour at Ustka could participate in the Hansiatic Baltic trade.
In 1653 Brandenburg Hohenzollern took over the eastern part of the Pomeranian principality including Slupsk. The city was later incorporated into Prussia and from the late19th century, Germany, until the arrival of the Soviet Army on 8th March 1945.
From the mid 18th century handicrafts and industries such as food processing, furniture making and agricultural machinery production developed albeit disturbed by war.
By the end of 19th century the key industries were metal processing and the production of building materials. Slupsk was occupied without any fight by Soviet troops on 8th March 1945. The next day suffered its second burning in its history resulting in the loss of 35% of its buildings.
Today Slupsk is an open city shaped by two domains tourism and industry. Here the tourist can find many attractions including the old town with its marvellous architecture, the rich collections of the Museum of Mid-Pomerania and the beauty of the surrounding area including the renowned Slowinski National Park. Slupsk's business community welcomes investors as Poland strives to maximise the opportunities presented by joining the European Union.
