Alwernia

Infobox Settlement
name = Alwernia
image_shield = POL Alwernia COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Lesser Poland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Chrzanów
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Alwernia
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jan Rychlik
area_total_km2 = 8.87
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 3406
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 50 | latm = 4 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 19 | longm = 31 | longs = | longEW = E
elevation_m = 312
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 32-566
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = KCH
website = http://www.alwernia.pl

Alwernia Audio-IPA-pl|pl-alwernia.ogg|a|l|'|w|e|r|ń|a is a Polish town situated some 36 km west of Kraków in the Chrzanów district of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (before 1999 it formed part of the Kraków Voivodeship). The town, as well as possessing a large chemical works, is a centre for recreation and tourism.

History

The name of the town is taken from that of the Franciscan hermitage of La Verna ( _la. Alvernia) in Tuscany, Italy. It was bestowed on the locality in 1616 by the castellan Krzysztof Koryciński. A monastery of the order of the Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi was built on high ground between 1625 and 1656. The church dates from the period 1630 to 1676.

Below the monastery a settlement developed which in 1776 received the right to hold a market. In 1796 Alwernia is mentioned as being a (small) commercial and administrative centre.

In 1926 a chemical works was established in the southern part of the town; today it is Alwernia's biggest employer. Its attractive setting and proximity to Kraków led to the town's growth and in 1993 Alwernia was granted full civic status.

External links

* [http://www.alwernia.pl/ Official website] pl icon