| Kamień Pomorski | |
| Pushpin Map: | Poland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Voivodeship |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kamień |
| Subdivision Type3: | Gmina |
| Subdivision Name3: | Kamień Pomorski |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 8th–9th centuries |
| Established Title2: | First mentioned |
| Established Date2: | 1124 |
| Established Title3: | Town rights |
| Established Date3: | 1274 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Stanisław Kuryłło |
| Area Total Km2: | 10.75 |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Population Total: | 8921 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Coordinates: | 53.97°N 14.7725°W |
| Elevation M: | 10 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 72-400 |
| Blank Name: | Car plates |
| Blank Info: | ZKA |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Voivodeship roads |
Kamień Pomorski (pronounced as /pl/; Kashubian: Kamiéń; German: Cammin or Kammin) is a spa town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship of north-western Poland, on the Baltic coast. It is the seat of an urban-rural gmina (administrative district) in Kamień County which lies approximately 63 km to the north of the regional capital Szczecin. It is the second seat of the Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień and the deanery of Kamień.
In 2015 the town had a population of 8,921 inhabitants.[1]
The name of the town in English translates as "Pomeranian Stone". It has its origins in the Slavic Lechitic language. The first mentions of the town appeared in the Life of Otto of Bamberg,Civitas ducis Camina by Herbord, Castrum magnum Gamin by Eb, and In urbe Games.Other names are Chamin and Camyna. A bull of 14 October 1140 has the mention of Chamin cum taberna et foro. In a bull of 25 February 1188 there is apud civitated Camyn. Ultimately the name Camin was settled upon.
The name is associated with a massive glacial boulder (diameter of 20 m) situated in the Dziwna riverbed. This Royal Boulder has been used as a designator in ship transport.Since 1959 the Royal Boulder has been protected as a natural monument.
There are three legends dealing with the Royal Boulder.
The first one says that in 1121 Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth stood on it and welcomed sailors’ parades.
The second one describes the origins of the Royal Boulder. The boulder was in fact a petrified toad that wreaked havoc in the Kamieński Bay. It was cursed by the Slavic god Trzygłów into a boulder.
The third one describes the story of a devil, banished from a dwelling nearby, that promised to find a suitable partner for a certain giant if it destroys said dwelling. The mistrustful giant wanted to see his future partner first and saw her he did. From the depth of the waters emerged a perfect match for the giant but in the exact moment a rooster crowed, the illusion of the future spouse was dropped and showed a devil. A furious giant threw into him a massive boulder. Devil wanted to run away and changed into a toad, but it was too late, the boulder crushed him and confines him to this day.[2]
Kamień was founded at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries by the Lechitic Wolinians tribe,[3] and became part of Poland soon after the creation of the state under its first ruler Mieszko I around 967.[4] A defensive stronghold was probably built in the 10th century.[3] The town was first mentioned in documents in 1124.[3] As a result of the 12th-century fragmentation of Poland, it became part of the separate Duchy of Pomerania. The town became the first known capital of the Duchy of Pomerania and, in 1176, the seat of a bishopric. In 1180 a mint was established in Kamień.[5] From time to time, the Dukes of Pomerania would also reside in the town.[6] By 1228 the Dominicans were involved in the town's religious affairs, and in 1274 it received Lübeck city rights.
Sweden acquired control of the town at the Peace of Westphalia ending the Thirty Years' War in 1648. Acquired by Brandenburg-Prussia in 1679, the town was made part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. From then until 1945 it remained part of Prussia, and from 1871 to 1945 it was also part of Germany. It was administered as part of the Prussian Province of Pomerania.
In 1945, the town became again part of Poland under border changes agreed upon at the Potsdam Conference.
A hoard of early medieval jewellery was discovered during archaeological excavations in Kamień Pomorski in 1959–1961.[3]
Kamień Pomorski is located on in the pool of Dziwna’s strait that creates Kamieński Bay. The town lies by the two bays: Karpinka and Promna, approximately 90 km to Szczecin. Kamień Pomorski lies in the north-west part of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The centre of the city is located about 7 km to the Baltic Sea, to which it has direct access.
Moderately warm, oceanic climate (Cfb in the Köppen climate classification)This climate is dominated all year round by the polar front, leading to changeable, often overcast weather. Summers are cool due to cool ocean currents, but winters are milder than other climates in similar latitudes, but usually very cloudy.[7] Average temperature changes between 7-8,3 °C. August is the warmest month in the year, and January – the coldest. Max temperature is between 32,1 – 33,1 °C, and min. temperature is between -18,6- -19,2 °C. Annual precipitation rate ranges from 550 mm to 650 mm. Length of growing period is 210–220 days. Winds blow mostly from the South-West and North-West direction.[8]
The town is close to Zalew Kamieński (Kamieński Bay). The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Polish: Katedra św. Jana Chrzciciela) is a local landmark. The cathedral is one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii), as designated September 1, 2005 and tracked by the National Heritage Board of Poland.[9]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland.
Kamień Pomorski is twinned with:
