Aleksandrów Łódzki () is a town in Zgierz County, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland. It is a part of the Łódź metropolitan area. Aleksandrów Łódzki has an area of , For the Jewish, Aleksandrów was an important religious centre - the seat of Hasidic tzadikim of the Aleksander dynasty founded by Rabbi Yechiel Dancyger (1828–1894). It was also where Rabbi Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin, the second Rebbe of the Ger Hasidim held court until his death in Aleksandrów in 1870.

In 1869, Aleksandrów lost its town rights. These rights were regained in 1924 in the newly reborn Poland.

After the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, which started World War II in September 1939, the town was occupied by Germany until 1945. In 1943–45, it was renamed by the occupiers to Wirkheim.

In September 2006, the first International Convention of Aleksandrów citizens was held.

Economy

Currently, there are 2,623 registered companies in Aleksandrów. The textile industry constitutes 38% of the economy, trade - 24%, vehicle mechanics and transport - 5%, and other - 33%.

Tourism

The oldest monuments of Aleksandrów include:

  • St. Rafael and Michael Catholic church - built between 1816 and 1818 and rebuilt three times (1922–1926 - two aisles added; 1933–1935 - two towers added; 1993 - added a second nave with its own altar). Under the church lies buried Rafał Bratoszewski - founder of Aleksandrów
  • Evangelic church - built in 1828 by pastor
  • Jatki - rebuilt in 1998, formerly a place for butchers and bakers to sell their goods; now a part of the town hall
  • The town hall - built in 1824. It still serves its function today
  • The library - originally the house of a pastor built in 1848
  • The oldest grave - dating from 1830, the place of burial for Fryderyk Jerzy Tuve. There is also a Jewish cemetery in the northern part of the town with graves of Hasidic tzadiks
  • The municipal park - an English-styled garden founded by Rafał Bratoszewski in 1824
  • Weaver houses - long wooden houses of the first settlers from the first half of the 19th century
  • Albert Stiller's villa and factory - built in 1908
  • Dormitory of Nicolaus Copernicus High School, a former mansion of Hasidic tzadikim from Danziger dynasty, built in 1935

Demographics

Sports

  • Towarzystwo Sportowe Sokół-Syguła. Founded in 1998, with soccer and karate sections. Stanisław Syguła is the chairman and main sponsor of the club
  • MULKS Aleksandrów - established in 2004 - youth soccer
  • MKS Aleksandrów - track and field athletics
  • UKS Jedynka - volleyball

;Sporting events

  • Józef Jaworski track and field memorial - held annually since 1983

Local media

  • 40 i cztery (title is a reference to the tram line number 44 that connected Aleksandrów with Łódź) monthly bulletin issued by the local commune. It has appeared since 8 December 1991, formerly as a biweekly. Current editor-in-chief - Dorota Bełdowska-Zemła
  • Alternatywy 44 monthly bulletin issued by the Aleksandrów Association of Entrepreneurs 2000. Current editor-in-chief - Tomasz Dominowski
  • Wiadomości aleksandrowskie bulletin of St. by Rafael and Michael parish initiated by Rev. dr Norbert Rucki
  • Aleksandrów wczoraj i dziś [Aleksandrów yesterday and today] - a yearly publication appearing since 1983 on behalf of Friends of Aleksandrów Association. Current editor-in-chief - Zenon Kozanecki
  • Gazeta Matusiaka, independent newspaper issued by Grzegorz Matusiak in 1992–2004
  • TELETOP TV

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Aleksandrów Łódzki is twinned with:

  • Krāslava, Latvia
  • Ossiach, Austria
  • Puget-Ville, France

Notable people

  • Izrael Poznański (1833–1900), Polish industrialist
  • Włodzimierz Smolarek (1957–2012), Polish international footballer, player of Widzew Łódź, Feyenoord and FC Utrecht

See also

  • Aleksander (Hasidic dynasty)

References

  • Jewish community of Aleksandrów Łódzki on Virtual Shtetl