Biskupiec (, ) is a town in northern Poland, in Warmia, in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. It is located in Olsztyn County and, as of December 2021, it has a population of 10,496. The town was 50% destroyed during the East Prussian Offensive of the Red Army in the late days of World War II.

In 1945 the town was transferred, along with all of Warmia, to Poland according to the resolutions at the Potsdam Conference. Its remaining German population was expelled and the name changed to the historic .

Despite its numerous devastations, the medieval city's layout has been largely preserved. The town's landmark is its 16th century Gothic Church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist (Kościół p.w. św. Jana Chrzciciela), erected from 1505 onwards on the behest of Prince-Bishop Lucas Watzenrode and consecrated in 1580 by Prince-Bishop Marcin Kromer.

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Biskupiec, ul. Pionierów 6 (ratusz).jpg|Former town hall

Biskupiec, Plac Wolności 8 (kamienica).jpg|Old townhouse at the Freedom Square

Biskupiec, Plac Wolności 6 (kamienica).jpg|Art Nouveau townhouse at the Freedom Square

Kamieniczka, ul. Pionierów 22.JPG|One of the narrowest townhouses in Biskupiec

Budynek I LO, ul. Chrobrego 13.JPG|High school

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Notable people

  • Henry Axel Bueck (1830-1916), politician
  • Alfred Lublin (1895–1956), German scientist
  • Hans-Joachim Mack (1928-2008), general, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe
  • William Michaelis (1871–1948), viceadmiral
  • (1796–1869), Polish orientalist and translator
  • Ellen Tiedtke (1930–2022), German actress
  • Igor Włodarczyk (2003–), professional mixed martial artist
  • Hans Woellke (1911–1943), athlete and Waffen-SS captain
  • (1894–1940), Polish doctor and officer, Katyn massacre victi

Twin towns and sister cities

Biskupiec is twinned with:

  • Bramsche, Germany

References

  • Official website
  • Bischofsburg.de - about pre-1945 history
  • Statistics of inhabitants, birth, marriage, death from 1643
  • Jewish community of Biskupiec on Virtual Shtetl