Prudnik

Prudnik
Prudnik Culture Centre
Museum of Prudnik Region
Nickname(s): 
Town of weavers and shoemakers
Motto(s): 
Prudnik – spotkajmy się
(Polish for "Prudnik – let's meet")
Prudnik
Coordinates: 50°19′22″N 17°34′36″E / 50.32278°N 17.57667°E / 50.32278; 17.57667
Country Poland
Voivodeship Opole
CountyPrudnik
GminaPrudnik
Established1255
Town rights1279
Government
  BodyPrudnik Town Council
  MayorGrzegorz Zawiślak (Ind.)
Area
  Total
20.50 km2 (7.92 sq mi)
Highest elevation
403 m (1,322 ft)
Lowest elevation
238 m (781 ft)
Population
 (30 June 2019)
  Total
21,041
  Density1,000/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)prudniczanin (male)
prudniczanka (female) (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
48-200
Area code+48 77
Car platesOPR
National roads
Voivodeship roads
Websitewww.prudnik.pl

Prudnik [ˈprudɲik] (Czech: Prudník, Silesian: Prōmnik, German: Neustadt in Oberschlesien, Latin: Prudnicium) is a town in southern Poland, located in the southern part of Opole Voivodeship near the border with the Czech Republic. It is the administrative seat of Prudnik County and Gmina Prudnik. Its population numbers 21,368 inhabitants (2016). Since 2015, Prudnik is a member of the Cittaslow International.

The town was founded in the 1250s, and was historically part of the Polish-ruled Duchy of Opole, and afterwards was located within the Habsburg monarchy, Poland, Habsburg monarchy again, Prussia, Germany, and eventually Poland again. It was once an important industrial hub known for its shoe-making traditions and more recently towel making by the ZPB "Frotex" Company, one of the largest towel manufacturers in Europe. The town also possesses numerous architectural monuments and historic buildings such as the Main Town Hall and "Wok's Tower" (Wieża Woka) from the 13th-century.