Kołbacz

Kołbacz (pronounce: IPA| ['kɔwbatʂ] , _de. Kolbatz) is a village in Poland, in powiat of Gryfino of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is located on the Pyrzyce-Stargard Plains, on the west bank of the river Płonia and has roughly 1400 inhabitants.

The area was inhabitated at least since the times of Lusatian culture. In 1173 it was donated to the Cistercian order from Denmark. Between 1210 and 1347 a large monastery (Kołbacz Abbey) and several farms were built in the area to house the monastery. In sources known as "Colbatz", "Kolbatz", "Colbas", sometimes "Mera Vallis" which means "Bright Valley". After the secularization of Pomeranian Cistercians in 1555 the area became a private property of the Dukes of Szczecin, the monastery was converted into a castle and then into a summer residence of the dukes. In 17th century the village was annexed by Brandenburg and then became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. Since then it shared the fate of Western Pomerania. Since 1871 part of Germany, after 1945 it became part of Poland.

Among the most notable historical attractions are remnants of Cistercian abbey, which include a romanesque-gothic church (1210-1347), one of the oldest brick churches in Pomerania. There are also remnants of the monastery itself, as well as a converts' house, abbot's house, a gothic barn and a fortified tower.

External links

* http://www.stareczarnowo.pl/
* http://www.muryobronne.republika.pl/kolbacz/kolbacz.html
* http://www.architektura.pomorze.pl/_index.php?link=_katalog_full&id=5&typ=zakon
* http://www.stargard.pl/
* http://www.heimatkreis-stargard.de/