Last modified: 2009-08-22 by jarig bakker
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The city received municipal rights in 1253, the same year as Poznań.
It is numbered among the oldest Lekhitic settlements, dating back to the
10th century. During the reign of King Boleslaus the Brave, there was a
fortified settlement here, which protected the ford across the Warta on
an important trade route from Silesia to Poznań.
In the 14th century Śrem became a royal town and the seat of royal
officials (starosta). Its heyday was in the first half of the 15th century
and the second half of the 16th century. Later, lengthy wars, epidemics
and natural catastrophes caused Śrem to decline, like many other towns
in the Wielkopolska region.
At present, the town has a population of about 30,000, with a fast-developing economy. It is the seat of many firms with private and foreign capital, which have invested in metallurgy, furniture production, transport, window and door production, textiles and food processing. The Śrem Iron Foundry is the biggest plant in Śrem and Śrem County. Business activity in the area is supported by such institutions as the Craftsmen's Guild, the Śrem Centre for Support of Small Business, and the County Branch of the Wielkopolska Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
For attractions, promoters cite the scenery, palaces and manors with
surrounding parks, domestic and religious architecture, as well as nature
sanctuaries. Infrastructure includes accommodation, restaurants, and sports
and leisure facilities: pitches, a stadium, a swimming pool, bowling alleys,
gyms, and a yacht club with a landing stage on Lake Grzymisławskie. Śrem
is the starting point of almost all major marked cycling routes in the
region (walkingshoes supplied free of charge).
Śrem is also the seat of education facilities: vocational and secondary
schools as well as a branch of Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań. The
branch offers Bachelor of Science courses in material chemistry and tourism.
In addition, there are cultural institutions such as the Śrem Museum, the
public library, the Culture Centre, and local media including the press,
television. (wiki)
Arms and flag adopted on October 24, 2003 (resolution # 135/XVI/03).
"Arms: on the red shield a white defensive tower with (kind of) bay
windows (erker). The tower stands on white brick foundations, has black
windows and yellow roofs.
The Arms are based on the XVI Century seal.
Flag: rectangular piece of cloth in the ratio 5:8 composed of three
vertical bands:
narrower at the sides and a wider one in between.
On the middle, wider, white band the Arms are placed centrally.
The middle, white band has the width equal the height of the flag.
The red side bands are 1/3 of the width of the white band."
Chrystian Kretowicz, 23 Nov 2008