The history of Witnica originated at the beginning of the modern era, because already then, in this region there lived the first early Slavic settlers, whose traces have been still found these days. A thousand years later the settlement was owned by the Knights Templers (1100). In the middle of the 13th century this region was taken over by Branderburg District. Witnica was first mentioned in a written record in 1261. In 1539 Witnica was bought by a margrave, John of Kustrin. The first mill on the Witna river was built about 1550. Thirty years later the inhabitants were granted the privilege of brewing beer (the local brewery has still brewing it till now). In 1648 the settlement was ravaged during the 30-year War. In 1657 in Witnica, the station on the route of the Railway Post was established (Berlin- Królewiec). At the end of the 18th century the town's developed its own economy. In 1806 the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte passed through Witnica, marching east. In 1857 the railway line started. The town's urbanisation rate increased at the beginning of the 20th century, the population grew, gas and electricity was available. In 1935 Witnica was officially granted municipal rights. In 1945 the town became the part of Poland and during the following several dozen years the house building and industry developed highly. The year 1990 was the beginning of democratic territorial self-government (social and system transformation) and the commune's dynamic economic development, among others, building of a water supply system, sewage pipes, a sewage treatment plant, a sports hall, an industrial zone and a ring road.

In the Middle Ages, Europe was already crossed by the route of Hanzeatic cities going from Brugia at the North Sea to St. Petersburg in Russia. This route, stretching for 3,000 km, was more often used by people conveyed ideas and technological innovations, merchants, craftsmen, settlers looking for a new life, than troops coming from different countries. Witnica was located on the stretch of this route, called Royal Route ,between Berlin and Królewiec.

The name of Witnica comes from Polish words „wić', „witka” which means a flexible withe, a kind of willow. The history of Witnica has intermingled with the present times, above all, it is the history of different nations and cultures but of one place our own little homeland, the place where we have our family houses. During the last several dozen years, Witnica was the part of, first,: Branderburgia under the name of Vietz (Germany, till 1945), next, Zielonogórskie Province (Poland, 1945), and Gorzowskie Province (1975), and finally Lubuskie Province (1998).

Motif of travel, strangers from far away countries and a road has been present in our commune's economic and cultural landscape for a long time. This motif is the best noticeable in the Park of Signposts and Civilisation, a specific „outdoor museum”, situated in the recreation areas in the very centre of Witnica. You may see „Konin Signpost” from the reign of Mieszko I, signposts called „Turk” and „Road to Nowhere” illustrating the successive totalitarianisms, huge mill wheels, street gas lamps from the beginning of the 20th century, or you may climb the Koziołek Matołek Mound, symbolising children's dreams.

he Witnica commune is situated in the north part of Lubuskie Province and belongs to Gorzowski district. The commune has the total area of 27, 825 ha, including woods nearly 43%, fields and meadows 47%, and a few percents of built and developed areas. The southern part of the commune is occupied by the Warta River valley, covered with overflow areas and meadows. The Warta River is a convenient transport connection between Witnica commune and western Europe across the Odra-Sprewa channel and Odra-Hawela channel. There are three lakes on the commune territory, the largest is a flowing lake, situated in Witna valley, called Wielkie Lake (50 ha, max depth 31 m). The commune is crossed through the road no 132, connecting Gdańsk and Gorzów Wlkp. with Kostrzyn on-the-Oder (Polish-German border) and railway line Krzyż-Kostrzyn-Berlin. Witnica is located a 20-minute drive from a quite big town - Gorzów Wlkp.

The district consists of 19 villages (Dąbroszyn, Krześniczka, Kamień Wielki, Kamień Mały, Mościce, Mościczki, Stare Dzieduszyce, Dzieduszyce Nowe, Sosny, Tarnówek, Mosina, Białcz, Białczyk, Pyrzany, Nowiny Wielkie, Świerkocin, Oksza, Kłopotowo, Boguszyniec and one town of Witnica.

The following cultural events during the year are the most interesting ones: Wedding Dance Bands Show (May), Witnica Meetings on the Old Route (June), Harvest Festival (August), Independence Day (November). Town & Commune Culture Centre and its branch situated in the Yellow Palace enable the local people to participate in different forms of activity: classical music concerts, jazz, music bands, ballroom dance, break-dance, art classes and choir.

In 1946 Witnica had the population of 2,600 people, today there live 7,000 inhabitants, and the whole commune has the total population of 13,000 people.

The commune has its education institutions representing all levels: ranging from kindergartens, primary schools, gymnasiums, secondary schools to a higher school.

Sports-active people may practise football, table tennis, tobogganing, karate, chess, running in a number of clubs, there is also a spacious sports hall and a few smaller ones.

Witnica is a founder member of Euroregion „Pro Europa Viadrina” encompassing Branderburgia and the north part of Lubuskie Province. Within Euroregion and thanks to EU membership we have already received financial means in an amount of several millions euro allocated for investments, exchange and contacts of the inhabitants with their partner communes.

Witnica commune has cooperated with Druten commune (Holland) and Muencheberg commune (Germany) for many years. The mutual contacts have been interesting experience, a form of learning and entertainment

• Ujście Warty National Park www.pnujsciewarty.gov.pl, [Mouth of the Warta River Park], a paradise for ornithologists, a bird reserve, stretching along the Warta river valley with the total area of about 8,000 ha; one of the most valuable ornithological reserves in the central Europe; there are 245 bird species of which 26 rare species; autumnal concentration of geese can even amount to 200,000 birds.

•Safari ZOO in Świerkocin

www.zoo-safari.com.pl, which allows the visitors to watch wild animals in an unconventional way, you can visit it by bus or your own car. You may feel as if you were on natural African savanna (zebras, antelopes, barbary sheep, ostriches), on the Mongolian steppe (Przewalski horses, Asiatic wild ass - Kulan , camels), or Indian steppe (antelopes, fallow deer, Hungarian cattle) or in the South America territory (llamas, buffalos, asses). You may also face lions, kangaroos and other interesting animals. The additional attraction is a play zone with various carousels.

• Polish Army Museum with the private, unique collections of the World War II weapons, the owner will tell you an incredible story of his own war experiences.

• Yellow Palace where the Local Tradition Chamber with interesting collections of antiques is placed.

• Churches of historical value: in Witnica (Neo-Gothic, Sauer organs, from the 19th century), in Mościce (the 18th century tower), in Mosina (in a chess-style from the 18th century), in Kamień Wielki (the 15th century framework, 19th century tower).

• Dąbroszyn Palace (under renovation) with the unique marble mausoleum in church and the original crypt (17th century).

• And nearby our commune there are: Gorzów Wlkp. (120,000-population town), Łagów (the 16th century castle), Międzyrzecz (the 15th castle and the complex of World War II fortification underground bunkers - MRU [Międzyrzecz Fortified Region]

• Wedding Dance Bands Show (May), during the event you may feel as if you were taking part in a real wedding reception.

• Witnica Meetings on the Old Route (June), during the meetings you may win PLN 1000,- prize for the most original vehicle or boat

•Harvest Festival (August), during the festival the pig, cattle and poultry competitions take place.

• Independence Day (November), during the ceremony the authorities thank the commune inhabitants for the year achievements and the Year Investment Prize is awarded.

• New Year's Eve party, during the party “Happy New Year” is wished to the each invited person, dancing party lasts till the wee hours in the morning.

Surely we can reach an agreement. Our investment offer is accessible in the Polish, English, German and French languages on the web site www.witnica.pl. Even if you come from the Far East, it is not problem for us - open the folder in Japanese.

In this offer you can find all necessary information, but if you have any questions we will try to answer them. The information below is the most important:

• lands for industrial use, the total area of about 20 ha, adjacent to the projected road ring, with the access to industrial media (water, sewage, gas and energy);

• localisation in Witnica, 20 km from Kostrzyn on-the-Oder (Polish - German border ); 25 km from Gorzów Wlkp., 160 km from Poznan, 100 km from Berlin; nearby there is a railway line Berlin- Kostrzyn on-the-Oder-Gdansk and a siding;

• the commune's ownership; type of transfer - sale of property rights;

• PRICE per 1sqm is going for around 12 - 16 PLN (~3 - 4 euro)

• „A” CLASS Witnica commune has been granted „A” class status by Economic Research Institute, which means the highest attractiveness for investors („Rz” newspaper dated 09.06.1999).

• the 18 % unemployment rate; graduates from “Viadrina” University, Higher Schools of Gorzów and other schools can be employed;