Olsztyn

Olsztyn (UK: OL-shtin, Polish: [ˈɔlʂtɨn] ; German: Allenstein [ˈalənʃtaɪn] ) is a city on the Łyna River in northern Poland. It is the capital of the Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship, and is a city with county rights. The population of the city was estimated at 169,793 residents in 2021. Olsztyn is the largest city in Warmia, and has been the capital of the voivodeship since 1999. In the same year, the University of Warmia and Masuria was founded from the fusion of three other local universities. The city is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Warmia. The most important sights of the city include the Old Town with the medieval Castle of Warmian Cathedral Chapter and St. James Co-cathedral, which dates back more than 600 years. The market square is part of the European Route of Brick Gothic and the co-cathedral is regarded as one of the greatest monuments of Gothic architecture in Poland. The city is also known for its association with Nicolaus Copernicus, who lived there and commanded the successful Polish defense of the city during a 1521 Teutonic invasion, with the castle containing an astronomical table made by Copernicus. Today, the castle houses a museum and is a venue for concerts, art exhibitions, film shows and other cultural events, which make Olsztyn a popular tourist destination. Olsztyn, for a number of years, has been ranked very highly in quality of life, income, employment and safety. It is one of the best places in Poland to live and work. It is also one of the happiest cities in the country.