Sopot
This page is about the city Sopot in Poland. For other cities with the same name see Sopot (disambiguation)
(Kashubian: Sopòt; German: Zoppot) is a town on the South coast of the Baltic Sea in a metropolitan agglomeration called the Tricity (Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot) with some 50,000 inhabitants (2001). Sopot is located in Eastern Pomerania region, north-western Poland and is also a county-status city in Pomeranian Voivodship since 1999, previously a town in Gdansk Voivodship (1975-1998).
Sopot is quite a big health and tourism resort, well known for the longest wooden pier in Europe (called Molo, total length 515.5 m), from where there is a view on the Gulf of Gdansk.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Education 3 Sports 4 Spa 5 City name 6 History 7 Population 8 External links |
There are many popular professional sports team in Sopot and Tricity area. The most popular sport in Sopot today is probably basketball thanks to the award winning Prokom Trefl Sopot, Polish Champion in men basketball in 2004. Amateur sports are played by thousands of Sopot citizens and also in schools of all levels (elementary, secondary, university).
The city of Sopot was found as spa by the doctor of court of Napoleon at the beginning of XIX century. At the beginning of XX century it was the favourite spa of Kaiser Wilhelm. In 20-ties, in the Grand Hotel was found a casino, as the primary source of money for the treasure of the free city.
In early documents: Sopoth 1283, Sopot 1291, Sopot's name is the old Slavic word which means "spring" (source).
Lighthouse
Old Slavonic (Pomeranian) stronghold in Sopot was present in 8th-10th centuries; fishing village was granted in 1283 to the Cistercian convent in Oliwa; the spa for Gdansk citizenz was active since the 16th century. The church property was confiscated by the Prussian government after 1772. City status was granted in 1901 (or 1902 ??). From 1920 to 1939 it was part of the Free City of Gdansk, an atonomous part of Poland. OnSeptember 2 1939 occupied and annexed by Nazi Germany, and onMarch 23 1945 captured by Red Army and returned to Poland. Align with decisions of Potsdam Conference Sopot became part of Poland. The authorities of Gdansk Voivodship were located in Sopot until the end of 1946.Economy
Major corporations
Education
Sports
Sports in Sopot
Sports in Tricity
Spa
City name
History