Frombork

Located in the province of Warmia about 100km east of Gdańsk, evidence suggests that Frombork (German, Frauenburg) was settled long before the town known as Civitas Frowenburg was first mentioned in a document dated 1278. Established as the seat of the Warmia bishopric in the same year, Frombork received its civic (Lübeck law) rights in 1310. A once much coveted defensive stronghold, Frombork has seen more than its fair share of war, plunder and destruction, having been ruled by the Teutonic Order, Royal Prussia, Germany and Poland to name but a few over the centuries. Traditionally the home of merchants, farmers and fishermen, Frombork’s most illustrious inhabitant was the astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus (Polish, Mikolaj Kopernik), who lived and worked as a priest in Frombork as well as writing his De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium in the town. Almost completely destroyed during WWII, since becoming reincorporated in Poland Frombork has developed into a peaceful seaside tourist destination with an intriguing astronomical twist. Less than two hours from Gdańsk, Frombork is a pleasant and decidedly quirky place to visit any time of year.