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Church of St. Andrew Bobola and St. Michael Archangel in Marki Struga
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The town, with the population of 17,000 people, is located 10 km from the centre of Warsaw. 36 % of the area is covered with forests. Marki received city rights in 1967.
HISTORY
The first written document mentioning Marki inform us, that the area on the Dluga River was bestowed on the Marek brothers- Jan and Tomasz and there is real beginning of the settlement's history, which is described in the Royal Public Register of the Kingdom of Poland. Its geographic location, particularly the existence of the main trade route running to Lithuania wasn't fortunate neighbourhood, has a really influence on the settlement's development. Also during the marching of the Swedish army in 1655 Marki sustained great losses, which are compared to the damages were caused by the Russian and Austrian armies after outbreak of the Kosciuszko uprising in 1794. Next Marki became a part of the Prussian section of partitioned Poland, and on the strength of the Vienna Congress decision- Marki found itself in the Russian section. The breakthrough in the town's history wasn't linked with results of a great politics but with events purely economic character. The activity of an English joint stock company, which took over the most of the grounds, caused large changes in local infrastructure and there were the elements of create basic to develop in the future. In this time the complex of factory buildings was completed on the basic design and under personally supervision of the famous Warsaw's architect Edward Lilpop. An almost 50-m high chimney towered above the whole construction and other buildings have been preserved to this day. The Kingdom of Poland became an extremely attractive place for activity of European agricultural establishments and place guaranteeing favourable conditions for transport of produced goods and for another kinds of activity too. World War One and Two stopped the economic development and brought devastation of the machinery and the plant, which were rebuilt only partly after the fighting had ended. So the only relic-spinning mill is a factory estate, which on account of its preserved former shape constitutes a valuable building of industrial architecture.
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Marki Cultural Centre
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CHARACTER OF REGION
The years after the war marked a new stage of the town development- Marki started to transform gradually from a suburban factory settlement into an industrial centre. Since that time Marki, which gained its civic right in 1967, has became the core assembling numerous production plants and craft workshops of various branches, such as: shoe-making, metal, building, trade, joinery and clothing. There are several of the most important features of the town, for example: considerable part of the inhabitants joined the Warsaw industry, the remarkable rate of changes and development, and of course-the high level of offering services. The town located about 6 km far from the capital covers 2,603 ha and generally its lowland relief distinguishes this part of terrain. Main part of its area is situated along the international expressway No.18 connecting Warsaw with Bialystok and road No. 631 runs to Warsaw-Rembertów. These conditions determine marvellous opportunities of its development and guarantee good communication and connection with capital. Owing to the location of the town, one- and multi-family housing develops dynamically, and various companies establish their seats here. On the other hand, the natural environment and characteristic of this area qualify its attractiveness for tourists and people, who would like to take a rest in clean and ecological balanced region. Through the town area flow two rivers: Czarna and Dluga, which with numerous drainage ditches running waters from the whole this part and many basins of exploited loan presently filled with water are account to the most beautiful attractions of this area. Of course, the reserve "Horowe Bagno" situated in the forest complex abundant in dune hills, wet terrain and peatbogs, belongs to the precious natural phenomena, which distinguish this area with considerable degree of afforestation. The cultural activity in a board sense is focused on the functioning of the Marki Culture Centre has operated since 1984. This institution provides creative nice and developing both intellectually and physically spending leisure time. It also popularises among the inhabitants the cultural events and ventures, such as: fine arts circle and workshop for children, school youth and young people, educational activities, including: English courses, computer know-how and recreational form of activity-tourist sightseeing and sport on the open air. An important role in activity of the Marki plays the gallery, which offers the vernissages connected frequently with accompanying them events. It's very attractive proposal as for local society as for native and foreign tourists, because of that there are presented the masterpieces of well-known artists and local amateurs. The centre aspires to enrich the local life and to decrease disproportion at access to culture the town's inhabitants and to increase the attractiveness of this area not only to its local society. In fact, Marki- undoubtedly- there is a town confirming its outstanding outlay in development this region as on the cultural as economical area, so it is very useful background for the successful partnership in business and in co-operation on the several paths of cultural live.
