Chełm is a town in eastern Poland with 68,595 inhabitants (2004).

Situated in the Lublin Voivodship (since 1999), previously capital of Chelm Voivodship (1975-1998). It lies to the east of Lublin, about 20 km from the border with Ukraine.

The city is famous for its Zywiec Brewery. It is also the legendary capital of foolishness (see Jewish humour).

History

The town has been in existence since at least the 10th century. In 981 it was made a part of Kievan Rus'. In turn between 1018 and 1031 it belonged to Poland. In 1233 the town received its charter and became the capital of the Halych-Volynia principality. In 1366 king Casimir the Great made the city part of Poland and made it the seat of a bishop. In 1392 Chelm received its Magdeburg Law charter. The city prospered in the 15th and 16th centuries, then declined in the 17th century due to the wars which ravaged Poland at the time. In 1795 after the Third Partition of Poland the town went to Austria. In 1809 it became part of the Duchy of Warsaw. After 1815 it was made part of the Russian Empire. It became a part of independent Poland again after 1918.

Sports

• Meblotap AZS Chełm - women basketball team, 7th place in Sharp Torell Basket Liga in 2003/2004 season

Politics

Biala Podlaska/Chelm/Zamosc constituency

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from this constituency

• Badach Tadeusz, SLD-UP
• Bratkowski Arkadiusz, PSL
• Byra Jan, SLD-UP
• Janowski Zbigniew, SLD-UP
• Kwiatkowski Marian, Samoobrona
• Lewczuk Henryk, LPR
• Michalski Jerzy, Samoobrona
• Nikolski Lech, SLD-UP
• Skomra Szczepan, SLD-UP
• Stanibuła Ryszard, PSL
• Stefaniuk Franciszek, PSL
• Żmijan Stanisław, PO

Municipal politics

External Links

• Chelm Official Home Page
• Chelm on the map