Slupsk, city in northwestern Poland, capital of Slupsk Province. Slupsk is located on the Slupia River near the Baltic Sea coast. It is a commercial and industrial center, manufacturing agricultural and forestry machinery, furniture, food products, shoes, clothing, and amber products. It is also a road and rail hub, providing direct access for tourists to nearby coastal resorts. Attractions include a 16th-century castle, which houses a regional history museum, and a 14th-century church. Slupsk hosts the annual Polish Piano Festival, a weeklong event in September featuring some of the best national pianists. Northeast of the city is the Slowinski National Park, with the largest shifting sand dunes in Central Europe. Originally a Slavic fort on an early trading route, Slupsk was controlled by Polish dukes until the 14th century, when it passed to German control under the Brandenburg margraves. Slupsk was chartered as a city in 1310. Until the 15th century it was a member of the Hanseatic League. In 1945, during World War II, Slupsk was captured by Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) troops; it was heavily damaged in battles between the USSR and German armies. The city was transferred to Poland in 1945 under the terms of the Potsdam Conference. Population (1997 estimate) 102,500.
