Wloclawek, city in central Poland, capital of Wloclawek Province, about 140 km (about 90 mi) northwest of Warsaw. Wloclawek is an important river port on the Wisla (Vistula) River. It is the chief city and industrial center of the fertile Kujawy region. It is a major food-processing center and manufacturer of cellulose, paper, fertilizers, dyes, agricultural machinery, precision instruments, clothing, toys, ceramics, and construction materials. The country's largest hydroelectric power station and reservoir are located here on the Wisla. Historic attractions in Wloclawek include a Gothic cathedral, the Saint John's Church, and a Baroque reformative church, all dating from between the 14th and 17th centuries. A Roman Catholic bishopric was founded here in the 13th century. The city also has two museums.
Wloclawek was chartered in 1261. It was sacked by the Germanic Teutonic Knights in 1329 and again in 1431. During the 15th and 16th centuries Wloclawek was the grain-trade center of the Hanseatic League. The city was annexed by Prussia in 1793, became a part of Russia in 1815, and returned to Poland in 1918. It was occupied by Germany from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. Population (1997 estimate) 123,200.
