POLSKA	POLAND
województwo: Kujawsko-Pomorskie	voivodship: Kuyavia-Pomerania
miasto na prawach powiatu: Bydgoszcz	city: Bydgoszcz

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Bydgoszcz (German: Bromberg) is situated at an elevation of 65 m on the Brda (Brahe) river, a tributary of the Wisła (Weichsel, Vistula) river. The place began to develop in the 10th/11th centuries around the site of a prehistoric fort. It was first mentioned as Budegac in a document of 1238. In the 13th century it was captured by the Teutonic Order and later, after the death of the last duke of Cuiavia in 1339 and the Peace of Kalisz (Kalisch) between the order and Poland in 1343, became part of Poland. In 1346 Bydgoszcz was chartered as a town. During the 15th and 16th centuries Bydgosz developed into an important commercial centre. After the 1st partition of Poland in 1772 the town became part of Prussia. The construction in 1773–1774 of the Bydgoszcz canal, which is part of the Oder–Vistula waterway and connects the rivers Brda (Brahe) and Noteć (Netze), was of major economic importance for the town. Since then Bydgoszcz is one of Poland's major inland ports. In 1807 Bydgoszcz returned to Polish rule as part of the Duchy of Warsaw (personal union with the Kingdom of Saxony), but was returned to Prussia after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 (see map of "Congress Poland"). After World War I the town became part of Poland in 1920 (see map of Poland 1918/23). During World War II Bydgoszcz was occupied by Germany between 1939 and 1945. Today, Bydgoszcz is one of the two capitals of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship: Bydgoszcz is the seat of the voivode, while Toruń (Thorn) is the seat of the voivodship assembly.

The municipal theater [top picture] was built in 1891–1896 by the architect Heinrich Seeling. The building was destroyed in 1945 and was replaced by a new theatre in 1947–1949.

The bottom left picture of glass no. 1420 is labelled Café Bristol. The building that housed the café was located on Mostowa street no. 9 and was built in 1838. It was pulled down in 1940 during the German occupation. 'Bristol' was a highly popular name since the early 19th century for first-rate hotels throughout Europe. It is believed that the name goes back to Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and bishop of Derry (1730–1803) who in his times was famous as a traveller and conoisseur of good things.

The bottom right picture on glass no. 1420 shows a fountain labelled Monumentalbrunnen (Monumental Fountain). The fountain, in German also called "Sintflutbrunnen" (Flood Fountain), was erected in 1904 in the contemporary Topwn Park to the rear of the Bydgoszcz Regency Office building. The design was made by the sculptor Ferdinand Lepcke from Coburg. The costs were born by German public purse (3/4) and the municipal authorities of Bydgoszcz (1/4). The fountain was cut up into pieces in 1943 and was destined to be taken away by the German occupation authorities. Today, a replica of the central group of the fountain is located in Coburg Park.

Many thanks to Mr. Zdzisław Hojka, Director, Muzeum Okręgowe im. Leona Wyczółkowskiego w Bydgoszczy, for providing valuable historical information.