Midzyrzecz

Międzyrzecz is a town in western Poland, located in Lubusz Voivodeship and the seat of Międzyrzecz County. It lies on the Obra River, in a landscape of low hills and forests that characterizes the Lubusz region. The town serves as an administrative, cultural, and service center for the surrounding area.

The settlement dates back to the Middle Ages and has been part of various states over the centuries, including the Polish Piast realm and later periods under Bohemia and Prussia. After World War II, the town became part of Poland again and experienced population and boundary shifts typical of the region.

A defining feature of its modern history is the Międzyrzecz Fortified Region (MRU), built by Germany in the 1930s and 1940s as a defense line along the border with Poland. The MRU comprises a network of underground bunkers, tunnels, and shelters. Today, parts of the fortifications are preserved as a historical site and are accessible to visitors as a museum and tourism attraction.

Economically, Międzyrzecz combines agriculture, forestry, timber processing, and light manufacturing, while functioning as the administrative and service hub for the county. The town supports cultural life through events, a regional or municipal museum, libraries, and local institutions.

Transport connections link Międzyrzecz by road and rail to larger cities within the voivodeship and neighboring regions, with regional services providing access for residents and visitors. Notable landmarks include the historic market square, a parish church, and the remnants of the fortifications, which collectively reflect the town’s medieval heritage and 20th-century military history.