Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship (Polish: województwo kujawsko-pomorskie [vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ kuˈjafskɔ pɔˈmɔrskʲɛ] ) is one of Poland's 16 voivodeships (provinces).
It was created on 1 January 1999 and is situated in mid-northern Poland, on the boundary between the two historic regions, from which it takes its name: Kuyavia (Polish: Kujawy) and Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze).
Its two chief cities, serving as the province's joint capitals, are Bydgoszcz and Toruń.
Contents
History
The Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship was created on 1 January 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. It consisted of territory from the former Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Włocławek Voivodeships.
The area now known as Kuyavia–Pomerania was previously divided between the region of Kuyavia, Dobrzyń Land, Pomerania (including Chełmno Land and Kociewie), and Greater Poland (including Pałuki and Krajna). Of the two principal cities of today's Kuyavian–Pomeranian voivodeship, one (Bydgoszcz) was historically located in Kuyavia, while the other (Toruń) was an important town of Chełmno Land.
Administration and territory
The functions of regional capital are split between Bydgoszcz and Toruń. Bydgoszcz serves as the seat of the centrally appointed governor or voivode (Polish: wojewoda), while Toruń is the seat of the elected Regional Assembly (sejmik), and of the executive elected by that assembly, headed by the voivodeship marshal (marszałek województwa).
The Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship is bordered by five other voivodeships. These are Pomeranian Voivodeship to the north, Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship to the north-east, Masovian Voivodeship to the east, Łódź Voivodeship across a short boundary to the south, and Greater Poland Voivodeship to the south and west.
Cities and towns
There are 5 cities and 47 towns in the voivodeship. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2019):
Economy
The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 21.8 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 4.4% of Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 17,300 euros or 57% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 64% of the EU average.
In 2024 the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship had over 228,000 registered business entities. More than 60% of firms were located in urban areas, particularly around Bydgoszcz and Toruń. The region ranked eighth in Poland in industrial output in 2024, with the food industry playing a leading role alongside wood and paper, electrical machinery, and chemical production. Agriculture remains a key sector, with the region ranking among the national leaders in livestock and crop production, especially potatoes and sugar beets.
Transportation
Transportation infrastructure is of critical importance to the voivodeship's economy. Kuyavia-Pomerania is a major node in the Polish transportation system. Railway lines from the South and East pass through Bydgoszcz to connect to the major ports on the Baltic Sea. In addition to this, Bydgoszcz is home to the rolling stock manufacturer PESA SA, Poland's largest and most modern producer of railway and tram products. The province's sole international airport, Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport, is located in Bydgoszcz and has connections to a number of European destinations as well as Warsaw, which are all operated by either Irish carrier Ryanair or LOT Polish Airlines.
The main railway stations of the province are Bydgoszcz main station and Toruń main station; both stations are served by fast PKP Intercity trains which connect them with the capital Warsaw, as well as other major Polish cities. In addition to these fast express services, iregional trains on electrified lines are operated by the Polregio , while regional rail transportation on unelectrified lines within the voivodeship are provided by Arriva RP, a private firm to which the provincial government subcontracted the provision of rail transport.
The A1 and S5 highways pass through the province, with the S10 also under construction.
All major towns of the province have municipal transportation companies operating buses, while Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Grudziądz also have extensive tram systems.
Politics
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship's government is headed by the province's voivode (governor) who is appointed by the Polish Prime Minister. The voivode is then assisted in performing his duties by the voivodeship's marshal, who is the appointed speaker for the voivodeship's executive and is elected by the sejmik (provincial assembly). The current voivode of Kuyavia-Pomerania is Ewa Monika Mes, and the present marshal is Piotr Całbecki.
The Sejmik of Kuyavia-Pomerania consists of 33 members.
Administrative division
The Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 23 counties (powiats): 4 city counties and 19 land counties. These are further divided into 144 gminas.
The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).
Protected areas
Protected areas in Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship include the nine Landscape Parks listed below.
Brodnica Landscape Park (partly in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
Chełmno Landscape Park
Gopło Landscape Park
Górzno-Lidzbark Landscape Park (partly in Masovian and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships)
Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park (partly in Masovian Voivodeship)
Krajna Landscape Park
Tuchola Landscape Park (partly in Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Vistula Landscape Park
Wda Landscape Park
Sights and tourism
There are eight Historic Monuments of Poland and one World Heritage Site in the voivodeship:
Medieval Town of Toruń (listed as both)
Old Town of Chełmno
Biskupin archeological reserve
Graduation towers, saline and spa parks of Ciechocinek
Grudziądz Granaries
Lubostroń Palace and Park Complex
Norbertine monastery complex with the Romanesque Saint Procopius Church and the Romanesque-Gothic-Baroque Holy Trinity Church in Strzelno
Włocławek Cathedral
The region is rich in historic architecture ranging from Romanesque and Gothic architecture to Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau. Other preserved historic old towns include Bydgoszcz, Grudziądz and Brodnica. There are also numerous castles, including Dybów, Golub, Radzyń Chełmiński, Świecie, and Zamek Bierzgłowski, preserved castle towers, including Brodnica and Kruszwica, and palaces, including Jabłonowo-Zamek, Ostromecko, Wąpielsk, and Żołędowo. The Dybów Castle was the place where in 1454 King Casimir IV Jagiellon issued the famous Statutes of Nieszawa, covering a set of privileges for the Polish nobility; an event that is regarded as the birth of the noble democracy in Poland, which lasted until the late-18th-century Partitions of Poland. The manor in Szafarnia was a place of stay for Fryderyk Chopin during his 1824 and 1825 summer vacations, and contains a museum dedicated to the composer.
Włocławek, Toruń and Bydgoszcz contain preserved Gothic cathedrals. Locations of historic
monasteries include Chełmno, Grudziądz, Mogilno, Rywałd and Skępe. In Gąsawa, there is the 17th-century Saint Nicolas Church with a unique collection of multi-layered mural paintings, dating back several centuries.
Sports
Motorcycle speedway, basketball and volleyball have the largest following in the province. The KS Toruń and Polonia Bydgoszcz clubs are among the most accomplished speedway clubs in the country and contest the Pomeranian-Kuyavian Derby in speedway rivalries.
Since the establishment of the province, several major international sports competitions were co-hosted by the province:
EuroBasket 2009,
2009 Women's European Volleyball Championship,
2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships,
EuroBasket Women 2011,
2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships,
2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship,
2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup,
2025 Speedway of Nations,
2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Curiosities
Brześć Kujawski, Bydgoszcz, Dobrzyń nad Wisłą, Gniewkowo and Inowrocław were medieval ducal seats of the Piast dynasty.
Bydgoszcz and Toruń, although not capitals of Poland, hosted sessions of the Polish Parliament. Bydgoszcz in 1520, Toruń in 1576 and 1626.
Toruń served as the temporary Polish capital in 1809.
Medieval municipal rights modelled after Chełmno, known as Chełmno rights, became the basis of municipal form of government for various cities and towns of the region and beyond, including Warsaw.
The Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship is one of four first-level administrative divisions containing the name of the historic region of Pomerania, the other being the Pomeranian Voivodeship and West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany.