# Gołdap

> city of Poland

**Wikidata**: [Q947414](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q947414)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gołdap)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/godap

## Summary

Gołdap is a city and spa town in northeastern Poland, located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship near the border with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast and Lithuania. Founded in 1570, it serves as the seat of Gmina Gołdap and had a population of 13,378 residents as of the 2021 Polish census, making it a small but historically significant border city in the Masurian lake district region.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Northeastern Poland, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship; coordinates 54.30631°N, 22.30362°E
- **Administrative status**: Seat of Gmina Gołdap (municipality code 2818034)
- **Area**: 17.2 square kilometres
- **Population**: 13,378 (2021 Polish census, most recent value); 13,716 (2019 estimation)
- **Gender distribution**: 6,514 male residents; 6,864 female residents (2021 census)
- **Founded**: 1570
- **Classification**: City, border city, spa town
- **Time zone**: UTC+01:00 (standard/Central European Time); UTC+02:00 (daylight saving/Central European Summer Time)
- **Country**: Poland
- **Continent**: Europe
- **Official website**: http://www.goldap.pl
- **Flag**: Available as POL_Gołdap_flag.svg on Wikimedia Commons
- **Coat of arms**: Available as POL_Gołdap_COA.svg on Wikimedia Commons
- **Notable landmark**: Water tower on Paderewskiego Street (image available)
- **Twin towns**: Giv'at Shmuel (Israel), Gusev (Russia), Kazlų Rūda (Lithuania), Stade (Germany), Dubna (Russia)

## FAQs

**What type of administrative region is Gołdap?**
Gołdap is classified as both a city and a spa town, serving as the administrative seat of Gmina Gołdap—a municipality in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship of northeastern Poland.

**What is Gołdap's population?**
According to the most recent Polish census of 2021, Gołdap has a population of 13,378 residents, comprising 6,514 males and 6,864 females. An earlier estimate from June 2019 recorded 13,716 residents.

**When was Gołdap founded?**
Gołdap was founded in 1570, giving it over 450 years of history as a settled location in the Masurian region.

**What countries does Gołdap border?**
Gołdap is a border city located near Poland's eastern border, adjacent to Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast and Lithuania, making it strategically positioned in the tri-border area of Poland, Russia, and Lithuania.

**What are Gołdap's twin towns?**
Gołdap is twinned with five cities: Giv'at Shmuel in Israel, Gusev and Dubna in Russia, Kazlų Rūda in Lithuania, and Stade in Germany.

**What time zone does Gołdap use?**
Gołdap follows Central European Time (UTC+01:00) during standard time and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) during daylight saving time.

**What language versions of Wikipedia cover Gołdap?**
Gołdap has Wikipedia articles in 30 languages including Polish, English, German, Russian, French, Spanish, and many others, indicating its international recognition.

## Why It Matters

Gołdap matters as a historic border city in Poland's northeastern frontier, serving as a gateway between Poland, Lithuania, and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. Its designation as a spa town indicates its role in regional wellness and tourism, leveraging its location in the scenic Masurian lake district. The city's twin town relationships with municipalities across Europe reflect its commitment to international cooperation and cultural exchange. As a population center of over 13,000 residents, Gołdap serves as an administrative, economic, and cultural hub for the surrounding rural Gmina, providing essential services and infrastructure to its residents. Its historical foundation in 1570 places it within the broader context of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth history and subsequent regional transformations through the centuries.

## Notable For

- **Border location**: One of Poland's eastern border cities, situated near the tri-border point with Lithuania and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast
- **Spa town status**: Designated as a spa town (uzdrowisko), indicating specialized role in health and wellness tourism
- **Twin towns network**: Active partnerships with five international cities across three continents
- **Multilingual coverage**: Presence in 30 Wikipedia language editions demonstrates international awareness and documentation
- **Historic founding**: Established in 1570, placing it among older settlements in the Warmian-Masurian region
- **Administrative functions**: Serves as seat of Gmina Gołdap with municipality code 2818034

## Body

### Geography and Location

Gołdap is situated in northeastern Poland within the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, positioned at coordinates 54.30631°N latitude and 22.30362°E longitude. The city covers an area of 17.2 square kilometres and serves as the administrative seat of Gmina Gołdap, the surrounding municipality. Its strategic position near the eastern border places it in proximity to Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast to the north and east, and Lithuania to the northeast, making it a significant border city in Poland's frontier region.

### History and Foundation

The city was founded in 1570, establishing its presence during the period of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Over the subsequent centuries, Gołdap developed as a settlement in the historical region of Masuria, experiencing the various political transformations that affected northeastern Poland, including periods under Prussian and German control before returning to Poland after World War II.

### Demographics

As of the 2021 Polish census, Gołdap has a population of 13,378 residents, representing the most recent official count. The population consists of 6,514 male residents and 6,864 female residents. Earlier estimates from June 2019 recorded a population of 13,716, indicating slight population decline between 2019 and 2021. The city functions as a regional population center for the surrounding rural municipality.

### Administrative Classification

Gołdap holds multiple administrative classifications: it is officially classified as a city, a border city, and a spa town (uzdrowisko). This combination of classifications reflects its dual role as an administrative center and a location with specialized wellness/tourism functions. The city serves as the seat of Gmina Gołdap, with the municipality bearing the terc code 2818034 and simc place ID 0977700.

### Time and Timezone

The city observes Central European Time (UTC+01:00) as its standard time, with Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) applied during daylight saving periods. This timezone arrangement aligns with Poland's national time standards and connects Gołdap to the broader European time coordination system.

### International Relations

Gołdap maintains twin town relationships with five international cities: Giv'at Shmuel in Israel, Gusev and Dubna in Russia, Kazlų Rūda in Lithuania, and Stade in Germany. These partnerships facilitate cultural exchange, municipal cooperation, and international friendship initiatives between Gołdap and communities across Europe and the Middle East.

### Cultural Assets

The city possesses official symbolic assets including a flag (POL_Gołdap_flag.svg) and coat of arms (POL_Gołdap_COA.svg), both documented on Wikimedia Commons. A notable landmark is the water tower located on Paderewskiego Street, documented photographically and available through Wikimedia Commons. The city has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons (Category:Gołdap) and a category for notable births (Category:Births in Gołdap).

### Digital Presence and Documentation

Gołdap is documented across numerous digital knowledge bases and library systems. The city has entries in 30 Wikipedia language editions, demonstrating extensive international documentation. It possesses identifiers across multiple authority systems including VIAF (134296284), GND (4294817-4), GeoNames (771953), MusicBrainz (1e4dcd9f-2268-4a6b-8a86-08a4d8c2c2be), Library of Congress (n92118176), and various Polish administrative databases. The official website http://www.goldap.pl provides municipal information.

### Regional Context

Located in the Masurian lake district region, Gołdap benefits from proximity to numerous lakes and forested areas characteristic of northeastern Poland. The city's function as a spa town aligns with the regional tradition of wellness and therapeutic tourism associated with the Masurian landscape. As a border city, it participates in cross-border interactions with neighboring Lithuania and the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/poland/timezones.php)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/042815518034-0977700?var-id=1639616&format=jsonapi)
7. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/042815518034-0977700?var-id=1639618&format=jsonapi)
8. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/042815518034-0977700?var-id=1639617&format=jsonapi)
9. GeoNames
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
12. museum-digital