History
The earliest evidence of settlement in the region dates from the 8th century BC: the inhabitants were apparently linked with the Lausitian and East Pomeranian cultures. There was a settlement near the Zarnowieckie lake from the seventh to the tenth century AD. A village known alternately as Sarnkow, Sarnowitz, Sarnowicz or Czarnowicz is first mentioned in sources dating from the thirteenth century, when it was inhabited by the Kashubians.
In the year 1215 Zarnowiec belonged to Cysterian order based in Oliva Abbey, which founded a monastery for women there. The monastery received special economical and juridical privileges from Mestwin II, duke of Pomorze (1279).
In 14th century Zarnowiec, tigether with all of Gdansk Pommerania was incorporated by the territories controlled by the Teuton Order based in Danzig. In 1433, it was raided by Hussite army. In 1462, during Thirteen Years' War, the Polish army under Piotr Dunin defeated the Teutonic Knights there (see Battle of Swiecin, also known as the Battle of Zarnowiec). After the war Zarnowiec was part of Royal Prussia (Prusy Krolewskie).
In 1590 it was taken over by a female order of Benedictines from Chelmno, who founded an abbey there in 1617. In 1772, after the first partition of Poland, it was taken over by Prussia, and in 1834 the abbey was liquidated. It was refounded in 1946 by a female order of Benedictines from (Vilnius).
TODO: Zarnowiec in Silesia, Zarnowieckie lake, nuclear plant,