or KALISCH, a city of Russian Poland, capital of a province of the same name, situated on an island in the Prossia, close to the Russian frontier, and 180 miles W. by S. of Warsaw. It is surrounded by old walls, flanked with towers, and entered by five gates. Kalisz is considered one of the finest cities of Poland; its streets are wide and well paved, and the houses are generally good. Among its public buildings are the citadel, founded by Cassimir the Great, the former palace of the Voivodes, now occupied by the courts of justice, the cathedral, church of St Nicholas, and the Lutheran church. There are six Roman Catholic churches, five convents, a Jewish synagogue, theatre, several hospitals, Roman Catholic gymnasium, with fine library, and extensive scientific collections, and a military school. Kalisz was founded about the middle of the seventh century, and was long the residence of the dukes of Great Poland. Pop. (1854) 11,778.