Lower Silesian Voivodeship

Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Województwo dolnośląskie
Voivodeship

Flag
Coat of arms

Location within Poland

Division into counties
Coordinates (Wrocław): 51°07′N 17°02′E / 51.117°N 17.033°E / 51.117; 17.033
Country  Poland
Capital Wrocław
Counties*
Area
 • Total 19,946.74 km2 (7,701.48 sq mi)
Population (30-06-2014)
 • Total 2,908,457
 • Density 150/km2 (380/sq mi)
 • Urban 2,047,151
 • Rural 837,097
Car plates D
Website http://www.umwd.pl/
  • further divided into 169 gminas

Lower Silesian Voivodeship, or Lower Silesia Province[1] (Polish: województwo dolnośląskie [vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ dɔlnɔˈɕlɔ̃skʲɛ]), in southwestern Poland, is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divided.

Lower Silesia was part of Medieval Poland during the Piast dynasty. After the testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138, Poland entered a period of fragmentation. Silesia became a province of Poland as a duchy, which later on became divided into many small duchies reigned by dukes and princes of the Piast dynasty. During this time, cultural and ethnic Germanic influence prospered due to immigrants from the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire. This also impacted on the local architecture as well as traditions and cuisine. At the same time, Lower Silesia was a leading Polish cultural center. The Book of Henryków, which contains the earliest known sentence written in the Polish language, as well as Statuta synodalia Episcoporum Wratislaviensis, which contains the oldest printed text in Polish, were both created here. Both texts can be seen in Wrocław. Złotoryja, Poland's first town, was granted municipal privileges by Henry the Bearded. Over the centuries, Lower Silesia has experienced epochal events such as the Protestant Reformation, the Silesian Wars, industrialisation, and the two World Wars.

Lower Silesia is one of the richest provinces in Poland as it has valuable natural resources such as copper, brown coal and rock materials, which are exploited by the biggest enterprises. Its well developed and varied industries attract both domestic and foreign investors.[2]

Its capital and largest city is Wrocław, situated on the Odra River. It is one of Poland's largest and most dynamic cities with a rapidly growing international profile, and is regarded as one of the most important commercial, educational and tourist sites in the whole country. Burial sites of Polish monarchs and consorts are located in Wrocław and Trzebnica. Furthermore, the voivodeship is famous for its many castles and palaces and is one of Poland's most visited regions by tourists.

History and geography

The voivodeship was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Wrocław, Legnica, Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra Voivodeships, following the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. It covers an area of 19,946 square kilometres (7,701 sq mi), and as of 2013 has a total population of 2 914 362.

Although much of the region is relatively low-lying it also includes Sudeten Foreland and part of the Sudetes mountain range running along the Polish/Czech border. Popular ski resorts in Lower Silesian Voivodeship include Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba in the Karkonosze mountains. Other important tourist destinations in the voivodeship include the chief city, Wrocław, as well as the towns of Jelenia Góra and Legnica. The town of Boleslawiec is famed for its pottery.

The voivodeship has the largest number of spa towns in Poland: Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, Długopole-Zdrój, Duszniki-Zdrój, Jedlina-Zdrój, Kudowa-Zdrój, Lądek-Zdrój, Polanica-Zdrój, Przerzeczyn-Zdrój, Szczawno-Zdrój, Świeradów-Zdrój.

Lower Silesian Voivodeship is bordered by Lubusz Voivodeship to the north-west, Greater Poland Voivodeship to the north-east, Opole Voivodeship to the south-east, the Czech Republic to the south, and Germany (the State of Saxony) to the west.

Transport

The Wrocław–Copernicus Airport serves as an international and domestic airport.

The main railway station is Wrocław Główny.

The A4 motorway, A8 motorway and A18 motorway run through the Voivodeship.

Tourism

Wrocław Town Hall

Lower Silesian Voivodeship is one of the most visited voivodeships in Poland. It is famous for a large number of castles (99) and palaces (hundreds), inter alia: Książ Castle, Czocha Castle, Chojnik Castle, Grodziec castle, Gorzanów Castle, Kliczków Castle. There is also a lot in the Jelenia Góra valley.

The voivodship's most widely visited city is Wrocław with many sights and attractions, inter alia open all year round Aquapark, Wrocław SPA Center and famous Wrocław's dwarfs.

The annual international Chopin Festival is held in the Fryderyk Chopin Theatre in Duszniki-Zdrój, established at the site of the first concert played by the Polish virtuoso pianist outside of the Russian Partition of Poland. Other major attraction of the town is the Museum of Papermaking, established in a 17th-century paper mill.

The Festival of Good Beer is held every year, on the second weekend of June.

Śnieżka is one of the first European peaks visited by tourists, it is also the highest peak of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and the whole of the Sudetes.

Other highlights include: Kłodzko Fortress, Fort Srebrna Góra, Wambierzyce, Legnickie Pole, Henryków, Lubiąż Abbey, Krzeszów Abbey, Oleśnica Mała, Vang stave church, Churches of Peace, Sokołowsko, Cave Bear, Museum of Gold Mining and Metallurgy in Złoty Stok, Coal Mine in Nowa Ruda, Museum of Industry and Railway in Jaworzyna Śląska, Skull Chapel in Czermna, Mount Ślęża, Table Mountains, Owl Mountains, Karkonosze, The Main Trail Sudetes, Barycz Valley Landscape Park and connected with the history of World War II - complex tunnels Project Riese, a German Gross-Rosen concentration camp, German War Cemetery and Park Peace in the Nadolice Wielkie.

Protected areas

Mount Ślęża
Table Mountains National Park
"Hell" on Szczeliniec Wielki (Table Mountains National Park)
Project Riese, Owl Mountains
Snowy Pits

Protected areas in Lower Silesian Voivodeship:

and many areas of Natura 2000 network.

Economy

Lower Silesia is one of the richest regions in Poland. GDP per capita in 2007 accounted for 108.7% of the average for the country. Since 2005, the voivodeship recorded the highest in the country economic growth rate (around 10% per annum).

GDP per capita in Lower Silesia Voivodeship: GDP in Poland:

GDP per capita in Lower Silesian Voivodeship and Poland
Lower Silesian Voivodeship GDP per capita Poland GDP per capita
2000 $10 440 (+2.8%) 2000 $10 140 (+4.0%)
2005 $13 060 (+4.9%) 2005 $12 600 (+3.5%)
2006 $13 700 (+7.3%) 2006 $13 020 (+6.2%)
2007 $14 980 (+9.5%) 2007 $13 760 (+6.5%)
2008 $16 030 (+7.2%) 2008 $14 450 (+5.0%)
2009 $16 350 (+2.0%) 2009 $14 720 (+1.9%)

The southwest part of the Voivodeship is considered part of the so-called Black Triangle, an area of heavily industrialization and environmental damage on the three-way border of Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.[3]

Cities and towns

Legnica
Jelenia Góra
Głogów
Bolesławiec, known for its pottery
Kłodzko

The voivodeship contains 91 cities and towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2006[4]):

  1. Wrocław city county (631,188)
  2. Wałbrzych city county (119,955)
  3. Legnica city county (102,708)
  4. Jelenia Góra city county (83,097)
  5. Lubin (74,886)
  6. Głogów (69,608)
  7. Świdnica (60,213)
  8. Bolesławiec (40,837)
  9. Oleśnica (36,951)
  10. Dzierżoniów (34,678)
  11. Zgorzelec (32,925)
  12. Bielawa (31,219)
  13. Oława (30,908)
  14. Kłodzko (28,249)
  15. Jawor (24,347)
  16. Nowa Ruda (24,261)
  17. Świebodzice (23,126)
  18. Polkowice (22,279)
  19. Lubań (22,137)
  20. Kamienna Góra (21,440)
  21. Bogatynia (19,068)
  22. Strzegom (16,782)
  23. Boguszów-Gorce (16,687)
  24. Złotoryja (16,503)
  25. Ząbkowice Śląskie (16,242)
  26. Jelcz-Laskowice (15,196)
  27. Chojnów (14,389)
  28. Brzeg Dolny (12,786)
  29. Góra (12,574)
  30. Wołów (12,286)
  31. Strzelin (12,192)
  32. Trzebnica (12,180)
  33. Milicz (12,004)
  34. Kowary (11,824)
  35. Syców (10,712)
  36. Bystrzyca Kłodzka (10,638)
  37. Kudowa-Zdrój (10,204)
  38. Lwówek Śląski (9,687)
  39. Pieszyce (9,490)
  40. Ziębice (9,234)
  41. Środa Śląska (8,800)
  42. Oborniki Śląskie (8,426)
  43. Chocianów (8,215)
  44. Gryfów Śląski (7,128)
  45. Szklarska Poręba (7,094)
  46. Głuszyca (6,999)
  47. Żarów (6,902)
  48. Polanica-Zdrój (6,900)
  49. Twardogóra (6,866)
  50. Sobótka (6,780)
  51. Piława Górna (6,779)
  52. Żmigród (6,573)
  53. Przemków (6,551)
  54. Lubawka (6,529)
  55. Piechowice (6,494)
  56. Stronie Śląskie (6,246)
  57. Lądek-Zdrój (6,181)
  58. Ścinawa (5,934)
  59. Pieńsk (5,799)
  60. Szczawno-Zdrój (5,506)
  61. Kąty Wrocławskie (5,418)
  62. Bolków (5,380)
  63. Jaworzyna Śląska (5,240)
  64. Szczytna (5,234)
  65. Jedlina-Zdrój (5,116)
  66. Duszniki-Zdrój (5,113)
  67. Bierutów (5,066)
  68. Karpacz (5,063)
  69. Olszyna (4,786)
  70. Leśna (4,752)
  71. Świeradów-Zdrój (4,554)
  72. Mieroszów (4,515)
  73. Zawidów (4,412)
  74. Mirsk (4,136)
  75. Nowogrodziec (4,055)
  76. Wojcieszów (3,940)
  77. Siechnice (3,851)
  78. Prochowice (3,702)
  79. Niemcza (3,121)
  80. Węgliniec (3,072)
  81. Złoty Stok (2,930)
  82. Bardo (2,860)
  83. Wąsosz (2,828)
  84. Międzylesie (2,776)
  85. Radków (2,460)
  86. Świerzawa (2,439)
  87. Międzybórz (2,356)
  88. Wiązów (2,230)
  89. Prusice (2,203)
  90. Wleń (1,884)
  91. Lubomierz (1,818)

Administrative division

Map of the powiats (counties)
The Skull Chapel in Kudowa
The Church of Peace in Świdnica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Church of Peace in Jawor, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Lower Silesian Voivodeship is divided into 30 counties (powiats), four of which are city counties. These are further divided into 169 gminas.

Lower Silesia is divided into three districts administracyji province government, the capital of Wrocław (administrative region):[5]

800-year old Vang stave church in Karpacz
Abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict in Krzeszów

Świdnica, Kłodzko, Ząbkowice Śląskie, Dzierżoniów

  • 2 second district Legnicki
  • Powiats in the district

Glogów, Jawor, Lubin, Polkowice, Złotoryja

Boleslawiec, Kamienna Góra, Luban, Lwówek Slaski, Zgorzelec.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).

English and
Polish names		 Area
(km²)		 Population
(2014)		 Seat Other towns Total
gminas
City counties
Wrocław 293 633 105 1
Wałbrzych 84.70 117 264 1
Legnica 56.29 101 768 1
Jelenia Góra 109.22 81 640 1
Land counties
Wałbrzych County
powiat wałbrzyski		 430.22 57 620 Wałbrzych * Boguszów-Gorce, Głuszyca, Szczawno-Zdrój, Jedlina-Zdrój, Mieroszów 9
Kłodzko County
powiat kłodzki		 1643.37 164 155 Kłodzko Nowa Ruda, Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Kudowa-Zdrój, Polanica-Zdrój, Stronie Śląskie, Lądek-Zdrój, Szczytna, Duszniki-Zdrój, Międzylesie, Radków 14
Świdnica County
powiat świdnicki		 742.89 160 658 Świdnica Świebodzice, Strzegom, Żarów, Jaworzyna Śląska 8
Lubin County
powiat lubiński		 711.99 106 437 Lubin Ścinawa 4
Dzierżoniów County
powiat dzierżoniowski		 478.34 104 285 Dzierżoniów Bielawa, Gola Dzierżoniowska, Niemcza, Pieszyce, Piława Górna 7
Oleśnica County
powiat oleśnicki		 1049.74 106 167 Oleśnica Syców, Twardogóra, Bierutów, Międzybórz 8
Wrocław County
powiat wrocławski		 1116.15 129 576 Wrocław * Sobótka, Kąty Wrocławskie, Siechnice 9
Zgorzelec County
powiat zgorzelecki		 838.11 92 799 Zgorzelec Bogatynia, Pieńsk, Zawidów, Węgliniec 7
Bolesławiec County
powiat bolesławiecki		 1303.26 90 295 Bolesławiec Nowogrodziec 6
Głogów County
powiat głogowski		 443.06 90 194 Głogów 6
Trzebnica County
powiat trzebnicki		 1025.55 83 176 Trzebnica Oborniki Śląskie, Żmigród, Prusice 6
Oława County
powiat oławski		 523.73 75 869 Oława Jelcz-Laskowice 4
Ząbkowice Śląskie County
powiat ząbkowicki		 801.75 67 614 Ząbkowice Śląskie Ziębice, Złoty Stok, Bardo 7
Jelenia Góra County
powiat jeleniogórski		 628.21 65 069 Jelenia Góra * Kowary, Szklarska Poręba, Piechowice, Karpacz 9
Polkowice County
powiat polkowicki		 779.93 63 185 Polkowice Chocianów, Przemków 6
Lubań County
powiat lubański		 428.30 55 919 Lubań Olszyna, Leśna, Świeradów-Zdrój 7
Legnica County
powiat legnicki		 744.60 54 929 Legnica * Chojnów, Prochowice 8
Jawor County
powiat jaworski		 581.25 51 949 Jawor Bolków 6
Środa Śląska County
powiat średzki		 703.68 52 543 Środa Śląska 5
Lwówek Śląski County
powiat lwówecki		 709.94 47 120 Lwówek Śląski Gryfów Śląski, Mirsk, Wleń, Lubomierz 5
Wołów County
powiat wołowski		 675.00 47 475 Wołów Brzeg Dolny 3
Kamienna Góra County
powiat kamiennogórski		 396.13 44 824 Kamienna Góra Lubawka 4
Złotoryja County
powiat złotoryjski		 575.45 44 893 Złotoryja Wojcieszów, Świerzawa 6
Strzelin County
powiat strzeliński		 622.27 44 322 Strzelin Wiązów 5
Milicz County
powiat milicki		 715.01 37 286 Milicz 3
Góra County
powiat górowski		 738.11 36 321 Góra Wąsosz 4
* seat not part of the county

Governors

Name Period
Witold Krochmal 4 January 1999 - 22 October 2001
Ryszard Nawrat 22 October 2001 - 21 March 2003
Stanisław Łopatowski 31 March 2003 - 21 December 2005
Krzysztof Grzelczyk 21 December 2005 - 29 November 2007
Rafał Jurkowlaniec 29 November 2007 - 1 December 2010
Aleksander Skorupa 28 December 2010 -

See also

References

  1. ↑ Arkadiusz Belczyk,Tłumaczenie polskich nazw geograficznych na język angielski [Translation of Polish Geographical Names into English], 2002-2006.
  2. ↑ "Past and Present Regions of Poland - Lower Silesia". Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-16. page 9
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  5. ↑ Internet, JSK. "Delegatury Urzędu - Dolnośląski Urząd Wojewódzki". Retrieved 10 March 2017.

Coordinates: 51°05′N 16°24′E / 51.083°N 16.400°E / 51.083; 16.400

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