Wodzisław Śląski

Infobox Settlement
name = Wodzisław Śląski


image_caption = Wodzisław Old Town Squere

---

image_shield = POL Wodzisław Śląski COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Silesian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name3 = Wodzisław Śląski (urban gmina)
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name2 = Wodzisław
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mieczysław Kieca
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1257
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 49.62
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 50493
population_density_km2 = auto
population_metro = 650000
latd = 50 | latm = 0 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 18 | longm = 27 | longs = | longEW = E
elevation_min_m = 210
elevation_max_m = 290
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 44-286 to 44-373
website = http://www.wodzislaw-slaski.com.pl/

Wodzisław Śląski [IPA-pl|w|o|'|dź|i|s|ł|a|f|-|'|ś|l|ą|s|k|i] ( _de. Loslau) is a town in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland with 50,493 inhabitants (2007). It is the seat of Wodzisław County.

It was previously in Katowice Voivodeship (1975-1998); close to the border with the Czech Republic, about 290 km south of Warsaw and about 100 km west of Kraków, on the southern outskirts of the metropolitan area known as the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Polish: "Górnośląskie Zagłębie Węglowe", "GZW").

Geography

Location

In administrative terms, Wodzisław is an urban in the south-eastern part of Upper Silesia, now in Silesian Voivodeship in south Poland, within the south portion of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. It borders the towns of Pszów, Radlin and villages Marklowice, Mszana, Godów, Gorzyce and Lubomia. In geographical terms, it lies between the Vistula and Oder rivers, near Czech border. Several rivers flow through the city, the major two being the Leśnica and "Zawadka" rivers. Within 600 kilometres of Wodzisław are the capital cities of six countries: Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest and Warsaw.

Climate

The climate of the area is continental humid. The average temperature is 8 degrees Celsius (average -1.7°C in January and up to average 17.7°C in July). Yearly rainfall averages at 786 mm, the most rainy month being July. The area's characteristic weak and medium winds blow at about 4 m/s from from the south-west (Moravian Gate).

Districts

* Jedłownik Osiedle
* Jedłownik-Turzyczka-Karkoszka
* Kokoszyce
* (New city)
* Osiedla XXX-lecia - Piastów - Dąbrówki
* Radlin II
* Stare Miasto (Old city)
* Wilchwy
* Zawada

History

Late Middle Ages

The city's name derives from the Polish prince Władysław Opolski. He located city and funded in Wodzisław monastery in 1257 year.

The city's origins can be traced back into the 10th and 11th century, when three Slavic settlements existed on Wodzisław's present-day territory which eventually merged to form one town. In the course of the medieval eastward migration of German settlers (Ostsiedlung), Wodzisław, as many other Polish settlements, was incorporated (granted city status and right) according to the so-called Magdeburg Law at some point before 1257 (the exact date remains unknown). This, however, is not to be confused with a change in national affiliation; Wodzisław continued to be part of the Kingdom of Poland, until Silesia as a whole became a fiefdom of the Bohemian crown in 1327. The city continued to grow and developed into a regional trade centre. In the 15th century, the Hussites devastated the city. From 1526, Bohemia, including the fiefdom of Silesia, which Wodzisław was a part of, came under the authority of the Habsburg crown.

Early Modern Age

In century XVI and XVII also time Thirty Years' War Wodzisław been part of Habsburg Empire. After the end of the Thirty Years' War Wodzisław was destroyed. Never back to Middle Ages' "golden time".At the beginning of the War of the Austrian Succession between Frederick II of Prussia (the Great) and the Habsburg empress Maria Theresa of Austria, the greatest part of Silesia, including Wodzisław, was annexed by Prussia in 1740, which Austria eventually recognized in 1763. Coal mining gained importance for Wodzisław's economy as early as the 19th century.

20th century

After the end of World War I in 1918, Polish statehood was finally restored. Amidst an atmosphere of ethnic unrest, a referendum was organized to determine the future national affiliation of Upper Silesia. Although an overall majority had opted for Germany, the area was finally divided in an attempt to satisfy both parties. Although both parties considered the territory they were assigned insufficient, the division was justified insofar as in the German and Polish parts a majority had voted in favour of the respective nation. The lowest amount of pro-German votes (nevertheless still 49 % of the total) was registered in the districts of Rybnik and Pszczyna (Pless). The city and the largest part of the district of Rybnik were attached to the territory of the Second Polish Republic; Wodzisław thus became part of a Polish state for the first time since 1526. The Upper Silesia plebiscite and eventual division of Upper Silesia were accompanied by three Silesian Uprisings of Polish milicians.

Within the Second Polish Republic of the interwar period, Wodzisław was part of the Silesian Voivodeship, which enjoyed far-reaching political and financial autonomy.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the border city Wodzisław returned under the rule of Germany, being in the part of Poland that was directly incorporated into the German state. The population was ethnically categorized and either "re-Germanized" or disfranchised and partially deported into the General Government as Poles.

In January 1945 came to Wodzisław dead march from Nazi German's death camp Auschwitz. When the Soviet army advanced on Poland, nine days before the Soviets arrived at the death camp at Auschwitz, the SS marched 60,000 prisoners out of the camp toward Wodzisław Śląski (22 January 1945), thirty-five miles away, where they were put on freight trains to other camps. Approximately 15,000 prisoners died on the way.

In March 1945 the Soviet army arrived near Wodzisław. 80% of the town was destroyed in the war. From 26 March 1945 Wodzisław was once more integrated into Poland.

Transport

Wodzisław is situated at the junction of several major lines of road, railway and air communication. The town is crossed by one national road ( "DK78" ) and tree regional roads running from Gliwice to Ostrava and regional roads from Żory and Jastrzębie Zdrój to Racibórz ( "DW932", "DW933", "DW935" ). The railway junction at "Wodzisław Śląski" is a major transshipment point. Thanks to its proximity to the A1 motorway, the town will be very well connected to three the international airport at Katowice - Pyrzowice (about 70 km from Wodzisław), Kraków - Balice ( about 100 km from Wodzisław) and Ostrava - Mosnov (about 40 km from Wodzisław).

Economy

Coal centre

Wodzisław is a medium coal and industrial centre. Near Wodzisław is fews coal mines (Wodzisław - 1 Maja Coal Mine, Radlin - Marcel Coal Mine, Pszów - Rydułtowy-Anna Coal Mine, Jastrzębie - Jas-Mos Coal Mine and one coconut in Radlin.

Trade and markets

* Kaufland
* Tesco
* Carrefour
* Billa
* Spar
* Plus discount
* Biedronka discount (3x)

Tourism

In contrast to the central part of the Upper Silesian Industry Area a short distance to the north, Wodzisław enjoys the reputation of a "green" city having a relatively clean environment. While the city is no centre of tourism, it does have various interesting sights and opportunities for recreation. The Beskidy Mountains, a popular recreational area, also for skiing, are within a 1 hours drive.

Sights worth visiting:
* the gothic church of "Sante Trinity" from XV century ("Kościół św. Trójcy"), erected in 1257 year;
* the Monastery from XVII century ( "Klasztor franciszkański" ), erected in 1257 year;
* the neo-gothic church of "Assumption of St. Mary" ("Kościół WNMP"),
* the building of the former district authority (XIX century),
* the neo-classical Wall tower ("Baszta rycerska"),
* the Classicism Palace oldest in Poland from 1745 year. (Today Museum),
* the old town squere (Rynek) ,
* the Palace in Kokoszyce (Pałac w Kokoszycach) 1823 year,
* the Synagogue (Synagoga) from 1826 year ( today "Rosmann")

Hotels

* Amadeus ul. Jastrzębska 9
* Leśniczówka ul. Marklowicka 21
* Odra ul. Czyżowicka 29

Education

In Wodzisław there are:
* 19 kindergartens
* 13 primary schools
* 4 gimnasia
* 5 high schools
* 2 colleges

port

* Odra Wodzisław - football team (1st in league in season 2003/2004)

ister towns

* Alanya
* Gladbeck
* Karviná
* Sallaumines

Famous People

* Bolesław Kominek
* Stanisław Oślizło
* Idzi Panic
* Ryszard Wieczorek
* Tomasz Sikora
* Leszek Blanik
* Wojtek Czyz
* Claudia Ciesla

Gallery

External links

* http://www.Wodzislaw-Slaski.pl/
* http://www.wodzislaw.zobacz.slask.pl/