1) Opole Voivodship (since 1999) or Opole Silesia (Polish: województwo opolskie, Śląsk Opolski) is an administrative and local government region created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Opole (2) and parts of Czestochowa voivodships as a result of Local Government Reogranization Act of 1998. The voivodship's name recalls the region's biggest city.
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2 Economy 3 Universities 4 Tourism 5 External links 6 Previous Opole Voivodships |
The Opole voivodship lies in south-western Poland. The major part of the voivodship's area is situated on the Silesian Lowland (Nizina Slaska). In the east, the region touches upon the Silesian Uplands (Wyzyna Slaska) with the famous St. Anne Mountain; there is the Sudeten range to the south-west Opawskie Mountains. The Odra river cuts across the middle of the voivodship. The Opole voivodship is the smallest region in the administrative make-up of the country, both in terms of area and population. However, its geographical location, economic potential and qualifications of its inhabitants make it an attractive partner for cooperation with other Polish regions (especially the Lower Silesian and Silesian Voivodships), as well as with the foreign ones. Formed in 1997, the Pradziad Euroregion eases the economic, cultural and tourist exchange between the border areas of Poland and the Czech Republic. The Opole voivodship has the highest percentage of the German
minority of all voivodships of the country. The transport connection from
Germany to Ukraine goes through Opolskie. The region has four border
crossings and direct rail connections to all important Polish cities, as well
as to Frankfurt, Munich, Budapest, Kiev and the Baltic harbours. All of these
add to the advantages for investors in the Opole region, who want to
establish themselves not only on the Polish market but also in Germany, Czech
Republic, Ukraine, Russia and Slovakia.
The Opole voivodship is an industrial as well as an agricultural region. With respect to mineral
resources, of major importance are deposits of building raw materials, i.e.
limestone (Strzelce Opolskie), marl (near Opole), marble and basalt. The
favourable climate, fertile soils and high farming culture contribute to the
development of agriculture, which is among the most productive in the country.
A total of 19 industries are represented in the voivodship. The most important
are cement and lime, furniture, food, car manufacturing and chemical
industries. In 1997, the biggest production growth in the area was in
companies producing wood and wood products, electrical equipment, machinery and
appliances, as well as cellulose and paper products. In 1997, the top company
in the region was Zaklady Azotowe S.A. in Kedzierzyn-Kozle whose income was over PLN 860 million. The voivodship's economy consists of more than 53,000 businesses, mostly small and medium-sized, employing over 332,000 people.
Manufacturing companies employ over 89,000 people. 95,7% of all the region's
business operate in the private sector.
There are following state-run universities in the region: the newly created
University of Opole, the Opole Technical University and the Theological Faculty
of the University of Opole. All of them are based in the voivodship's capital.
Among the region's private schools, the Opole School of Management and
Administration has been certified as a degree granting institution by the
Ministry of National Education.
The Opole voivodship is a green region with three large lakes: Turawskie,
Nyskie and Otmuchowskie (the latter two are connected). The Opawskie Mountains
are extremely popular. The region also includes the castle in Brzeg, built during
the reign of Piast dynasty - pearl of the Silesian Renaissance,
the Franciscan monastery on top of St. Anne Mountain, as well as the medieval
defense fortifications in Paczkow (referred to as the Polish Carcassonne).
The region is characterised by having the warmest climate in the country.
3) Opole Voivodship (1950-1975) - Administrative region (out of 17) of People's Republic of Poland (1950-1975) created as result of partition of Katowice Voivodship in 1950
Voivodships of Poland:Geographical location
Administrative division
Economy
Universities
Tourism
External links
Previous Opole Voivodships
Capital city: Opole
Major cities and towns: (population in 1995):
Greater Poland Voivodship | Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship | Lesser Poland Voivodship | Lodz Voivodship | Lower Silesian Voivodship | Lublin Voivodship | Lubusz Voivodship | Masovian Voivodship | Opole Voivodship | Subcarpathian Voivodship | Podlasie Voivodship | Pomeranian Voivodship | Swietokrzyskie Voivodship | Silesian Voivodship | Warmian-Masurian Voivodship | West Pomeranian Voivodship