Transcript Silesia. Positive Energy. Presentation about Silesian October 2011 GENERAL INFORMATION The Voivodeship of Silesia is situated in the southern part of Poland. The region.

Silesia. Positive Energy.
Presentation about Silesian
October 2011
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Voivodeship of Silesia is situated in the southern part of Poland.
The region neighbours Slovakia and Czech Republics from the south, Opole
province from the west, the voivodeship of Lodz from the north, Małopolskie
and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships from the east . The area of the
voivodeship covers 12 300 km2, and the number of inhabitants is almost 5
million. The Voivodeship is the 14th largest, and 2nd most populous in
Poland
GENERAL INFORMATION
INFRASTRUCTURE
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Thanks to the most developed transport network the Katowice Region is conveniently situated for travel
by car. The Voivodeship's transport attractiveness is even higher due to the International Airport in
Pyrzowice. The "Katowice: IAP has direct international connections with, among others, Frankfurt and
Düsseldorf and via these airports practically with the whole world. The permanent growth in the number
of connection is observed, including with such cities as Dortmund, Dublin, Cologne, London, Milan, Paris,
Rome, cities in Asia and Africa. There are two passenger terminals ( one opened in July 2007) and the
cargo Terminal, opened in 2004. The airport in Katowice has a very fast growth of passenger trafficalmost 3,6 mln passengers a year. About 30 regular connections are operating here served by EuroLOT,
LOT, Lufthansa, Wizz Air. Additionally, there is another small airport in the Muchowiec district with an
operating grassy runway. It is going to be reconstructed into a modern airport soon. Katowice has a well
developed railway system served by InterCity and EuroCity. The travelling speed and high frequency of
the trains to Katowice from other cities in Poland and Europe is a great facility for passengers.
KATOWICE
Katowice – the capital of the region is located in the centre of the Voivodeship . The
city covers 165 km2, whereas the number of inhabitants is above 300 000. It is the main
centre of the Upper Silesia Industrial Region. Katowice and the whole region traditionally
have been connected with heavy industry. Recently a lot of hard coal mines and steelworks
were closed. The remaining seven coal mines were joined into Katowice Holding Company.
The heavy industry including energy sector altogether still generates above 25% of the
citiy`s real property tax receipts. Buildings, which formerly belonged to industrials plants
are transformed into shops, supermarkets, museums and entertainment centres. For
example, on the site of the former coal mine Gottwald- the Silesia City Center was created
– now one of the biggest and the most exclusive shopping centre in Poland, and on the site
of the former coal mine Katowice the Silesia Museum is being built.
ECONOMY
Until quite recently most citizens in Europe – while thinking of the Silesia Region, have
had a typical industrial region in front of their eyes. However, restructuring in the recent years has
caused systematic changes in the economic structure of the Voivodeship. Now it is one of the
most dynamically developing regions in Poland. 13% of Poland's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
is generated here, giving the Voivodeship the second highest rank in Poland. GDP per inhabitant
is higher than the national average. What is worth mentioning, the share of market and nonmarket services is significant, ranking Silesia first in Poland
ECONOMY
It was clearly noticeable that great process of technical transformation has been carried
out in the economy here. The economic transformations going on in the region have
resulted in a significant change in the structure of the gross added value (the newly
produced value) generated in the region. Over 430,000 national economy entities are
registered in the Silesian Voivodeship. The largest part is comprised of natural persons
running a business activity and companies and commercial law partnerships . The least
numerous is the group of state-owned enterprises. The whole industry reports a decreased
share of mining and metallurgy, which until recently were predominant in the economy of
the Voivodeship.The role of the sector of small and medium –sized enterprises is
increasing systematically, creating new possibilities for employment in various branches.
At the same time this process generates the groups of employees being more resistant to
economy changes.
ECONOMY
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Undoubtedly, the Silesian Voivodeship's strong points are modernity and innovations. Traditional
Silesian industrial branches were the basis on which new enterprisers were developed. There is also
enormous potential in the qualified working staff in the area. The whole industry reports an increased
share of the electro-engineering industry, the information technology industry, power industry and the
most rapid growth, the automotive industry and food industry.
The vision of development stresses the necessity to improve the quality of public
services and the economic development of the region, at the same time being a continuation of already
implemented paths of development of the voivodeship. On the basis of this vision strategic objectives
have been set, followed by specification of the directions of actions and undertakings towards the
increase in employment, innovations, new technologies, know-how and competitiveness in international
markets.
CULTURE
The culture of the Silesian Voivodeship is characterized by diversity
resulting from the intermingling of different cultural traditions and new forms
of expressions presented by modern creators. Our Voivodeship is a
multicultural area, shaped by the influences of its residents of Polish,
German, Czech and Jewish origin (the history of the region and the social
processes in progress are typical for border areas). It is a region of
culturally-diversified areas and strong ethnic identity.
CULTURE
The examples are small wooden churches of unique construction found in three regions in
Poland but in the Silesian Province there are more of them than in entire Europe. There are also
monuments of industrial culture such as factory complexes in Giszowiec, Nikiszowiec, Sosnowiec
and underground excavations in Tarnowskie Góry, Zabrze and Rybnik. The number of
technological monuments is estimated at several thousands. In addition there are monuments of
habitable architecture (e.g. 38 urban matches, the Secession of Bytom) and landscape
arrangements (among them 98 parks). Borders which crossed this region were changed many
times but they left distinctive military architecture monuments ranging from fortified castles
situated in the Kraków - Częstochowa Upland to the Silesian fortified region dated in the 1930s.
CULTURE
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The "Technology monuments route in the Silesian Province" waits for all interested parties; there are old
mines, steelworks, power stations and factories on the route which are the important part of history and
industrial traditions of the region. Saved from pulling down or devastation these monuments of industrial
heritage are tourist attractions of the region. Additionally wooden churches signed on the "Wooden
architecture route" and the "Military architecture route" which is still being elaborated, are also worth
visiting
At the Historical Silver-Mine in Tarnowskie Góry the widespread maze of partially flooded underground,
once coal-mine headings and workings are waiting for visitors.The tourist route includes the part of 270 m
drifted in vessels. Within the area adjacent to the mine, there is the steam engine heritage park.
CULTURE
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There are two monumental buildings in Zabrze : The underground route „Guido, the "Queen
Louise" Mining Heritage Park and the Coal Mining Museum. It is the complex of monumental
mining objects with the possibility of visiting the underground headings and workings dating back
to the beginning of 19th century, travelling by the underground railway as well as the presentation
of the monumental and contemporary mining devices in operation. The project „Zabrze – a city for
tourists` needs” carried out with the use of European funds is aimed at adapting existing
monuments to tourists` needs.
A possibility of visiting the Tychy Princes' Brewery and Museum of Brewing Industry in Tychy is
the additional attraction as well as the Museum of Brewing Industry, the only in Poland, that
presents the history of beer dating back to 1629 in an original and modern manner and the Tychy
Princes' Brewery. The visit ends in tasting of beer.
CULTURE
The voivodeship has a strong cultural base, consisting of 1,349 cultural institutions and
establishments owned by 185 local government units of the Silesian Voivodeship, 18 of which
were established by the local government of the Silesian Voivodeship.
Among 18 artistic institutions owned by the local government of the Silesian Voivodeship, there
are 3 theatres: drama theatre - Theatre of Silesia in Katowice, musical theatre - Theatre of
Entertainment in Chorzów, and opera theatre - Silesian Opera in Bytom where premieres are
usually great events and where educational activities are carried out. Thanks to such activities
spectators have the possibility to admire the most impressive preformances from all over the
country.
CULTURE
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The Silesian Opera in Bytom is the organizer of the Adam Didur Opera Singers Competition,
which in 2004 for the first time had an international dimension. The Opera, as the first institution of that
kind in Poland was awarded a Platinium Record for the recording of "Nabucco" by G. Verdi in 2003
The Silesian Philharmonic is the organizer of the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Contest for
Conductors, which was organized for the eighth time in 2007 under the honourable auspices of the
President of the Republic of Poland .
CULTURE
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The Cinematic Institution "Silesia Film" operates in the field of cinema culture popularization. In
the organizational framework of the institution, after thorough restructuring of the "Kosmos" cinema, a
modern Cinema Centre with the Silesian Film Library was established in Katowice in 2006, and in 2005 the
"Rialto" cinema-theatre was modernized. The Voivodeship's self-government handed over the "Silesia
Film" 1 mln PLN to assist film production which was the initiative aimed at supporting the audiovisual
production carried out by K. Kutz, Lech Majewski, Magdalena Piekorz, Andrzej Celiński to promote young
talented film producers.
CULTURE
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One of the crucial tasks undertaken by the Silesian Voivodeship is to promote the
culture outside the region and the country through presentations of various areas of art, and through
international cooperation in this field. This task is fulfilled by the Ars Cameralis Silesia Superioris Cultural
Institution - the Upper Silesian Chamber Art Festival, the only one of its kind in voivodeship local
governments. It mainly organizes presentations of the culture of our region within cooperation
agreements signed with European regions ( for example in 2001 and 2003 – the Silesian Voivodeship
Culture Days held in North Nadrenia-Westfalia and the Silesian Voivodeship Culture Days in Sweden in
2003.
Another promoter of our culture abroad is the Stanisław Hadyna Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble, which
in 2003 was awarded the Diploma of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Outstanding Contributions to the
Promotion of Poland in the World . The Silesian Opera in Bytom regularly tour Europe .
CUISINE
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What makes Silesian cuisine most famous is its cuisine. Upper Silesia, similarly to other regions
of Poland, has got its own traditional recipes which have been passed down from one generation to
another.
Of all the simple Silesian dishes the best known is zur (soup made from fermented barley with potatoes
and eggs), beaf roll stuffed with bacon, pickled cucumber and mustard and round shaped dumplings
made from boiled, grated and mashed potatoes
The Beskid Mountains are best-known for knuckle of pork stewed in beer with plenty of
vegetables. There are also two popular soups: the local variety of żur, rye-flour soup with whey, and
kwaśnica, a soup of brined cabbage with plenty of pork meat (some of it smoked). pork meat (some of it
smoked).
The kitchen of the Tatran and Podhalanian highlanders would be difficult to imagine without the
famous ewe's-milk cheeses: bundz and oscypek.
The region is also famous for its brewing traditions – it is here where the best known beer brands
are Żywiec and Tyskie.
EDUCATION
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The regional educational base comprises the network of 3,475 educational units of all the
levels of education which is the one-tenth of the country’s educational base. The largest number of pupils (43.8%)
is educated in the vocational schools and a similar number (42.3) in grammar schools. The other 13.9% in the
basic schools. The most popular branches of studies among the students are those associated with social
sciences, economy and law. Teaching foreign languages starts early, in a primary school. It is English that is the
most popular among the foreign languages taught as compulsory subjects.
In the last years, a decrease of the youth’s interest in the basic vocational schools is observed and the turn to the
secondary education, both the general and technical. Currently, in the post-secondary schools, the predominant
group is made up of the IT graduates as well as the economic and administration.
The educational system undertakes actions to meet the needs in terms of formal constant education in the region
(with special emphasis on lifelong learning in the forms of the Third Age universities which educate elderly people
EDUCATION
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Young students can extend their horisons and develop their passions not only at schools but also in
scientific institutions. One of them is Silesian Planetarium with the astronomical observatory in the
Silesian Culture in the Recreation Park in Chorzów. It is the largest and oldest planetarium in Poland. It
was founded in 1955 to commemorate the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. The Planetarium's
meteorological and seismological stations conduct regular observations and host educational classes.
The Planetarium's 23-meter dome can seat some four hundred spectators viewing projections of the sky
from both analogue and digital planetarium projectors. It hosts regular public shows on astronomical
topics as well as a variety of other events. The observatory conducts research on comets and minor
planets. The Planetarium has an astronomical library of some 10,000 volumes and, in the courtyard, an
impressive sundial. The corridors host astronomy-related exhibits. is equipped with a 300-mm diameter
refracting telescope (the largest refractor in use in Poland) and a number of smaller instruments. On
cloudless days, visitors can view live images of the Sun and, after dusk, a range of celestial objects at a
magnification of up to 750 times.
EDUCATION
The Śląskie Voivodeship is one of the largest academic centres in Poland. The Silesian
Voivodeship is home to 46 higher schools, including 1 university, 4 higher schools of technology,
14 higher schools of economics, 2 higher schools of pedagogy, 1 medical academy, and 16 higher
vocational schools, offering a wide range of specializations and studies. The large number of
students chooses to study the branches associated with technology, industry and building
engineering. Almost two hundred thousand students are regularly educated in the region, having
possibility to gain practical knowledge and creative skills in order to adjust actions to the needs of
the regional labor and education market. The Silesian Adam Graczyński Scholarship Funds
assists every year the best students in the region.
SPORT
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The region boasts 31 Polish football champions, country bronze medals won by
basket-ballers, hockey players, volley- ball players (men and women), hand-ball players (men and
women), Any other region can not boast such achievements. Other sport disciplines popular here are
also worth mentioning: athletics, skiing, biathlon, fencing, archery and acrobatics. In the Silesian
Province neither outstanding well-known sportsmen nor sportswomen are lacking in all disciplines.
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Among summer sports it is football that plays the leading role. The Province has been represented in the
Polish Premier League by clubs: Górnik Zabrze and Ruch Chorzów (both possess 14 Polish
championship titles) They have numerous fans all over the country and abroad. It is here where the
Górnik Zabrze club played great matches in the Polish and Cup competitions with such players as
Włodzimierz Lubański, Stanisław Oślizło, Zygfryd Szołtysik, Jerzy Gorgoń, Hubert Kostka – whose the
whole football Europe envied us. It is also difficult to forget about the legend of the „BLUE” club - Gerard
Cieślik and his two excellent goals scored during the match with the USSR in 1957.
Today there are three football teams in the extra-class, among the best are Ruch Chorzów, Górnik
Zabrze and the precious one- Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała.
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SPORT
While describing sport life in the Silesia region we can not overlook the Silesian Stadium and the
Sports Hall "Spodek, where great sport stars were received. The National Stadium in Chorzów is a special
place for Polish sports fans. It is here where our footballers used to win, overcoming such competitors as
the Soviet Union, England, Holland or Portugal. All those events were held with great applause of
thousands of fans. It is also here where we gained successes three times in the World Cup and once in
the Europe Cup. The Sports Hall "Spodek„ witnessed excellent basketball matches in the World League,
and hosted the final tournament EUROBASKET 2009 and group competitions in Europe Women
basketball championship. It is the venue for organizing plenty of cultural and sports events of
international character.