Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Opole
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
{{Short description|City in Southern Poland}} {{Other places}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Opole | settlement_type = [[City with powiat rights|City county]] | native_name = {{nativename|szl|Ôpole}} | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 285 | image_style = border:1 | perrow = 1/3/2 | caption_align = center | image1 = Opole - Opolska Wenecja nocą.jpg{{!}}Młynówka canal | image2 = Na opolskim Rynku (cropped).jpg{{!}}Rynek (Market Square) | image3 = Opole - ratusz i zabytkowe kamieniczki w Rynku (cropped).jpg{{!}}Town Hall | image4 = Budynek dawnej Rejencji Opolskiej z Wieżą Piastowską (cropped).jpg{{!}}Piast Tower | image5 = Opole 0001.7 - widok na Stare Miasto.jpg{{!}}View of Old Town | image6 = Fontanna Opolska Ceres na tle budynku Sądu Okręgowego (cropped).jpg{{!}}Ceres fountain | caption1 = Młynówka canal | caption2 = Market Square | caption3 = Town Hall | caption4 = Piast Tower | caption5 = Old Town | caption6 = Ceres fountain }} | image_blank_emblem = Logo_of_Opole.png | blank_emblem_type = [[Brandmark]] | image_flag = POL Opole flag.svg | image_shield = POL Opole COA.svg | flag_link = Flag of Upper Silesia | pushpin_map = Poland | pushpin_label_position = bottom | coordinates = {{coord|50|40|N|17|56|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}} | subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]] | subdivision_name = {{POL}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Powiat|County]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Opole Voivodeship|Opole]] | subdivision_name2 = ''city county'' | established_title = Established | established_date = 8th century | established_title3 = Town rights | established_date3 = 1217 | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Arkadiusz Wiśniewski | governing_body = [[Opole City Council]] | area_total_km2 = 148.9 | area_metro_km2 = 338.4 | elevation_m = 176 | population_total = 127,387<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/poland/opolskie/admin/ | title=Poland: Opole Voivodeship (Counties and Communes) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map }}</ref> | population_as_of = 31 03 2021 census | population_density_km2 = 856 | population_metro = 146,522 | population_density_metro_km2 = 433 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 45-001 to 45-960 | area_code = +48 077 | website = https://www.opole.pl | timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]] | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] | utc_offset_DST = +2 | blank_name = [[Polish car number plates|Car plates]] | blank_info = OP }} '''Opole''' ({{IPA|pl|ɔˈpɔlɛ|lang|Pl-Opole.ogg}}; {{langx|de|Oppeln}}; {{langx|szl|Ôpole}};{{efn|{{langx|szl|label=[[Silesian orthography#Ślabikŏrz|Silesian PLS alphabet]]|Ôpole}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wachtyrz.eu/lekcyjo-nasz-dom-gorny-slonsk/|title=_Nasz dōm – Gōrny Ślōnsk!|author=R. Szyma|website=wachtyrz.eu|date=28 December 2020}}</ref> {{langx|szl|label=[[Silesian orthography#Steuer's alphabet|Steuer's Silesian alphabet]]|Uopole}}.}} {{langx|sli|label=[[Silesian German]]|Uppeln}}){{efn| * {{langx|de|Oppeln}} {{IPA|de|ˈɔpl̩n||De-Oppeln.ogg}}; * {{langx|cs|Opolí}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prirucka.ujc.cas.cz/?slovo=Opol%C3%AD|title=Opolí|website=prirucka.ujc.cas.cz|language=cs}}</ref> * {{langx|la|Oppelia}}, {{lang|la|Oppolia}} or {{lang|la|Opulia}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opole.pl/opole-miasto-z-roznych-perspektyw/|website=opole.pl|author=A. Wiśniewski|title=Opole – miasto z różnych perspektyw|language=pl}}</ref><ref>G. Staniszewski (red.), B. Szafraniec, U. Zajączkowska, M. Krajewski, ''Opole: Urząd Miasta Opola'', ISBN 978-83-87401-04-7</ref>}} is a city located in southern [[Poland]]{{TERYT}} on the [[Oder River]] and the historical capital of [[Upper Silesia]]. With a population of approximately 127,387 as of the 2021 census,<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/poland/opolskie/admin/ | title=Poland: Opole Voivodeship (Counties and Communes) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map }}</ref> it is the capital of [[Opole Voivodeship]] (province) and the seat of [[Opole County]]. Its metropolitan area was home to 146,522 inhabitants. It is the largest city in its province. Its history dates to the 8th century, and Opole is one of the oldest cities in Poland. An important stronghold in Poland, it became a capital of a [[Duchy of Opole|duchy]] within medieval Poland in 1172, and in 1217 it was granted [[city rights]] by Duke [[Casimir I of Opole]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mapofpoland.net/Opole,description.html|title=Opole - description, location, history|website=Mapofpoland.net|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> the great-grandson of Polish Duke [[Bolesław III Wrymouth]]. During the [[Medieval Period]] and the [[Renaissance]], the city was known as a centre of commerce; several main trade routes intersected here, which helped to generate steady profits from transit trade. The rapid development of the town was also caused by the establishment of a seat of regency in Opole in 1816. The first railway connection between Opole, [[Brzeg]] and [[Wrocław]] was opened in 1843 and the first manufacturing plants were constructed in 1859, which greatly contributed to the city's regional significance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/article/opole/3,local-history/ |title=Local history - Information about the town - Opole - Virtual Shtetl |access-date=2016-10-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009174246/http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/article/opole/3,local-history/ |archive-date=2016-10-09 }}</ref> The city's extensive heritage entails several cultures of Central Europe, as it was under periods of Polish, [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemian (Czech)]], [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussian]], and German rule. Opole formally became part of Poland again in 1945 after the end of World War II. Many [[Germans|German]] Upper Silesians and Poles of ethnic [[Germany|German]] ancestry still reside in the Opole region; but, following the [[Flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland during and after World War II|1945–46 expulsions]], in the city of the 21st century, ethnic Germans make up less than 3% of the population. There are four higher education establishments in the city: the [[Opole University]], [[Opole University of Technology]], a Medical College and the private Higher College of Management and Administration. [[National Festival of Polish Song in Opole|The National Festival of Polish Song]] has been held here annually since 1963. Each year new regular events, fairs, shows and competitions take place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.poland.travel/en-gb/cities/opole-history-and-song-festivals |title=Opole – history and song festivals |first=Agata |last=Witosławska |website=Poland.travel |access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> Opole is sometimes referred to as "Polish Venice",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://studiowac.pl/2235/studia-w-opolu-polska-wenecja-moze-zaoferowac-wam-nie-tylko-wspaniale-widoki-ale-takze-cudowna-atmosfere/|title=Studia w Opolu. Polska Wenecja może zaoferować Wam nie tylko wspaniałe widoki, ale także cudowną atmosferę.|website=Studiowac.pl – wyszukiwarka uczelni i katalog kierunków studiów, matura z polskiego, poradniki maturalne|date=30 July 2012 |language=pl|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> because of its picturesque Old Town and several [[canals]] and bridges connecting parts of the city. ==Names and etymology== The name ''Opole'' likely originated from [[Opole (administrative)|the medieval Slavic term for a group of settlements]].<ref name=slowgeo>[http://dir.icm.edu.pl/pl/Slownik_geograficzny/Tom_VII/560 Opole], ''Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich'', Tom VII, nakł. Filipa Sulimierskiego i Władysława Walewskiego, 1880-1914</ref> Names for the city in other relevant languages include {{langx|sli|Uppeln}}, {{langx|cs|Opolí}}, {{langx|la|Oppelia}}, {{lang|la|Oppolia}} or {{lang|la|Opulia}}. ==History== ===In Medieval Poland=== [[File:Opole, rokonstrukcja grodu X-XII w.jpg|thumb|left|Contemporary model of the early medieval Polish stronghold in Opole]] [[File:Opole 0011 - mury przy Katedrze Świętego Krzyża.jpg|thumb|left|A fragment of [[medieval]] defensive walls that once surrounded Opole]] Opole's history begins in the 8th century. At this time, according to the archeological excavations,<ref>B. Gediga, ''Początki i rozwój wczesnośredniowiecznego ośrodka miejskiego na Ostrówku w Opolu'', [[Slavia Antiqua]] t. 16, Wrocław 1970.</ref> the first settlement was founded on the Ostrówek – the northern part of the Pasieka Island in the middle of the [[Oder River|Oder river]]. In the early 10th century it developed into one of the main "[[Gord (archaeology)|gords]]" of the [[Lechites|Lechitic]] (Polish) [[Opolans]] tribe. At the end of the century [[Silesia]] became part of Poland and was ruled by the [[Piast dynasty]]; the land of the pagan Opolanie was conquered by Duke [[Mieszko I]] in 992. From the 11th–12th centuries it was also a [[castellany]]. After the death of Duke [[Władysław II the Exile]], Silesia was divided in 1163 between two Piast lines – the [[Wrocław]] line in [[Lower Silesia]] and the Opole-[[Racibórz]] of Upper Silesia. Opole would [[Duchy of Opole|become a duchy]] in 1172 and would share much in common with the [[Duchy of Racibórz]], with which it was often combined. In 1281 Upper Silesia was divided further between the heirs of the dukes. The Duchy of Opole was temporarily reestablished in 1290. In the early 13th century, Duke [[Casimir I of Opole]] decided to move the settlement from the Pasieka Island to the right shore of the Oder river (since the 17th century, the old [[stream bed]] of the Oder, known as the Młynówka). All of the inhabitants had to be moved in order to accommodate the castle that was built in place of the old city.<ref name="Opole - Monografia miasta">W. Dziewulski, F. Hawranek, ''Opole - Monografia miasta'', [[Silesian Institute in Opole|Instytut Śląski]] Opole 1975, p. 57.</ref> Former inhabitants of Ostrówek, together with German merchants that immigrated from the West, received the first town rights probably as early as around 1217, although this date is disputed.<ref>This opinion is shared i.e. by W. Dziewulski, F. Hawranek, ''Opole - Monografia miasta'', [[Silesian Institute in Opole|Instytut Śląski]] Opole 1975, p. 57 and G. A. Stenzel, ''Geschichte Schlesiens'', T1. 1, Breslau 1853, p. 41. The opposite opinion is presented i.e. by K. Buczek, ''Targi i miasta na prawie polskim (okres wczesnośredniowieczny)'', Wrocław 1964, p. 114.</ref> Opole received [[German town law]] in 1254, which was expanded with Neumarkt law in 1327. Opole developed during the rule of duke [[Bolko I of Opole]]. The castle was finally completed around this time and new buildings, including the [[city walls]] and the Holy Cross Church, were constructed. [[File:Oppeln 1535.jpg|thumb|The oldest known view of Opole seen from southeast, circa 1535]] Along with most of [[Silesia]], in 1327 the Duchy of Opole came under the sovereignty of the [[Kingdom of Bohemia]], itself part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. In 1521 the Duchy of Opole inherited the Duchy of [[Racibórz]] (''Ratibor''), by then also known by its German equivalent – Oppeln. The second castle of Opole was probably founded in the 14th century by duke [[Vladislaus II of Opole|Vladislaus II]], though some sources claim that it was originally a wooden stronghold of Opole's [[castellan]] dating into 12th century.<ref name="Opole - Monografia miasta p. 58–60">W. Dziewulski, F. Hawranek, ''Opole - Monografia miasta'', [[Silesian Institute in Opole|Instytut Śląski]] Opole 1975, pp. 58–60.</ref> ===Austrian Habsburgs and Polish Vasas rule=== With the death of King [[Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia|Ludvík II]] of [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] at the [[Battle of Mohács]], Silesia was inherited by [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand I]], placing Opole under the sovereignty of the [[Habsburg monarchy]] of [[Austria]]. The Habsburgs took control of the region in 1532 after the last Piast duke of Opole, [[Jan II the Good]], died. At that time the city was still mainly Polish-speaking (around 63%), with other nationalities represented mainly by Germans, Czechs and Jews.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} The last two dukes of Opole, [[Nicholas II of Niemodlin|Nicholas II]] and Janusz II the Good, did not master the German language.<ref name="Opole - Monografia miasta p.78">W. Dziewulski, F. Hawranek, ''Opole - Monografia miasta'', [[Silesian Institute in Opole|Instytut Śląski]] Opole 1975, p.78.</ref> Beginning in 1532 the Habsburgs pawned the duchy to different rulers including several [[monarchs of Poland]] (see [[Dukes of Opole]]). After the [[Deluge (history)|Swedish invasion of Poland]], in 1655 the King of Poland, [[John II Casimir Vasa]], stayed with his entire court in Opole. In Opole in November 1655, the [[Universal (act)|Universal]] of Opole (''Uniwersał opolski'') was issued by the King, calling for Poles to rise against the Swedes, who at that time occupied a large part of Poland. [[File:Oppeln F.B. Werner.png|thumb|18th-century view of Opole]] With the abdication of King [[John II Casimir]] of [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]] as the last Duke of Opole in 1668, the region passed to the direct control of the Habsburgs. At the beginning of the 18th century, the German population of Opole was estimated at 20%.<ref name="Opole - Monografia miasta p.159">W. Dziewulski, F. Hawranek, ''Opole - Monografia miasta'', [[Silesian Institute in Opole|Instytut Śląski]] Opole 1975, p.159.</ref> ===In Prussian Silesia=== King [[Frederick II of Prussia]] conquered most of Silesia from Austria in 1740 during the [[Silesian Wars]]; Prussian control was confirmed in the [[Peace of Breslau]] in 1742. In the 18th century, Opole belonged to the tax inspection region of [[Prudnik]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-16 |title=Historia Powiatu Prudnickiego - Starostwo Powiatowe w Prudniku |url=http://www.powiatprudnicki.pl/powiatprudnicki-historiapowiatu.html |access-date=2021-12-07 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116133028/http://www.powiatprudnicki.pl/powiatprudnicki-historiapowiatu.html |archive-date=16 November 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Under Prussian rule the ethnic structure of the city began to change. In the early 20th century the number of Polish and bilingual citizens of Opole, according to the official German statistics, varied between 25% and 31%.<ref name="Opole - Monografia miasta p. 263–268">W. Dziewulski, F. Hawranek, ''Opole - Monografia miasta'', [[Silesian Institute in Opole|Instytut Śląski]] Opole 1975, p. 263–268".</ref> Nonetheless, Opole remained an important cultural, social and political center for the Poles of Upper Silesia. From 1849 the Polish newspaper ''Gazeta Wiejska dla Górnego Śląska'' was published in Opole. Polish reporter and opponent of [[Germanisation]] [[Bronisław Koraszewski]] founded the newspaper ''Gazeta Opolska'' in 1890 and the People's Bank in Opole (''Opolski Bank Ludowy'') in 1897.<ref>T. Hunt Tooley, ''National Identity and Weimar Germany. Upper Silesia and the Eastern Border, 1918–1922'', University of Nebraska Press, 1997, p. 15</ref> Another Polish newspaper, the ''Nowiny'' was founded by Franciszek Kurpierz in 1911. From 1816–1945 Opole was the capital of [[Regierungsbezirk]] Oppeln within Prussia. The city became part of the [[German Empire]] during the [[unification of Germany]] in 1871. ===After World War I=== [[File:1921 UpperSilesia 15 25Pfg Oppeln Opole Poland.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Stamps after the plebiscite in August 1921 featured the German name of ''Oppeln'']] After the defeat of Imperial Germany in [[World War I]], a [[Silesian Plebiscite|plebiscite]] was held on 20 March 1921 in Oppeln to determine if the city would be in the [[Weimar Republic]] or become part of the [[Second Polish Republic]], which just regained independence. 20,816 (94.7%) votes were cast for Germany, 1,098 (5.0%) for Poland, and 70 (0.3%) votes were declared invalid. Voter participation was 95.9%. Results of the plebiscite in the Oppeln-Land county were different, with 30% of the population voting for Poland. The local newspaper ''Oppelner Nachrichten'' was published in Oppeln. Oppeln was the administrative seat of the [[Province of Upper Silesia]] from 1919–1939. In the years 1928–1931, by the decision of the German regional administration, the Piast Castle was demolished. Thanks to the strong opposition of the local Polish community and protests of the [[Union of Poles in Germany]], the castle tower was saved from demolition.<ref>''Spotkania z Zabytkami''. 6, 2005, p. 21. (in Polish)</ref> Nowadays called the ''Piast Tower'' it is one of the city's landmarks. In 1929, a Polish theatre from [[Katowice]] came to Opole to perform the opera ''[[Halka]]'' by [[Stanisław Moniuszko]]. After the performance, the actors were brutally beaten by a German militia with the silent consent of the German police.<ref>Dorota Simonides, Jan Zaremba, ''Śląskie miscellanea: literatura-folklor'', 2006, p. 82 (in Polish)</ref> [[File:Piastenschloss und Schlossteich in Oppeln.jpg|thumb|The [[:pl:Zamek Piastowski w Opolu|Piast Castle]], prior to its demolition by the German authorities]] Local Polish activists were intensively persecuted from 1937 onwards.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cygański|first=Mirosław|year=1984|title=Hitlerowskie prześladowania przywódców i aktywu Związków Polaków w Niemczech w latach 1939-1945|journal=Przegląd Zachodni|language=pl|issue=4|page=24}}</ref> The local ''[[Gestapo]]'' terrorized and spied on Polish activities in the German-held part of Upper Silesia, participated in espionage and sabotage in the Polish part of Silesia and prepared border provocations against Poland.<ref name=mc29>Cygański, p. 29</ref> There was strong [[Anti-Polish sentiment|anti-Polish]] [[Propaganda in Nazi Germany|propaganda]] in the city and region.<ref name=mc29/> The local Polish newspaper ''Nowiny Codzienne'' was frequently confiscated from 1937 and its editors were harassed, its work obstructed, its distributors persecuted, and its readers threatened.<ref>Cygański, p. 30–31</ref> In 1938–1939, the local ''Gestapo'' carried out [[Expulsion of Poles by Germany|expulsions]] of Polish activists from the region, which the local Polish press could still report.<ref>Cygański, p. 25</ref> On 2 July 1939 a Nazi militia attacked and severely beat Poles going to a Polish service in the Saint Sebastian Church.<ref name=mc30/> === World War II === [[File:WK15 Opole Główne (45) Lichen99.jpg|thumb|left|Plaque at the main railway station commemorating deportations of Poles from Opole to concentration camps in 1939]] On August 31, the day before the German [[invasion of Poland]] that began [[World War II]], the Germans began mass arrests of prominent Poles in the city, which were continued in September.<ref>Cygański, p. 32</ref> Among the arrested Poles were activists, entrepreneurs, journalists, editors, scout leaders, the director of the local Polish bank and the director of the local Polish library.<ref>Cygański, p. 32–34</ref> The ''Nowiny Codzienne'' newspaper was closed down on September 1, and its editorial team, including editor-in-chief Jan Łangowski, was deported to [[Nazi concentration camps|concentration camps]].<ref>Cygański, p. 33</ref> In September 1939, local Polish organizations were closed down by the German police and ''Gestapo'', and the assets of the local Polish bank were confiscated.<ref>Cygański, p. 32–33</ref> On 13 September and 4 October 1939, arrested Poles were deported from the city to concentration camps, men to [[Buchenwald concentration camp|Buchenwald]] and women to [[Ravensbrück concentration camp|Ravensbrück]].<ref>Cygański, p. 32, 35</ref> Some local Poles avoided arrest by escaping earlier to Poland.<ref name=mc30>Cygański, p. 30</ref> The German [[10th Army (Wehrmacht)|10th Army]] and [[14th Army (Wehrmacht)|14th Army]] attacked Poland from the city, and the ''[[Einsatzgruppen|Einsatzgruppe]]'' I and II followed the armies from Opole to various Polish cities to commit [[Nazi crimes against the Polish nation|crimes against the Polish people]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Wardzyńska|first=Maria|year=2009|title=Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion|language=pl|location=Warszawa|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|page=58}}</ref> After the defeat of Poland, Polish Eastern Upper Silesia was re-annexed to the Province of Upper Silesia and Oppeln lost its status as provincial capital to German-occupied [[Katowice]] (renamed ''Kattowitz''). Polish prisoners from the city co-founded the secret resistance movement in Buchenwald, while Polish escapees from the city participated in the [[Polish resistance movement in World War II|Polish resistance]] in [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|occupied Poland]].<ref>Cygański, p. 60–62</ref> Local members of the Polish resistance were expelled from the city.<ref>Cygański, p. 59</ref> During the war, the Nazis operated thirteen [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labour]] subcamps of the [[Stalag VIII-B|Stalag VIII-B/344]] [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|prisoner-of-war camp]] for [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] POWs in the city, and two in the present-day district of Groszowice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lamsdorf.com/working-parties.html|title=Working Parties|website=Lamsdorf.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029103834/https://www.lamsdorf.com/working-parties.html|access-date=12 November 2021|archive-date=29 October 2020}}</ref> The New Synagogue was built in 1893–1897, designed by Felix Henry. During the [[Kristallnacht]] on 9–10 November 1938 Nazis forced Rabbi Hans Hirschberg to set the building on fire. [[File:Oppeln-Rathaus-Aussen-vNorden-IMG 6080-5x5B-360x180G-PanoS-06-08-2024 (cropped)3.jpg|thumb|right|Architecture of the Main Marketplace]][[File:Opole - katedra i Most Piastowski.jpg|thumb|right|[[Piast dynasty|Piast]] Bridge and Opole Cathedral in the background with its two iconic [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] towers]] ===In modern Poland=== After the end of the Second World War in 1945, Oppeln was transferred from Germany to Poland, pursuant to the agreements of the [[Potsdam Conference]], and given its original Slavic name of Opole. Opole became part of the [[Katowice Voivodeship]] from 1946–1950, after which it became part of the [[Opole Voivodeship]]. Unlike other parts of the so-called [[Recovered Territories]], Opole and the surrounding region's indigenous population partly remained and was only partly [[expulsion of Germans after World War II|expelled as elsewhere]]. Over 1 million Silesians who considered themselves Poles or were treated as such by the authorities due to their language and customs were allowed to stay after they were verified as Poles in a special verification process. It involved declaring [[Polish people|Polish nationality]] and an oath of allegiance to the Polish nation. Additionally, many Poles displaced from the former Polish [[Kresy]] annexed by the USSR (for example [[Lviv|Lwów]]) came to Opole and the surrounding area and settled here after the Second World War.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dzieje.pl/aktualnosci/opolscy-kresowianie-wciaz-zyja-wspomnieniami-o-rodzinnych-stronach | title=Opolscy Kresowianie wciąż żyją wspomnieniami o rodzinnych stronach }}</ref> In the later years however many Germans (and German Silesians) left to [[West Germany]] to flee the communist [[Eastern Bloc]] (see [[Emigration from Poland to Germany after World War II]]). Today Opole, along with the surrounding region, is known as a centre of the [[German minority in Poland]] that recruits mainly from the descendants of the positively verified autochthons. In the city itself however only 2.46% of the inhabitants declared German nationality according to the last national census of 2002. On 1 January 2017 [[Borki, Opole Voivodeship|Borki]], [[Chmielowice, Opole Voivodeship|Chmielowice]], [[Czarnowąsy]], [[Krzanowice, Opole Voivodeship|Krzanowice]], [[Sławice]], [[Świerkle]], [[Winów]], [[Wrzoski, Opole Voivodeship|Wrzoski]], [[Żerkowice, Opole Voivodeship|Żerkowice]] as well as parts of [[Brzezie, Opole Voivodeship|Brzezie]], [[Dobrzeń Mały]] and [[Karczów, Opole Voivodeship|Karczów]] became a part of Opole, enlargening its population by about 9,500, and its area by over 5,300 ha, despite the protests of inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU20160001134|title=Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 19 lipca 2016 r. w sprawie ustalenia granic niektórych gmin i miast, nadania niektórym miejscowościom statusu miasta oraz zmiany nazwy gminy|website=isap.sejm.gov.pl|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tvn24.pl/wroclaw,44/opole-sie-powieksza-czesc-mieszkancow-niezadowolona,662315.html|title=Opole się powiększa kosztem okolicznych wsi. Ich mieszkańcy protestują."To skok na kasę"|work=TVN24.pl|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref> ==Historical population== {{Historical populations|1950|38464|1960|63500|1970|86900|1978|111266|1988|126404|2002|129946|2011|131867|2021|127387|footnote=Source:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.polskawliczbach.pl/Opole | title=Opole (Opolskie) » mapy, nieruchomości, GUS, noclegi, szkoły, regon, atrakcje, kody pocztowe, wypadki drogowe, bezrobocie, wynagrodzenie, zarobki, tabele, edukacja, demografia }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Demographic and occupational structure and housing conditions of the urban population in 1978-1988|url=https://statlibr.stat.gov.pl/exlibris/aleph/a22_1/apache_media/RQ1U9XAX48KJJDQ54QSAFQKQ6AK6GS.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Poland - National Censuses|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat/}}</ref>}} In the early 20th century the number of Polish and bilingual citizens of Opole, according to the official German statistics, varied from 25 to 31%.<ref name="Opole - Monografia miasta p. 263–268"/> [[File:Opolska Wenecja nocą1.jpg|thumb|Water canal along the Old Town]] ===German minority=== Alongside [[German language|German]] and [[Polish language|Polish]], many citizens of the city before 1945 used a strongly German-influenced [[Silesian language|Silesian]] dialect (sometimes called ''wasserpolnisch'' or ''wasserpolak''). Because of this, the post-war [[Polish People's Republic|Polish state]] administration after the annexation of Silesia in 1945 did not initiate a general [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II|expulsion of all former inhabitants]] of Opole, as was done in Lower Silesia, for instance, where the population almost exclusively spoke the German language. Because they were considered "[[Autochthonous language|autochthonous]]" (Polish), the Wasserpolak-speakers instead received the right to remain in their homeland after declaring themselves as Poles. Some German speakers took advantage of this decision, allowing them to remain in Opole, even when they considered themselves to be of German nationality. The city surroundings currently contain the largest German and Upper Silesian minorities in Poland. However, Opole itself is only 2.46% German.<ref name="www2.mswia.gov.pl">{{cite web|url=http://www2.mswia.gov.pl/portal.php?serwis=pl&dzial=61&id=37#niemcy|title=German minority in Poland on the Ministry of Interior and Administration webpage|website=2.mswia.gov.pl|access-date=26 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225161545/http://www2.mswia.gov.pl/portal.php?serwis=pl&dzial=61&id=37#niemcy|archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref> (See also [[Germans of Poland]].) ==Main sights== Opole hosts the annual [[National Festival of Polish Song in Opole|National Festival of Polish Song]]. The city is also known for its 10th-century Church of [[Adalbert of Prague|St. Adalbert]] and the 14th-century Church of the [[Christian cross|Holy Cross]]. There is a zoo, the [[Zoo Opole|Ogród Zoologiczny w Opolu]]. '''Structures and buildings''' * [[Piast]] Tower on the island, the only part that remained of the medieval Piast Castle, the local residence of the dukes of Opole * Holy Trinity Church, a 14th-century [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[Franciscan]] church, which contains a [[mausoleum]] of the dukes of the Opole line of the [[Piast dynasty]] * a 19th-century [[Town Hall]] * the [[Church of our Lady of Sorrows and St. Adalbert (Opole)|Church of our Lady of Sorrows and St. Adalbert]] (''Kościół Matki Boskiej Bolesnej i św. Wojciecha'') * the 14th-century [[Opole Cathedral|Holy Cross Cathedral]] (''Bazylika katedralna Podwyższenia Krzyża Świętego''), which contains the Piast Chapel with the tomb of [[Jan II the Good]], the last duke of Opole from the Piast dynasty * The [[Art Nouveau|art nouveau]] [[Most Groszowy|Penny Bridge]] (''Most Groszowy''), currently named Green Bridge (''Zielony Mostek'') * [[Opole Main Station]], an eclectic building from early 20th century. '''Museums''' * [[Diocesan Museum (Opole)|Diocesan Museum]] (''Muzeum Diecezjalne'') * [[Opole Regional Museum]] (''Muzeum Śląska Opolskiego'') * [[Opole Village Museum]] (''Muzeum Wsi Opolskiej'') * [[Central POW Museum]] (''Centralne Muzeum Jeńców Wojennych'') '''Cemetery''' * The Jewish Cemetery in Opole was established in 1822, and it is a peculiar pantheon of the Jews of Opole.<ref>{{cite web|title=JEWISH CEMETERY IN OPOLE (GRANICZNA STREET)|url=http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/article/opole/12,cemeteries/1595,the-jewish-cemetery-in-opole-graniczna-street-/|publisher=Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich|access-date=20 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=OPOLE: Opolskie|url=http://www.iajgsjewishcemeteryproject.org/poland/opole.html|publisher=International Jewish Cemetery Project|access-date=20 October 2012}}</ref> [[File:Uopole - panorama z opisem.jpg|thumb|center|1000px|Opole - a view of the city centre]] ==Geography== Opole is one of the warmest cities in Poland. The national all-time heat record was measured in Prószków, near Opole. The climate is [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] with sizeable [[humid continental climate|continental]] influences. {{Weather box | location = Opole (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present) | metric first = y | single line = y | Jan record high C = 15.8 | Feb record high C = 19.9 | Mar record high C = 24.5 | Apr record high C = 29.3 | May record high C = 33.9 | Jun record high C = 36.0 | Jul record high C = 37.1 | Aug record high C = 37.9 | Sep record high C = 35.4 | Oct record high C = 26.8 | Nov record high C = 21.9 | Dec record high C = 15.2 | year record high C = 37.9 | Jan high C = 2.5 | Feb high C = 4.3 | Mar high C = 8.9 | Apr high C = 15.5 | May high C = 20.2 | Jun high C = 23.6 | Jul high C = 25.8 | Aug high C = 25.6 | Sep high C = 20.1 | Oct high C = 14.2 | Nov high C = 8.2 | Dec high C = 3.5 | year high C = 14.4 | Jan mean C = -0.5 | Feb mean C = 0.7 | Mar mean C = 4.1 | Apr mean C = 9.6 | May mean C = 14.2 | Jun mean C = 17.8 | Jul mean C = 19.7 | Aug mean C = 19.4 | Sep mean C = 14.5 | Oct mean C = 9.6 | Nov mean C = 5.0 | Dec mean C = 0.8 | year mean C = 9.6 | Jan low C = -3.4 | Feb low C = -2.5 | Mar low C = 0.0 | Apr low C = 4.0 | May low C = 8.5 | Jun low C = 12.2 | Jul low C = 14.0 | Aug low C = 13.7 | Sep low C = 9.6 | Oct low C = 5.8 | Nov low C = 2.1 | Dec low C = -1.9 | year low C = 5.2 | Jan record low C = -28.0 | Feb record low C = -29.7 | Mar record low C = -22.3 | Apr record low C = -6.8 | May record low C = -2.5 | Jun record low C = -0.1 | Jul record low C = 4.8 | Aug record low C = 3.4 | Sep record low C = -2.6 | Oct record low C = -7.5 | Nov record low C = -12.9 | Dec record low C = -26.3 | year record low C = -29.7 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 31.5 | Feb precipitation mm = 29.0 | Mar precipitation mm = 35.2 | Apr precipitation mm = 36.9 | May precipitation mm = 62.6 | Jun precipitation mm = 78.2 | Jul precipitation mm = 89.4 | Aug precipitation mm = 54.2 | Sep precipitation mm = 56.7 | Oct precipitation mm = 41.5 | Nov precipitation mm = 37.8 | Dec precipitation mm = 31.9 | year precipitation mm = 585.0 | Jan snow depth cm = 6.4 | Feb snow depth cm = 6.0 | Mar snow depth cm = 3.5 | Apr snow depth cm = 0.9 | May snow depth cm = 0.0 | Jun snow depth cm = 0.0 | Jul snow depth cm = 0.0 | Aug snow depth cm = 0.0 | Sep snow depth cm = 0.0 | Oct snow depth cm = 0.4 | Nov snow depth cm = 2.4 | Dec snow depth cm = 4.2 | year snow depth cm = | unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 15.83 | Feb precipitation days = 13.63 | Mar precipitation days = 14.37 | Apr precipitation days = 10.93 | May precipitation days = 13.17 | Jun precipitation days = 13.27 | Jul precipitation days = 13.37 | Aug precipitation days = 11.63 | Sep precipitation days = 11.33 | Oct precipitation days = 12.83 | Nov precipitation days = 13.80 | Dec precipitation days = 14.83 | year precipitation days = 159.00 | unit snow days = 0 cm | Jan snow days = 14.9 | Feb snow days = 11.3 | Mar snow days = 4.7 | Apr snow days = 0.7 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.2 | Nov snow days = 3.2 | Dec snow days = 8.3 | year snow days = 43.3 | Jan humidity = 84.0 | Feb humidity = 80.4 | Mar humidity = 75.3 | Apr humidity = 68.9 | May humidity = 71.8 | Jun humidity = 72.1 | Jul humidity = 71.3 | Aug humidity = 71.9 | Sep humidity = 78.0 | Oct humidity = 81.8 | Nov humidity = 85.0 | Dec humidity = 85.1 | year humidity = 77.2 | Jan sun = 56.1 | Feb sun = 77.6 | Mar sun = 129.4 | Apr sun = 197.5 | May sun = 239.4 | Jun sun = 243.0 | Jul sun = 257.2 | Aug sun = 247.4 | Sep sun = 170.0 | Oct sun = 118.2 | Nov sun = 66.9 | Dec sun = 49.6 | year sun = 1852.3 | source 1 = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management<ref name=IMGWtavg> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211203115527/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE | archive-date = 3 December 2021 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE | title = Średnia dobowa temperatura powietrza | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWtmin> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115043924/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE | archive-date = 15 January 2022 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE | title = Średnia minimalna temperatura powietrza | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWtmax> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115044916/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE | archive-date = 15 January 2022 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE | title = Średnia maksymalna temperatura powietrza | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWprecip> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220109045820/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA | archive-date = 9 January 2022 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA | title = Miesięczna suma opadu | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWprecipdays> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115051112/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01 | archive-date = 15 January 2022 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01 | title = Liczba dni z opadem >= 0,1 mm | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsnowdepth> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115054936/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB | archive-date = 15 January 2022 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB | title = Średnia grubość pokrywy śnieżnej | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsnowdays> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220121044246/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0 | archive-date = 21 January 2022 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0 | title = Liczba dni z pokrywą śnieżna > 0 cm | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsun> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115055331/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL | archive-date = 15 January 2022 | url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL | title = Średnia suma usłonecznienia (h) | work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 | publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref> |source 2 = Meteomodel.pl (records, relative humidity 1991–2020)<ref name=recordhigh> {{cite web | url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=350170530&par=tmax&max_empty=3 | title = Opole Absolutna temperatura maksymalna | publisher = Meteomodel.pl | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=recordlow> {{cite web | url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=350170530&par=tmin&max_empty=3 | title = Opole Absolutna temperatura minimalna | date = 6 April 2018 | publisher = Meteomodel.pl | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=relativehumidity> {{cite web | url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=350170530&par=rh&max_empty=3 | title = Opole Średnia wilgotność | date = 6 April 2018 | publisher = Meteomodel.pl | language = pl | access-date = 2 February 2022}}</ref> }} ==Education== [[File:PL Opole collegiummaius.jpg|thumb|right|The building of Collegium Maius of Opole University]] * state-run universities and colleges: ** [[Opole University of Technology]] ([http://www.po.opole.pl/ Politechnika Opolska]) ** [[University of Opole]] ([http://www.uni.opole.pl/ Uniwersytet Opolski]) ** [[Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole]] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20071216070114/http://www.wsm.opole.pl/pierwsza.htm Państwowa Medyczna Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Opolu]) * privately run colleges: **[[Management and Administration College in Opole]] ([http://www.wszia.opole.pl/ Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania i Administracji w Opolu]) ** [[Bogdan Jański Academy]] ([http://opole.janski.edu.pl/ Szkoła Wyższa im. Bogdana Jańskiego]) ** [[WSB Merito Universities]] - WSB Merito University in Wrocław,<ref>[http://www.wsb.pl/english/about-wsb-group/wsb-wroclaw WSB University in Wrocław] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301121749/http://www.wsb.pl/english/about-wsb-group/wsb-wroclaw |date=2016-03-01 }} - WSB Universities</ref> departments of Economics == Politics == [[File:Opole Subdivisions-PL.svg|thumb|right|Administrative subdivisions (districts) of Opole]] [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] ([[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|Sejm]]) elected from Opole constituency * [[Danuta Jazłowiecka]], [[Civic Platform|PO]] * [[Tadeusz Jarmuziewicz]], PO * [[Ryszard Knosala]], PO * [[Leszek Korzeniowski]], PO * [[Sławomir Kłosowski]], [[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]] * [[Teresa Ceglecka-Zielonka]], PiS * [[Mieczysław Walkiewicz]], PiS * [[Henryk Kroll]], German minority * [[Ryszard Galla]], German minority * [[Józef Stępkowski]], [[Samoobrona]] * [[Sandra Lewandowska]], Samoobrona * [[Tomasz Garbowski]], [[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|SLD]] * [[Marek Kawa]], [[League of Polish Families|LPR]] ==Economy== [[File:Opole city budget income sources 2015.png|thumb|250px|Opole city budget income sources as of 2015.]] Opole is the [[Opole Voivodeship]]'s centre for commerce, banking, industrial complexes and other major service sector industries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nowe firmy Opole 2016, 2015, 2014 r., nowo rejestrowane firmy w Opolu i województwie opolskim|url=http://www.coig.com.pl/nowe-firmy-opole_rejestr_KRS_ceidg_2016_2015_opolu_opolskim.php|website=Coig.com.pl|access-date=30 January 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Zainwestowali|url=http://investinopole.pl/firmy/|website=Invest in Opole|access-date=30 January 2017|language=pl-PL}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=OPOLE Firmy i Instytucje|url=http://www.info-net.com.pl/katalog/opole|website=Info-net.com.pl|access-date=30 January 2017}}</ref> Prior to [[World War II]], due to major [[limestone]] deposits in Opole's vicinity, the city developed as a centre for [[cement]] production in [[Nazi Germany|Germany]], with the ''Cementownia "Odra"'' being active till this day. The [[Economy of France|French]] building materials company [[Lafarge (company)|Lafarge]] is also active in the area, having its roofing division, Lafarge Roofing, together with its [[Economy of Germany|German]] subsidiary Schiedel (chimney manufacturing) based in Opole.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historia Opola|url=http://www.opole.pl/dzial/miasto/wizytowka/historia-opola/|website=Opole.pl|access-date=30 January 2017|language=pl-PL}}</ref> [[File:Solaris Center - main entrance.jpg|thumb|left|Solaris Centre Mall]] Other companies in the city include: IT companies: Atmoterm SA,<ref>{{cite web |title=Atmoterm SA|url = https://www.atmoterm.pl/ |language=pl}}</ref> the German [[valve]] manufacturer Kludi; the German men's fashion manufacturer Ahlers and the [[Economy of the USA|American]] automotive manufacturer Tower Automative. As is the case with the entire [[Opole Voivodeship]], there is a strong presence of [[food industry]] services in the city. The largest companies in the food sector include: [[Zott]], the [[Economy of the Netherlands|Dutch]] [[baby food]] and nutrition company [[Nutricia]], part of the [[Danone]] food-products corporation. Opole has branches of all major banks, including: [[Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski|PKO]], [[Pekao]], [[Deutsche Bank]] and [[Raiffeisen Zentralbank]]. The retail sector in Opole includes major [[Metro AG]] brand stores: [[Metro Cash and Carry]] and [[Media-Saturn-Holding GmbH|Media-Saturn-Holding]], as well as [[Real (hypermarket)|Real]]. The city has a plethora of other major supermarket chains, namely: the Polish supermarket chains [[Biedronka]], [[Lidl]], [[Aldi]] and [[Netto (store)|Netto]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Wyborcza.pl|url=http://opole.wyborcza.pl/opole/1,35114,15030705,Tlumy_na_otwarciu_sklepu_Aldi_w_Opolu__WIDEO_.html?disableRedirects=true|website=opole.wyborcza.pl|access-date=30 January 2017}}</ref> Other major brand stores include the shoe retailer [[Deichmann SE|Deichmann]] and [[Rossmann (company)|Rossmann]] [[drugstore]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Drogeria Rossmann - województwo opolskie|url=http://www.rossmann.pl/drogerie/opolskie,16|website=Rossmann.pl|access-date=30 January 2017|language=pl}}</ref> Furthermore, the city has three major shopping centres. The [[Solaris Center]], with a total of 86 shops, opened in May 2009 and is located in the centre of Mikołaj Kopernik Square. In the city's suburbs, by Wrocławska Street (''ul. Wrocławska'') is the location of Karolinka Shopping Centre (''Centrum Handlowe Karolinka''). The shopping centre, which opened in September 2008, has a total area of 38,000 m<sup>2</sup>, with a total of 99 stores, including fashion, hardware and electronics stores. To the east of the city, by the National Road 46, is the smallest of the three shopping centres, Turawa Park, with a total of 50 stores. Other shopping centres include ''Galeria Opolanin'', built between 1974 and 1981 and upon its completion, was the largest shopping centre in Poland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Galeria Opolanin Opole|url=http://www.galeria-opolanin.pl/|website=Galeria-opolanin.pl|access-date=30 January 2017|language=en}}</ref> ==Sports== Among the city's sports team are: *[[Odra Opole]] – football club, playing in the [[I liga|Polish second division]]. From the 1950s to the 1980s the team competed in the country's top-flight, finishing 3rd in [[1963–64 Ekstraklasa|1964]]. *[[Orlik Opole]] – [[ice hockey]] club, playing in the [[Polska Hokej Liga|Polish Hockey League]], the country's top division. *[[Kolejarz Opole]] – [[motorcycle speedway|speedway]] club who race at the [[Marian Spychała Speedway Stadium]] and compete in the Polish leagues. In the 1970s and 1980s, the team competed in the country's top-flight, finishing 3rd in 1970. *[[Gwardia Opole]] – handball club, playing in the [[Polish Superliga (men's handball)|Polish Superliga]], the country's top division, and finishing 3rd in 1964 and, recently, in [[2018–19 Ekstraklasa (men's handball)|2019]]. *Rodło Opole – football club, originally formed in 1996 as a youth side now have a team competing in the lower leagues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historia |url=http://rodloopole.pl/historia |website=rodloopole.pl |access-date=8 July 2024 |language=Polish}}</ref> ==Notable people== [[File:JanKasprowicz1901 (cropped).jpg|thumb|130px|[[Jan Kasprowicz]]]] [[File:2016209185719 2016-07-27 Champions for Charity - Sven - 1D X - 0149 - DV3P4742 mod.jpg|thumb|130px|[[Miroslav Klose]]]] [[File:Remigiusz_Mroz.jpg|thumb|130px|[[Remigiusz Mróz]]]] {{Category see also|People from Opole}} <!-- Only persons with existing Wikipedia articles that show cited connection to Opole should be included; this list should be arranged and kept in alphabetical order by surname --> {{div col}} * [[Leo Baeck]] (1873–1956), rabbi * [[Anna Brzezińska (writer)|Anna Brzezińska]] (born 1971), [[Fantasy|fantasy writer]] * [[Jerzy Buzek]] (born 1940), academic and politician, [[President of the European Parliament]], former [[Prime Minister of Poland]] * [[Jan Fethke]] (1903–1980), film director * [[Damian Grabowski]] (born 1980), mixed martial artist * [[Jerzy Grotowski]] (1933–1999), theater director * [[Danuta Jazłowiecka]] (born 1957), politician * [[Jakub Kania (poet)|Jakub Kania]] (1872–1957), Polish poet and writer, soldier in the [[Silesian Uprisings]] * [[Jan Kasprowicz]] (1860–1926), poet * [[Paul Kleinert]] (1837–1920), German theologian * [[Miroslav Klose]] (born 1978), football player (playing in the [[Germany national football team]]) * [[Bronisław Koraszewski]] (1863–1924), Polish activist, founder of ''Gazeta Opolska'' * [[Szymon Koszyk]] (1891–1972), reporter, teacher and Polish activist from Opole * [[Andrzej Jerzy Lech]] (born 1955), artist and photographer * [[Simon Bar Jona Madelka]] (before 1550–{{circa|1598}}), Czech composer * [[Chester Marcol]] (born 1949), [[American football]] placekicker for the [[Green Bay Packers]] * [[Rochus Misch]] (1917–2013), communications' chief of the [[Reich Chancellery|Reichskanzlei]] and member of the [[1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler]] * [[Jacek Morajko]] (born 1981), cyclist * [[Remigiusz Mróz]] (born 1987), writer * [[Marcin Ociepa]] (born 1984), politician * [[Edmund Osmańczyk]] (1913–1989), reporter, politician (6 times elected to the [[sejm]] and once to the [[senate]]) * [[Emin Pasha]] (born ''Eduard Schnitzer'') (1840–1892), explorer and governor of Africa * [[Bolesław Polnar]] (born 1952), [[Graphic designer|graphic artist]] and painter * [[Joachim Prinz]] (1902–1988), rabbi, born here * [[Oscar Slater]] (1872–1948), German/Scottish victim of miscarriage of justice * [[Krzysztof Szramiak]] (born 1984), Polish weightlifter * [[Maksymilian Szuber]] (born 2002), Polish-German ice hockey player * [[Bronisław Trentowski]] (1808–1869), Polish philosopher, pedagogist and journalist * [[Vladislaus II of Opole]], count palatine of Poland 1378 * [[Karolina Wydra]] (born 1981), actress * [[Piotr Zioła]] (born 1995), rock singer {{div col end}} ==Twin towns – sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland}} Opole is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Miasta partnerskie|url=https://www.opole.pl/en/taxonomy/term/485|website=opole.pl|publisher=Opole|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=15em}} *{{flagicon|LTU}} [[Alytus]], Lithuania *{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Bruntál]], Czech Republic *{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Carrara]], Italy *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Grasse]], France *{{flagicon|GER}} [[Ingolstadt]], Germany *{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Ivano-Frankivsk]], Ukraine *{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kuopio]], Finland *{{flagicon|GER}} [[Mülheim|Mülheim an der Ruhr]], Germany *{{flagicon|GER}} [[Potsdam]], Germany *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]], United States *{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Székesfehérvár]], Hungary {{div col end}} ==Gallery== <gallery widths="170" heights="140"> File:Opole - Kolegium jezuickie 01.jpg|[[Jesuit]] College, now a regional museum File:Opole- kościół św. Trójcy.jpg|Church of the Holy Trinity File:Market Square in Opole Southside 2019.jpg|''Rynek'' (Market Square) filled with historic townhouses File:PL Opole Mostek.JPG|Green Bridge File:Mühlgraben6.jpg|Młynówka Canal (''Little Venice'') File:OpoleFontannaCeres.JPG|Ceres Fountain File:Opole - Gmach Dworca Głównego 01.jpg|Opole Główne railway station File:Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna w Opolu.jpg|[[John Paul II]] Library File:Opole, kościół, ob. par. p.w. Matki Boskiej Bolesnej, poł.XIV, 1701-1708, 1931-1938.JPG|Church of St. Adalbert, also known as the "Church on the Rock" and "Church on the Hill" File:PL Opole tablica.JPG|Signs showing direction of twin cities </gallery> == Citations == ===Notes=== {{notelist}} ===References=== {{Reflist}} ===Bibliography=== *[[Columbia Encyclopedia|''The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia'']]. "[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0836736.html Opole]". [[Columbia University Press]]. Accessed June 4, 2006. ==External links== {{Wikivoyage|Opole}} {{Commons category|Opole}} * [http://www.visitopolskie.pl/ Opole - Official Tourist Information] * [http://www.opole.pl/ Municipal website] * [http://www.herder-institut.de/town-atlas-silesia Urban development of Opole] in the ''Historical-Topographical Atlas of Silesian Towns'' * [http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/city/opole/ Jewish Community in Opole] on Virtual Shtetl * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120710004240/http://www.um.opole.pl/kamera Webcam showing Krakowska Street in Opole] {{in lang|pl}} * [https://cityon.pl/opole CityOn.pl - things to do in Opole] {{in lang|pl}} * [https://tripycal.com/posts/Opole-Trip-Venice-on-Mlynowka-Piast-Tower-Rynek-661d78242433c0d7e0499602 Opole Trip: Venice on Młynówka, Piast Tower, Rynek] {{in lang|en}} {{Navboxes | title = Articles related to Opole | list = {{Principal cities of Poland}} {{Opole Voivodeship|state=autocollapse}} {{Opole County|state=autocollapse}} }} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Opole| ]] [[Category:Cities in Silesia]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Opole Voivodeship]] [[Category:City counties of Poland]] [[Category:Holocaust locations in Poland]] [[Category:Populated riverside places in Poland]]
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page
(
help
)
:
Template:Authority control
(
edit
)
Template:Category see also
(
edit
)
Template:Circa
(
edit
)
Template:Citation needed
(
edit
)
Template:Cite book
(
edit
)
Template:Cite journal
(
edit
)
Template:Cite news
(
edit
)
Template:Cite web
(
edit
)
Template:Commons category
(
edit
)
Template:Div col
(
edit
)
Template:Div col end
(
edit
)
Template:Efn
(
edit
)
Template:Flagicon
(
edit
)
Template:Historical populations
(
edit
)
Template:IPA
(
edit
)
Template:In lang
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox settlement
(
edit
)
Template:Lang
(
edit
)
Template:Langx
(
edit
)
Template:Main other
(
edit
)
Template:Navboxes
(
edit
)
Template:Notelist
(
edit
)
Template:Other places
(
edit
)
Template:Reflist
(
edit
)
Template:See also
(
edit
)
Template:Short description
(
edit
)
Template:Sister project
(
edit
)
Template:TERYT
(
edit
)
Template:Template other
(
edit
)
Template:Weather box
(
edit
)
Template:Webarchive
(
edit
)
Template:Wikivoyage
(
edit
)