The Polish city of Kielce is located in więtokrzyskie Voivodeship. Since 1999 it is its capital. This is a major railway junction in Poland, which also contains an important road junction. The city is not inferior in popularity to tourists Warsaw and Krakow. Among the attractions of the city are więtokrzyskie mountains and valleys, mineral springs and walking routes - this is all that Kielce can offer tourists.
History of Kielce
The urban settlement appeared in the XI century. The first significant moment in history is the construction in 1171 of the first church, which became the Cathedral. But Kielce received the status of the city of Poland in 1295. In the XIII century, the city was destroyed by the Tatars, but it was rebuilt and surrounded by walls with loopholes. The rapid development of the city falls on the 15th century, when iron ore deposits were discovered in its vicinity.
The devastating war with the Swedes in 1660 and the plague epidemic literally mowed the population of Kielce. The city was restored for almost two centuries, and in 1795, after the next partition of Poland, the city came under the jurisdiction of Austria. In the XIX century, Kielce fell under the power of the Russian Empire. And only after the First World War the city becomes Polish.
Modern industrial center
Today Kielce is a dynamically developing city. After Poland joined the European Union, EU investment funds were allocated to it. In Kielce, the direction of funds was in economics, education and medicine. Against the background of increasing economic performance in Poland, in Kielce it looks clear.
This is an industrial center in which the main emphasis is on the production of secondary engineering, chemical equipment and auto parts. Thanks to its developed financial infrastructure, Kielce is an ideal place for business and business people. They are provided with certain benefits and business development programs. Kielce is a city of international trade fairs, which sign a large number of contracts with foreign partners. The fair is the second largest after Poznan. About thirty such fairs are held annually. Fairs are accompanied by presentations, seminars and scientific conferences.
Medicine and education
Investments in medicine have helped in the development of Poland’s largest, most modern oncology center. In the field of education, among the colleges and universities of Kielce in Poland, one can distinguish the więtokrzyskie Academy, the Higher School of Commerce and the Higher School of Economics and Management. In addition to these educational institutions, the city has the Higher Engineering and Higher Agricultural Schools. There is a pedagogical institute founded in the 12th century.
Attractions Kielce
Tourists who come to Kielce will not be bored. There are many interesting sights of different historical eras. And the first thing you can visit is a valuable and well-preserved monument of the XVII century - the palace of the bishops of Krakow. It is one of the few historical monuments that survived the Second World War. Now it is a national museum, which contains collections of Polish painting, national handicrafts.
The Cathedral, which was mentioned above, will not leave indifferent tourists. Of course, it was not preserved in its original form in a romantic style. It was rebuilt several times and underwent restoration. The last alteration of the cathedral is the era of the early Baroque. In its interiors there are masterpieces of sculpture and multi-color paintings. Religious monuments in Kielce in Poland include the Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1640-1644; Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dating from the XII century, and the Jewish synagogue. In addition, the large city market and the town hall building (1848) will attract the attention of tourists.
Sports tourism
Summer and winter do not pass in Kielce without all kinds of sporting events and competitions. One of them is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. This is a descent in bowls from the mountain. Entertainment amused both the audience and the participants. The city has the right to consider itself the tourist capital of Poland. In Kielce and its mountainous surroundings, a lot of hiking trails. These are winter-covered mountain slopes awaiting skiers. A popular holiday destination is Telegraph, a ski resort located on the border of the city. From the top of the slope, the city is visible at a glance.
Holidays in this snowy kingdom are in demand not only among the urban population, but also among tourists coming to Kielce. In summer, there are competitions among cyclists.
There is something for lovers of mountain excursions to do. On the eastern side of the city of Kielce in Poland begins a climbing trail that is laid in the więtokrzyskie Mountains to the top of Lysica. Tourists can visit mountain caves and grottoes, in a paradise cave admire beautiful stalactites and pearly sagging, and also see the centuries-old oak Bartek - a living natural monument in a girth of 13 meters.
Anyone who arrives in Kielce at least once will want to visit again and again. You cannot embrace the immense at one time. This city keeps so much more interesting.