Opole 74610 223640818 2008-07-05T01:04:05Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Infobox Settlement | name = Opole | image_skyline = PL Opole Widok.JPG | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = General view | image_flag = Opole flaga.svg | image_shield = POL Opole COA.svg | pushpin_map = Poland | pushpin_label_position = bottom | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{POL}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Opole Voivodeship|Opole]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Powiat|County]] | subdivision_name2 = ''city county'' | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Ryszard Zembaczyński | established_title3 = Town rights | established_date3 = 1217 | area_total_km2 = 96.2 | population_as_of = 2007 | population_total = 128000 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_metro = 267000 | timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]] | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] | utc_offset_DST = +2 | latd = 50 | latm = 40 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 17 | longm = 56 | longs = | longEW = E | elevation_m = 176 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 45-001 to 45-910 | area_code = +48 077 | blank_name = [[Polish car number plates|Car plates]] | blank_info = OP | website = http://www.opole.pl }} '''Opole''' {{Audio-IPA-pl|Opole.ogg|o|'|p|o|l|e}} ({{lang-de|Oppeln}}{{Audlisten|Oppeln.ogg}}) is a city in southern [[Poland]] on the [[Oder River]] (Odra). It has a population of 129,553 and is the capital of the [[Opole Voivodeship]], and also the seat of [[Opole County]]. It is the historical capital of [[Upper Silesia]]. Today, many [[Germans|German]] [[Upper Silesia]]ns and Poles of [[Germany|German]] ancestry live in the Opole region and the city itself. == History == Before the 5th century [[Germanic tribes|Germanic tribe]] of the [[Silingii]] and possibly [[Burgundians]] migrated into the region around Opole. After the Germanic tribes left to invade the [[Roman Empire]], [[Western Slavic]] tribes moved into the area. Opole developed since the 10th century as the regional capital of the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] Opolanie. Their first settlements were on the [[Wyspa Pasieka]] island in the middle of the [[Odra]]. 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 [[Bolesław I the Brave|Bolesław I]] in 1012/1013. 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]]ska line in [[Lower Silesia]] and the Opolsko-[[Racibórz|Raciborska]] of [[Upper Silesia]]. Opole would [[Duchy of Opole|became 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, and the Duchy of Opole was temporarily reestablished in 1290. While [[Germans|German]] merchants had earlier established a colony in Opole at the crossing of the Oder, German peasants began arriving in 1217. Opole received [[German town law]] in 1254, which was expanded with [[Neumarkt law]] in 1327 and [[Magdeburg rights]] in 1410. 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 [[Racibórz]] (''Ratibor'') was inherited by the Duchy of Opole, by then already known by the German name Oppeln. With the death of King [[Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia|Louis II]] of Bohemia at the [[Battle of Mohács]], Silesia was inherited by [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand I]], placing Oppeln under the sovereignty of the [[Habsburg Monarchy]] of [[Austria]]. The Habsburgs took control of the region in 1532 after the line of local Piast dukes died out. Beginning in 1532 the Habsburgs pawned the duchy to different rulers (see [[Dukes of Opole]]). With the abdication of King [[John II Casimir of Poland]] as the last Duke of Opole in 1668, the region passed to the direct control of the Habsburgs. King [[Frederick II of Prussia|Frederick II]] of [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] conquered most of Silesia from Austria in 1740 during the [[Silesian Wars]]; Prussian control was confirmed in the Peace of Breslau in 1742. 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. [[Image:Katedra opolska.jpg|thumb|left|Cathedral of Opole]] After the defeat of Imperial Germany in [[World War I]], a [[plebiscite]] was held on [[March 20]] [[1921]] in Oppeln to determine if the city would be in the [[Weimar Republic]] or become part of the [[Second Polish Republic]]. 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%. However, at the time the voting population consisted only of ethnic Germans. Oppeln was the administrative seat of the [[Province of Upper Silesia]] from 1919–1939. With the defeat of Poland in the [[Invasion of Poland (1939)|Invasion of Poland]] at the beginning of [[World War II]] in 1939, eastern Upper Silesia was readded to the Province of Upper Silesa and Oppeln lost its status as provincial capital to Katowice (renamed Kattowitz again). After the end of the Second World War in 1945, Oppeln was transferred from Germany to Poland according to the [[Potsdam Conference]], and given its old 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 [[historical eastern Germany]] ceded to remapped Poland, Opole and the surrounding region's German population remained and was not [[expulsion of Germans after World War II|forcibly expelled as elsewhere]], even though many ethnic Germans with right to German citizenship left to [[West Germany]] to flee the communist [[Eastern Bloc]]. Today Opole, along with the surrounding region, is known as a centre of the German-speaking Silesian minority in Poland. === Historical population === [[Image:PL Opole Ratusz.JPG|thumb|right|Town hall of Opole]] {| | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! style="background:#efefef;" | Year ! style="background:#efefef;" | Population |- | 1533 ¹ || align="right" | 1,420 |- | 1691 || align="right" | 1,191 |- | 1700 || align="right" | 1,150 |- | 1746 || align="right" | 1,161 |- | 1750 || align="right" | 2,450 |- | 1787 || align="right" | 2,802 |- | 1800 || align="right" | 3,073 |- | 1816 || align="right" | 4,050 |- | 1819 || align="right" | 4,896 |- | 1825 || align="right" | 5,987 |- | 1834 || align="right" | 6,496 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! style="background:#efefef;" | Year ! style="background:#efefef;" | Population |- | 1850 || align="right" | 8,280 |- | 1858 ² || align="right" | 8,877 |- | 1875 || align="right" | 12,694 |- | 1890 || align="right" | 19,000 |- | 1905 || align="right" | 30,112 |- | 1910 ³ || align="right" | 33,907 |- | 1924 || align="right" | 43,000 |- | 1932 || align="right" | 45,532 |- | 1936 || align="right" | 50,561 |- | [[May 17]] [[1939]] || align="right" | 50,540 |- | [[March 24]] [[1945]] || align="right" | 170 |} | valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" ! style="background:#efefef;" | Year ! style="background:#efefef;" | Population |- | July 1945 || align="right" | 13,000 |- | 1946 || align="right" | 40,000 |- | 1950 || align="right" | 50,300 |- | 1956 || align="right" | 56,400 |- | 1960 || align="right" | 63,500 |- | 1965 || align="right" | 70,000 |- | 1971 || align="right" | 87,800 |- | 1973 || align="right" | 92,600 |- | [[December 31]] [[1989]] || align="right" | 127,653 |- | [[Census]] 1992 || align="right" | 129,552 |- | [[Census]] 2002 || align="right" | 129,946 |- | [[December 31]] [[2004]] || align="right" | 128,864 |} |} ¹ First census of the city ² 8,320 German nationality (93,7%) and 557 Polish nationality (6,3%) ³ 80% German-speaking, 16% Polish- or Slavic Silesian-speaking, and 4% German- and Polish-speaking == German minority == [[Image:PL Opole WidokOg.JPG|thumb|right|General view of Opole]] Alongside [[German language|German]], many citizens of Opole-Oppeln before 1945 used a strongly German-influenced [[Silesian]] dialect known as Upper Silesian, ''Wasserpolnisch'', or ''[[Wasserpolak]]''. Because of this, the Soviet puppet-state administration after the annexation of Silesia in 1945 did not initiate a general [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II|expulsion of German-speakers]] in Opole, as was done in Lower Silesia, for instance, where the population exclusively spoke the German language. Because they were considered "[[autochthonous]]" (Polish), the Wasserpolak-speakers instead received the right to remain in their homeland. Many German-speakers took advantage of this decision, allowing them to remain in their Oppeln, even when they considered themselves to be of German nationality. The city and its surroundings presently contain the largest German and Upper Silesian minorities in Poland. (See also [[Germans of Poland]].) ==Attractions== 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 [[Ogród Zoologiczny w Opolu]]. '''Structures and buildings''' * The [[art nouveau]] [[Groschen bridge]] (''Most Groszowy''), currently named Green Bridge (''Zielony Mostek'') * [[Piast]] castle on the island * a 14th century [[Franciscan]] church, a Piast [[mausoleum]] * a 19th century [[Town Hall]] * the [[Church of our Lady (Opole)|Church of our Lady]] (''Kościół NMP'') * the 14th century [[St. James's Cathedral (Opole)|St. James's Cathedral]] (''Katedra św. Jakuba'') '''Museums''' * a [[Diocesan Museum (Opole)|Diocesan Museum]] (''Muzeum Diecezjalne'') * the [[Opole Regional Museum]] (''Muzeum Śląska Opolskiego'') * the [[Opole Village Museum]] (''Muzeum Wsi Opolskiej'') == Education == * 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]] ([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]) == Politics == [[Image:PL Opole dworzec.jpg|thumb|right|Opole Główne Railway Station]] Members of Parliament ([[Sejm]]) elected from Opole constituency * Dorota Jazłowiecka, [[Platforma Obywatelska|PO ]] * Tadeusz Jarmuziewicz, PO * Ryszard Knosala, PO * Leszek Korzeniowski, PO * Sławomir Kłosowski, [[Prawo i Sprawiedliwość|PiS]] * Teresa Ceglecka-Zielonka, PiS * Mieczysław Walkiewicz, PiS * Henryk Kroll, German minority * Ryszard Galla, German minority * Józef Stępkowski, [[Samoobrona]] * Sandra Lewandowska, Samoobrona * Tomasz Garbowski, [[Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej|SLD]] * Marek Kawa, [[Liga Polskich Rodzin|LPR]] == Famous residents == [[Image:PL Opole kamienice.JPG|thumb|right|Apartment buildings along the marketplace]] *[[Władysław Opolczyk]], [[count palatine]] of Poland 1378 *[[Leo Baeck]] (1873-1956), rabbi *[[Anna Brzezińska]] (born 1971), fantasy writer *[[Jerzy Buzek]] (born 1940), academic and politician, [[prime minister of Poland]] *[[Jerzy Grotowski]] (1933-1999), theater director *[[Jan Kasprowicz]] (1860-1926), poet *[[Paul Kleinert]] (1837-1920), German theologian *[[Miroslav Klose]] (born 1978), football player (playing in the [[German national football team]]) *[[Andrzej Jerzy Lech]] (born 1955), artist and photographer *[[Emin Pasha]] (born ''Eduard Schnitzer'') (1840-1892), explorer and governor of Africa *[[Bolesław Polnar]] (born 1952), graphic artist and painter *[[Edwin von Drenkmann]], famous German lawyer *[[Helmuth James Graf von Moltke]], German officer *[[Hans-Adolf von Moltke]], German diplomat *[[Jürgen Peters]], president of the German [[trade union]] IG Metall. *[[Joachim Zeller]], district mayor of [[Berlin]]-Central. *[[Jan Fethke]], movie director *[[Alfons Hayduk]], German author *[[Friedrich Wilhelm Kuhnert]], German painter *[[Georg Nehrlich]], German painter *[[Ruth Seydewitz]], German journalist and author *[[Hugo Ulrich]], (1827-1872), musician *[[Hans-Busso von Busse]], German architect and professor *[[Eckart Klein]], German lawyer *[[Friedrich Münzer]] (1868-1942), German philologist *[[Jürgen Roloff]], German [[protestant]] theologian *[[Emil Friedrich Julius Sommer]], professor of German language *[[Max Wiener]], German-[[Jew]]ish theologian. *[[Kaspar Colonna]], [[German Army]] officer. *Ferdinand von Prondzynski, 19th century Prussian general, whose direct descendant [[Ferdinand von Prondzynski]] is President of [[Dublin City University]], Ireland. *[[Rochus Misch]] (1917-still alive), communications' chief of the [[Reichskanzlei]] and member of the [[1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler]] *[[Chester Marcol]], [[American Football]] Placekicker for the [[Green Bay Packers]]. :''see also'': [[Dukes of Opole|Dukes of Opole-Oppeln]] == Twin cities == [[Image:PL Opole tablica.JPG|thumb|right|Signs showing direction of twin cities]] * [[Image:Flag of Lithuania.svg|25px]] [[Alytus]], [[Lithuania]] * [[Image:Flag of Greece.svg|25px]] [[Agioi Anargyroi]], [[Greece]] * [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px]] [[Bonn]], [[Germany]] * [[Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg|25px]] [[Bruntál]], [[Czech Republic]] * [[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|25px]] [[Carrara]], [[Italy]] * [[Image:Flag of France.svg|25px]] [[Grasse]], [[France]] * [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px]] [[Ingolstadt]], [[Germany]] * [[Image:Flag of Finland.svg|25px]] [[Kuopio]], [[Finland]] * [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px]] [[Mülheim]], [[Germany]] * [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px]] [[Potsdam]], [[Germany]] * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]], [[USA]] * [[Image:Flag of Hungary.svg|25px]] [[Székesfehérvár]], [[Hungary]] * [[Image:Flag of Serbia.svg|25px]] [[Kragujevac]], [[Serbia]] == References == *{{German|Oppeln|[[June 4]] [[2006]]}} *[[Columbia Encyclopedia|''The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia'']]. "[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0836736.html Opole]". Columbia University Press. Accessed [[June 4]] [[2006]]. {{reflist}} == External links == {{Commons|Opole}} * [http://www.opole.pl/ver/en/index.html Municipal website] * [http://www.opole.pl/camera/camera.php Webcam showing Krakowska Street in Opole] {{pl icon}} <br> {{Poland}} {{Opole Voivodeship|state=autocollapse}} {{Opole County|state=autocollapse}} {{coor title dm|50|40|N|17|56|E|}} [[Category:Opole| ]] [[Category:Cities in Silesia]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Opole Voivodeship]] [[Category:City counties of Poland]] [[cs:Opolí]] [[da:Opole]] [[de:Oppeln]] [[dsb:Opole]] [[et:Opole]] [[es:Opole]] [[eo:Opole]] [[fr:Opole]] [[id:Opole]] [[is:Opole]] [[it:Opole]] [[he:אופולה]] [[jv:Opole]] [[csb:Òpòle]] [[lv:Opole]] [[hu:Opole]] [[na:Opole]] [[nl:Opole (stad)]] [[ja:オポーレ]] [[no:Opole]] [[nn:Opole]] [[nds:Oppeln]] [[pl:Opole]] [[pt:Opole]] [[ro:Opole]] [[qu:Opole]] [[ru:Ополе]] [[simple:Opole]] [[sk:Opole]] [[sl:Opole]] [[fi:Opole]] [[szl:Uopole]] [[sv:Opole]] [[tr:Oppeln]] [[uk:Ополе]] [[zh:奥波莱]]