The Opole Voivodeship in southwestern Poland has a population of about 1 million people. It has a rich cultural heritage as it was historically ruled by various powers like the Piasts, Czechs, Austrians, Prussians, and Germans. This is reflected in its multicultural traditions that include Polish, German, Czech, Silesian influences. Some of its cultural attractions include the Jan Kochanowski Theatre in Opole, the Alojzy Smolka Puppet Theatre, and the Opole Amphitheatre which has hosted the National Festival of Polish Song annually since 1963. The region also has universities in Opole and Nysa and relies economically on industries like food processing, chemicals, and construction materials.

1. WELCOME in OpoleStudyVisit MODN Opole 2011Janusz Berdzik

2. Area: 9411 km²

3. Inhabitants: about 1 mln

4. Towns: Opole, Brzeg, Nysa, Kędzierzyn – Koźle, Kluczbork, Strzelce Opolskie Opolskie Voivodeship and itsneighbouringprovincesused to constitute one entity – historicalSilesianprovince. Opole provinceistheborderterritorywithturbulent and richhistory.

5. Cultural and historicallandscape

6. The western part of Upper Silesia (Silesia Superior)

7. Principalities: opolsko – raciborskie, opawskie, karniowskie, cieszyńskie, bytomskie

8. Historical capital - Opole

9. Meeting point of cultures: Polish, German, Czech (Moravian), Silesian

10. Intensivecolonizationinthe 13th century

11. Since the 14th centurylong-lastingprocess of Germanization and Czechization of SilesianknighthoodThe region was ruled by Piast dynasty, Czech kings, AustrianHabsburgs, Prussians and Germanswhichhavebeenreflectedinhistorical, multiculturalheritageThesmallestvoivodeshipinthe country pridesitself on therichculturalachievementsexceedingotherwealthierPolish regions.

14. Thebase of nonmaterialheritageisconstituted by thestrongbondwiththetraditonsdemonstrated by thelocalinhabitantswhocultivatecustoms, dialect, localcostumes and folk art.

15. Numeroushistorical and architecturalobjects and buildings, historicalurban and rurallayouts, park complexes, ‘smallarchitecture’ elements and historicalfurnishingaretheexamples of materialheritage of the region.

16. Population

17. 1950:

18. > 50% localinhabitants

19. ~ 25% immigrantsfromeasternterritories of Poland

20. ~ 23% immigrantsfrom central Poland

21. 2002:

22. 5,5% bornabroad

23. 10% of bornabroad – in Germany and France

24. 81% withonlyPolishcitizenship