Kielce

Establishment: 11th century
City rights: around 1364
Area: 109,65 sq. Km
Elevation: N/A
Population: around 210 000
Unemployment rate: 9,7 %
Significant employers: North Fish, Exbud, Cersanit, Kolporter, VIVE
Official website: www.kielce.pl

Single public transport ticket - 1 PLN
Monthly ticket - 32 PLN
Taxi fares - 2-3 PLN / km
A single room monthly rent - 200-600 PLN
A single room flat rent - 800 PLN
A double room flat rent - 1200 PLN

The area of Świętokrzyskie Mountains was almost unpopulated until 11th century when the first hunters established permanent settlements. They needed a place to trade furs and meat for grain and other necessary products and so the market of Kielce was formed. In early 12th century the new settlement became a property of the Bishops of Kraków who built a wooden church and a manor. In 1171 a stone church was erected by bishop Gedeon Gryf. At the times of Wincenty Kadłubek a parochial school in Kielce was started in 1229. By 1295 the town was awarded with the city rights. In mid-13th century the town was destroyed by Mongol invasion of Ögedei Khan, but it quickly recovered.

The area around Kielce was rich in minerals such as copper ore, lead ore, and iron, as well as limestone. In 15th century Kielce became a significant centre of metallurgy. There were also several glass factories and armourer shops in the town. Between 1637 and 1642 renaissance palace was erected near the market place.

During The Deluge the town was pillaged and burnt by the Swedes. Only the palace and the church survived, but the town managed to recover under the rule of bishop Andrzej Załuski. By 1761 Kielce had more than 4.000 inhabitants. Until the end of the century city's economy entered a period of fast growth. A brewery was founded as well as several brick manufactories, a horse breeder, hospital, school and a religious college.

As a result of the 3rd Partition the town was annexed by Austria. During the Polish-Austrian War of 1809 it was captured by prince Józef Poniatowski and joined the Duchy of Warsaw, but after the fall of Napoleon in 1815 it was annexed by Russians. For a brief period when Kraków was an independent city-state (Republic of Kraków), Kielce became the capital of the Kraków Voivodeship. Thanks to the efforts by Stanisław Staszic Kielce became the centre of the newly-established Old-Polish Industrial Zone (Staropolski Okręg Przemysłowy). The town grew quickly as new mines, quarries and factories were constructed. In 1816 the first Polish technical university was founded in Kielce. In 1826 the school was moved to Warsaw and became the Warsaw University of Technology.

In 1863 Kielce took part in the January Uprising. The Russian authorities closed all Polish schools and turned Kielce into a military garrison city. Polish language was banned. Because of that many gymnasium students took part in the 1905 Revolution and were joined by factory workers.

After the outbreak of the World War I Kielce were the first Polish city to be liberated from Russian rule by the Polish Legions under Józef Piłsudski. In indepentent Poland Kielce became one of the main centres of the Central Industrial Area (Centralny Okręg Przemysłowy).

During World War II the town was an important centre of resistance. There were several resistance groups active in the town (among them the Armia Krajowa and the Gwardia Ludowa). Moreover, the hills and forests of Holy Cross Mountains became a scene of heavy partisan activity. A small town of Pinczów located some 30 kilometres from Kielce became the capital of the so-called Pinczów Republic, a piece of Polish land controlled by the partisans.

On 4 July 1946 Kielce was the venue of an antisemitic pogrom that left 37 Jews dead killed by their fellow Polish neighbors.

Today, Kielce is a rapidly developing city, of growing regional importance.

• Kielce University of Technology

Kielce nightlife is not the biggest advantage of the city. However, Kielce offers a variety of bars, pubs and clubs. Most famous is Mefisto Club, organising daily parties of all genres.

Palace of Cracow Bishops is the most important historical building in Kielce. It is one of the very few examples of French Renaissance architecture in Poland and the only example of a magnate's manor from the times of Vasa dynasty to survive the World War II. It's worth to see Main Market and its surroundings, Baroque Cathedral, and Zieliński Manor. The neighboring Świętokrzyskie Mountains are a nice tourist spot. There's a small ski resort on one of the hills 3 km from the city centre.

There are four theathres, four cinemas and a Philharmonic Hall in the city. Kielce is also an important sports centre, with premier league football and handball teams, and one of the most beautiful Polish football stadiums.