Zielona Gora

Establishment: 13th century
City rights: around 1323
Area: 58,32 sq. Km
Elevation: 71 metres
Population: around 120 000
Unemployment rate: 7,3 %
Significant employers: ADB Global, Lumel, V&S Luksusowa, Hertz Systems, Nordis, Novita
Average wage: 2800 PLN
Official website: www.zielona-gora.pl

Single public transport ticket - 1 PLN
Monthly ticket - 34 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

Zielona Góra first emerged as a Slavic settlement in 13th century. Around 1323 Zielona Góra was granted urban rights, and the influx of German settlers began. In late 14th century city population was around 1000. In 1430s, during the Hussite wars, defensive walls were erected, dismantled 300 years later as the city expanded. Only a small section remained. The Duchy of Głogów, where Zielona Góra belonged, came under the rule of Czech kings in the 16th century. In 1740 Silesia was captured by Frederic II of Prussia, so Zielona Góra was a part of Prussian and later German state. Soviet troops conquered the city on the 14 February 1945, as the war was ending. A few months later it was officially taken over by a Polish mayor. From its very beginning the city development based on production of woollen cloth and grape growing. The first mention of vineyards comes from 1314, of cloth fulling - from 15th century documents. The first vineyards were in the north of the city. In 1826 Carl Samuel Hausler produced Zielona Góra's first champagne from grapes planted on "Jelenia Góra" hill. The engineering industry started developing in the late 18th century. The first textiles producer in the city was Jeremiasz Zygmunt Forster. Brown coal was mined in the surroundings from the mid-19th century. The Beuchelt metal works, today's ZASTAL, were established in 1876.

Zielona Góra is a small city, but its nightlife offer is rich. There's almost 25 000 students in town, so one may choose between many discos, clubs and bars.

Almost half of the city area is covered with parks and forests. Many sightseeing routes are available there. The Botanical Garden and Palmhouse are one of the biggest city's atrractions. It's also worth to visit the Arboretum in Nietkowo and Zielona Góra Hills, with a small wintersports centre on Tatra Hill. The city architecture is interesting. There are many buildings worth noticing, like Old Town Hall, churches, tenement houses and old schools- catholic and evangelic ones. The city is a regional center of sports, with first division basketball and speedway clubs.

Festivals

Winobranie Wine Festival
- Zielona Góra is Poland's most important wine production center, so its Winobranie is famous and attracts tourists from all over the country and from abroad. Takes place every September.

Cultural Institutions

There are three cinemas, a Philharmonic Hall and a Theathre in Zielona Góra. Museum of Lubuskie Land is the most interesting museal offer. Zielona Góra is one of the biggest cabaret centres in Poland.