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City in Poland
Photo: Margoz, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Opole is the capital city of Opole Voivodeship, in south west Poland. The historical capital of Upper Silesia was badly damaged during the USSR invasion of Silesia at the end of World War II, but many fine houses in the old town have been rebuilt. The city is known for one of the most popular song festivals in Poland, which takes place every year in June.
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The sole remainder of a medieval castle built by the local Piast dukes of Opole as a residence and defensive facility. The tower was a late addition, stemming from the 14th century, while the construction of the castle started in 1228. As the former Duchy of Opole started changing hands between surrounding kingdoms and empires, the castle was subjects to periods of ruin and reconstruction. Finally, in 1928, the German authorities deemed the castle to be in poor condition and ordered its demolition to make room for a new government office complex. After much public outcry from the local Polish (at that time) minority, the tower was preserved and remains standing between the modernist buildings, which still serve the regional government of Opole.
A 14th century Franciscan church including a Piast mausoleum
Church of the Painful Mother of God and Saint Adalbertus
The church's full name is a mouthful to pronounce, so the locals refer to it by its uphill location
The neo-renaissance Town Hall is a result of numerous reconstructions and expansions. Especially its tower had a tumultuous history, being rebuilt many times, the last time in 1936, with the aim to resemble Palazzo Vecchio of Venice. Unlike many other town halls of major cities in Poland, the one in Opole is still used for its original function and most of the official business pertaining to the city authorities is conducted inside.
Eclectic train station building
The pedestrian bridge with wrought iron railings was constructed at the turn of the 20th century. Crossing the bridge originally cost 1 grosz (smallest currency unit), hence the name. Otherwise, the bridge is called Zielony Mostek (the green bridge), referring to its colour, or Most Zakochanych (lovers' bridge) for the custom of loving couples locking a padlock on the railings to signify their commitment.
The name is a bit misleading as the pond was actually created from the remains of the moat after the castle was demolished. It serves a purely recreational purpose, with an active musical fountain in the summer and a long tradition of ice-skating in the winter, with the pond hosting the German ice-skating championships in 1934. The wooden house with the restaurant was originally erected for the local ice-skating society. The musical fountain performs a lights-and-music show on summer evenings.
A wall of historic buildings directly over the Młynówka river looks quite spectacular and nothing like Venice, actually, but more like canals of Hamburg for example. Some of the best photos of Opole are taken there at night.
Muzeum Śląska Opolskiego
Several branches in three different buildings.
Muzeum Wsi Opolskiej
Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej
Muzeum Polskiej Piosenki
Millennium Amphitheatre
The most prominent function of the amphitheatre is hosting the annual Polish song festival in June, but it remains busy in the warmer months with other concerts and events
A branch of the Polandwide chain of pancake-and-crepe restaurants, known for their hearty servings and low prices, is located on one of the busiest and also nicest street corners of Opole's old town. Expect a bit of a wait and not leaving hungry
Opole's leading ice cream parlor chain made a name for itself with an extensive menu of fancy ice-cream-based desserts, all of which are very generous in size. Regular scoop-and-cone ice cream for takeaway is also on offer. Selected locations include:
The hostel is in the train station building and offers a selection of ensuite rooms and beds in shared dorms. Facilities include paid parking and a cafe
The first large four-star hotel in Opole offers a range of modern comforts, including a fitness centre and a cigar bar
The out-of-way location makes it more suitable for those arriving by car, but on the flip side it features a small swimming pool and fitness room.
Right in front of the train station, which is also where most long-distance buses stop, the Mercure has seen its fortunes slip as more modern hotels opened around town. It is still a commendable option with all the necessary features but air conditioning or any kind of fitness facilities are missing. Low prices make up for that - check on the official website and book in advance to take advantage of frequent special offers.
A fairly large shopping gallery in the city centre, upscale by local standards, with many of the usual suspects in chain retail (ZARA, promod etc.) A big part is occupied by the Helios multi-screen cinema. Also includes a fairly large electronics store and a sizeable food court filled with fast food options.
A strip mall on the outskirts anchored by the Auchan hypermarket, featuring many of the stores that would not fit within city centre galleries, including furniture stores and a big Decathlon sporting gear store
Another strip mall on the outskirts - actually next to the ringroad and easier to reach from some of the neighbouring villages than the city itself. Anchor tennants are the Carrefour supermarket and Praktiker home improvement store.
By train
The city's main train station is Opole Główne, situated on a railway mainline to Wrocław. It sees busy long-distance and local traffic, including Express Intercity Premium trains.
By car
You can easily get there by car from Katowice and Wrocław by the A4 Motorway.
By bus
Opole has seen many of the inhabitants of the city and the region emigrate temporarily or permanently to Western Europe seeking better-paid jobs, especially concerning low-skilled, manual labour.
By bike
Since municipal bikesharing program has been canceled in Opole in 2021 your only bet at riding a bike in Opole will be if you bring it with yourself or rent one at Decathlon Rent on city outskirts…
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