Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Encyclopedia
Małopolska Voivodeship or Lesser Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship
(province
), in southern Poland
. It has an area of 15108 square kilometres (5,833 sq mi), and a population of 3,267,731 (2006).
It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Kraków
, Tarnów
, Nowy Sącz
and parts of Bielsko-Biała, Katowice
, Kielce
and Krosno
Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. The province's name recalls the region's traditional name, Małopolska or Lesser Poland.
The province is bounded on the north by the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
(Góry Świętokrzyskie), on the west by Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska (a broad range of hills stretching from Kraków
to Częstochowa
), and on the south by the Tatra
,
Pieniny and Beskidy Mountains. Politically it is bordered by Silesian Voivodeship
to the west, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
to the north, Subcarpathian Voivodeship
to the east, and Slovakia
to the south.
Malopolska Province is part of the broader ancient Małopolska region which, together with Greater Poland
(Wielkopolska) and Silesia
(Śląsk), formed the early medieval Polish state.
Almost all of Lesser Poland
lies in the Vistula River catchment area. The city of Kraków
was one of the European Cities of Culture in 2000. Kraków has railway and road connections with Katowice
(expressway), Warsaw
, Wrocław and Rzeszów
. It lies at the crossroads of major international routes linking Dresden
with Kiev
, and Gdańsk
with Budapest
. Located here is the second largest international airport
in Poland (after Warsaw
's), the John Paul II International Airport.
nology, banking, chemical and metallurgical
industries, coal
, ore
, food processing
, and spirit and tobacco
industries. The most industrialized city of the voivodeship is Kraków
. The largest regional enterprise operates here, the Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks in Nowa Huta
, employing 17,500 people. Another major industrial center is located in the west, in the neighborhood of Chrzanów (chiefly the production of railway engines) and Oświęcim
(chemical works). Kraków Park Technologiczny, a Special Economic Zone
, has been established within the voivodeship. There are almost 210,000 registered economic entities operating in the voivodeship, mostly small and medium-sized, of which 234 belong to the state-owned sector. Foreign investment, growing in the region, reached approximately USD 18.3 billion by the end of 2006.
, the largest university in the city (44,200 students), was founded in 1364 as Cracow Academy. Nicolaus Copernicus
and Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II
) graduated from it. The AGH University of Science and Technology
(29,800 students) is considered to be the best technical university in Poland. The Academy of Economics, the Pedagogical University, the Kraków University of Technology
and the Agricultural Academy are also very highly regarded. There are also the Fine Arts Academy, the State Theatre University and the Musical Academy. Nowy Sącz
has become a major educational center in the region thanks to its Higher School of Business and Administration, with an American curriculum, founded in 1992. The school has 4,500 students. There are also two private higher schools in Tarnów.
, Lesser Poland is the warmest place in Poland with an average temperature in the summer being between 23 °C (73.4 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F), although they often reach 32 °C (89.6 °F) to 38 °C (100.4 °F) in July and August the two warmest months of the year. The city of Tarnów
, which is located in Lesser Poland, is the hottest place in Poland all year round, the average temperatures being 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer and 4 °C (39.2 °F) in the winter. In the winter the weather patterns alter each year; usually winters are mildly cold with temperatures ranging from -7 °C (19.4 °F)to 4 °C (39.2 °F), but the winter season changes often to a more humid and warmer winter, or more continental and cold. It all depends on the many various wind patters that affect Poland from different regions of the world. Błędów Desert the only desert in Poland is located in Lesser Poland, where temperatures can often reach up to 38 °C (100.4 °F) in the summer.
(Poland's most popular winter resort) and the Tatra, Pieniny
and Beskidy Mountains. The natural landscape features many historic sites. The salt mine at Wieliczka
, the pilgrimage town of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
, and Kraków
's Old Town are ranked by UNESCO
among the most precious sites of world heritage. At Wadowice
, birthplace of John Paul II (50 kilometers southwest of Kraków) is a museum dedicated to the late Pope's childhood. The area of Oświęcim
, with the former Nazi
concentration camps Auschwitz-I and Auschwitz-II-Birkenau, is visited annually by a million people. Another tourist destination is the town of Bochnia
with its salt mine, Europe's oldest.
s): 3 city counties and 19 land counties. These are further divided into 182 gmina
s.
The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).
Protected area
s in Lesser Poland Voivodeship include six National Park
s and 11 Landscape Parks
. These are listed below.
Voivodeship
Voivodship is a term denoting the position of, or more commonly the area administered by, a voivod. Voivodeships have existed since medieval times in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Serbia....
(province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
), in southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It has an area of 15108 square kilometres (5,833 sq mi), and a population of 3,267,731 (2006).
It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Kraków
Kraków Voivodeship
Kraków Voivodeship, refers to several historical Voivodeships of Poland in the surrounding regions, with the city of Kraków as its capital.- Kraków Voivodeship 1975-1998 :...
, Tarnów
Tarnów Voivodeship
Tarnów Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in years 1975–1998, superseded by Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Its capital city was Tarnów. Located in southeastern part of the country, its area was 4,151 km2....
, Nowy Sącz
Nowy Sacz Voivodeship
Nowy Sacz Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government, located in southern Poland in the years 1975–1998, superseded by Lesser Poland Voivodeship...
and parts of Bielsko-Biała, Katowice
Katowice Voivodeship
Katowice Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975–1998, superseded by the Silesian Voivodeship...
, Kielce
Kielce Voivodeship
Kielce Voivodeship is a former unit of administrative division and local government in Poland.-1921-1938:Kielce Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in years 1921-1939. Back then, it covered a large chunk of central part of the country, including such...
and Krosno
Krosno Voivodeship
Krosno Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in years 1975–1998, superseded by Subcarpathian Voivodeship . Its capital city was Krosno....
Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. The province's name recalls the region's traditional name, Małopolska or Lesser Poland.
The province is bounded on the north by the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
Swietokrzyskie Mountains
Świętokrzyskie Mountains , are a mountain range in central Poland, in the vicinity of the city of Kielce. The mountain range consists of a number of separate ranges, the highest of which is Łysogóry . The two highest peaks are Łysica at 612 meters and Łysa Góra at 593 meters...
(Góry Świętokrzyskie), on the west by Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska (a broad range of hills stretching from Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
to Częstochowa
Czestochowa
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants . It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship...
), and on the south by the Tatra
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
,
Pieniny and Beskidy Mountains. Politically it is bordered by Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
to the west, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship
Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, or Świętokrzyskie Province , is one of the 16 voivodeships into which Poland is presently divided. It is situated in central Poland, in the historical province of Lesser Poland, and takes its name from the Świętokrzyskie mountain range...
to the north, Subcarpathian Voivodeship
Subcarpathian Voivodeship
Podkarpackie Voivodeship , or Subcarpathian Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in extreme-southeastern Poland. Its administrative capital and largest city is Rzeszów...
to the east, and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
to the south.
Malopolska Province is part of the broader ancient Małopolska region which, together with Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
(Wielkopolska) and Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
(Śląsk), formed the early medieval Polish state.
Almost all of Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
lies in the Vistula River catchment area. The city of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
was one of the European Cities of Culture in 2000. Kraków has railway and road connections with Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
(expressway), Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Wrocław and Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
. It lies at the crossroads of major international routes linking Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
with Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, and Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
with Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Located here is the second largest international airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
in Poland (after Warsaw
Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport
Warsaw Chopin Airport is an international airport located in the Włochy district of Warsaw, Poland. Poland's busiest airport, Warsaw Chopin handles just under 50% of the country's air passenger traffic....
's), the John Paul II International Airport.
Economy
The region's economy includes high techHigh tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
nology, banking, chemical and metallurgical
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
industries, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
, food processing
Food processing
Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals either in the home or by the food processing industry...
, and spirit and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
industries. The most industrialized city of the voivodeship is Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. The largest regional enterprise operates here, the Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks in Nowa Huta
Nowa Huta
Nowa Huta - is the easternmost district of Kraków, Poland, . With more than 200,000 inhabitants it is one of the most populous areas of the city.- History :...
, employing 17,500 people. Another major industrial center is located in the west, in the neighborhood of Chrzanów (chiefly the production of railway engines) and Oświęcim
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
(chemical works). Kraków Park Technologiczny, a Special Economic Zone
Special Economic Zone
A Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic and other laws that are more free-market-oriented than a country's typical or national laws...
, has been established within the voivodeship. There are almost 210,000 registered economic entities operating in the voivodeship, mostly small and medium-sized, of which 234 belong to the state-owned sector. Foreign investment, growing in the region, reached approximately USD 18.3 billion by the end of 2006.
Universities
130,000 students attend fifteen Kraków institutions of higher learning. The Jagiellonian UniversityJagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
, the largest university in the city (44,200 students), was founded in 1364 as Cracow Academy. Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance astronomer and the first person to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology which displaced the Earth from the center of the universe....
and Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
) graduated from it. The AGH University of Science and Technology
AGH University of Science and Technology
AGH University of Science and Technology is the second largest technical university in Poland, located in Kraków. The university was established in 1919, and was formerly known as the University of Mining and Metallurgy...
(29,800 students) is considered to be the best technical university in Poland. The Academy of Economics, the Pedagogical University, the Kraków University of Technology
Cracow University of Technology
Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology is a university located in downtown Kraków, Poland, established in 1946 and, as an institution of higher learning granted full autonomy in 1954....
and the Agricultural Academy are also very highly regarded. There are also the Fine Arts Academy, the State Theatre University and the Musical Academy. Nowy Sącz
Nowy Sacz
Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
has become a major educational center in the region thanks to its Higher School of Business and Administration, with an American curriculum, founded in 1992. The school has 4,500 students. There are also two private higher schools in Tarnów.
Climate
Located in Southern PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Lesser Poland is the warmest place in Poland with an average temperature in the summer being between 23 °C (73.4 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F), although they often reach 32 °C (89.6 °F) to 38 °C (100.4 °F) in July and August the two warmest months of the year. The city of Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
, which is located in Lesser Poland, is the hottest place in Poland all year round, the average temperatures being 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer and 4 °C (39.2 °F) in the winter. In the winter the weather patterns alter each year; usually winters are mildly cold with temperatures ranging from -7 °C (19.4 °F)to 4 °C (39.2 °F), but the winter season changes often to a more humid and warmer winter, or more continental and cold. It all depends on the many various wind patters that affect Poland from different regions of the world. Błędów Desert the only desert in Poland is located in Lesser Poland, where temperatures can often reach up to 38 °C (100.4 °F) in the summer.
Tourism
Four national parks and numerous reserves have been established in the voivodeship to protect the environment of Lesser Poland. The region has areas for tourism and recreation, including ZakopaneZakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
(Poland's most popular winter resort) and the Tatra, Pieniny
Pieniny
Pieniny is a mountain range in the south of Poland and the north of Slovakia.The Pieniny mountain range is divided into three parts – Pieniny Spiskie and Pieniny Właściwe in Poland; and, Malé Pieniny in Slovakia. The Pieniny mountains consist mainly of the limestone and dolomite rock strata...
and Beskidy Mountains. The natural landscape features many historic sites. The salt mine at Wieliczka
Wieliczka
-External links:***...
, the pilgrimage town of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a town in southern Poland with 4,429 inhabitants . It is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship ; previously it was in the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship ....
, and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
's Old Town are ranked by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
among the most precious sites of world heritage. At Wadowice
Wadowice
Wadowice is a town in southern Poland, 50 km from Kraków with 19,200 inhabitants , situated on the Skawa river, confluence of Vistula, in the eastern part of Silesian Plateau...
, birthplace of John Paul II (50 kilometers southwest of Kraków) is a museum dedicated to the late Pope's childhood. The area of Oświęcim
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
, with the former Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
concentration camps Auschwitz-I and Auschwitz-II-Birkenau, is visited annually by a million people. Another tourist destination is the town of Bochnia
Bochnia
Bochnia is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland. The town lies approximately in halfway [] between Tarnów and the regional capital Kraków . Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built circa 1248...
with its salt mine, Europe's oldest.
List of cities and towns
The voivodeship contains 61 cities and towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2006 ):Administrative division
Lesser Poland Voivodeship is divided into 22 counties (powiatPowiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
s): 3 city counties and 19 land counties. These are further divided into 182 gmina
Gmina
The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...
s.
The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).
| English and Polish names |
Area (km²) |
Population (2006) |
Seat | Other towns | Total gmina Gmina The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country... s |
| City counties | |||||
| Kraków Kraków Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life... |
327 | 756,757 | 1 | ||
| Tarnów Tarnów Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection... |
72 | 117,109 | 1 | ||
| Nowy Sącz Nowy Sacz Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:... |
57 | 84,594 | 1 | ||
| Land counties | |||||
| Kraków County Kraków County Kraków County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the city of Kraków, although the city is... powiat krakowski |
1,230 | 244,970 | Kraków Kraków Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life... * |
Skawina Skawina Skawina is a town in southern Poland with 27,328 inhabitants .Situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Kraków Voivodeship .- Twin Towns - Sister Cities :Skawina is twinned with:... , Krzeszowice Krzeszowice Krzeszowice is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. As of 2004, the population of Krzeszowice was 9,993.In 2008, it was selected with 19 villages of Europe -Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain- for the Spanish documentary film "Villages of Europe" Pueblos de Europa,... , Słomniki, Skała, Świątniki Górne Swiatniki Górne Świątniki Górne is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Kraków Voivodeship .... |
17 |
| Nowy Sącz County Nowy Sacz County Nowy Sącz County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998... powiat nowosądecki |
1,550 | 197,718 | Nowy Sącz Nowy Sacz Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:... * |
Krynica-Zdrój, Stary Sącz Stary Sacz Stary Sącz - is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, seat of the municipality Stary Sącz. It's a one of the oldest towns in Poland, founded in 13th century.- Geography :... , Grybów Grybów Grybów is a town in the Nowy Sącz County, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship of Poland, with 12,409 inhabitants . It is located in the heartland of the Doły , and its average altitude is 370 metres above sea level, although there are some hills located within the confines of the city, Grybów has the... , Piwniczna-Zdrój Piwniczna-Zdrój Piwniczna-Zdrój is a town in Nowy Sącz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, near the border with Slovakia, with 5,744 inhabitants .... , Muszyna Muszyna Muszyna is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. Population: 4,989 . It is a railroad junction, located near border with Slovakia, with trains going into three directions - towards Nowy Sącz, Krynica-Zdrój and southwards, to Slovakia.... |
16 |
| Tarnów County Tarnów County Tarnów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the city of Tarnów, although the city is... powiat tarnowski |
1,413 | 193,549 | Tarnów Tarnów Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection... * |
Tuchów Tuchów Tuchów is a town in Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with a population of 6,476 .- History :The history of Tuchów is very rich and interesting. The first historical note about Tuchów dates back to 1105... , Żabno Zabno Żabno is a town and municipality on the river Dunajec in southern Poland, 15 km north of Tarnów. Since Poland's administrative reorganization in 1999, Żabno has been a part of Tarnów powiat which belongs to Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Before administrative reorganization in 1999 it belonged... , Wojnicz Wojnicz Wojnicz is a town in Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship.The Battle of Wojnicz took place here on September 23, 1655, against Sweden.- People :* Sebastian Lubomirski* Jan Wielopolski the elder* Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski* Chaim Kreiswirth, rabbi... , Radłów, Ryglice Ryglice Ryglice is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Tarnów County, the seat of the urban-rural gmina Ryglice. Located about 30 km from Tarnów, near the town of Tuchów... , Ciężkowice Ciezkowice Ciężkowice is a town in Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,407 inhabitants .... , Zakliczyn Zakliczyn Zakliczyn is a town in Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 1,558 inhabitants , on the right bank of the Dunajec River.Zakliczyn had town rights from 1557 to 1934, and regained them on January 1, 2006.... |
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| Nowy Targ County Nowy Targ County Nowy Targ County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is... powiat nowotarski |
1,475 | 181,878 | Nowy Targ Nowy Targ Nowy Targ is a town in southern Poland with 34,000 inhabitants , and the historical capital of the mountain region . The town is situated in the confluence of the rivers Biały and Czarny Dunajec, in a valley beneath the Gorce Mountains. It's in Nowy Targ County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship... |
Rabka-Zdrój Rabka-Zdrój Rabka-Zdrój , usually referred to as Rabka, is a spa town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland. It is located between Kraków and Zakopane in a valley on the northern slopes of the Gorce mountains, where the rivers Poniczanka and Słonka join the river Raba . In 2008 it had a population of 13,052... , Szczawnica Szczawnica Szczawnica is a resort town in Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. As of June 30, 2007, its population was 7,378.... |
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| Wadowice County Wadowice County Wadowice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the town of Wadowice, the birthplace of... powiat wadowicki |
646 | 154,304 | Wadowice Wadowice Wadowice is a town in southern Poland, 50 km from Kraków with 19,200 inhabitants , situated on the Skawa river, confluence of Vistula, in the eastern part of Silesian Plateau... |
Andrychów Andrychów Andrychów is the largest town in Wadowice County in southern Poland with 22,257 inhabitants as of 2006. It has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999. Previously, it was located in Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship... , Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a town in southern Poland with 4,429 inhabitants . It is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship ; previously it was in the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship .... |
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| Oświęcim County Oswiecim County Oświęcim County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Oświęcim, which lies ... powiat oświęcimski |
406 | 153,390 | Oświęcim Oswiecim Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :... |
Kęty Kety Kęty is a town in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland with 19,175 inhabitants .The town dates its earliest document from 1277 when Polish prince of Opole Władysław confirmed sale of the settlement and adoption of Lviv city rights. The town's name comes from the word kąt... , Brzeszcze Brzeszcze Brzeszcze is a town in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland, near Oświęcim.It was founded in the 15th century and was owned by many rich Polish citizens, such as Dominik Gherri, the physician of King Stanisław August Poniatowski. The inhabitants were mainly fishermen and... , Chełmek, Zator Zator Zator is an old town on the Skawa river within Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. From 1975 to 1998 it belonged to the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship. It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Zator... |
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| Chrzanów County Chrzanów County Chrzanów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Chrzanów, which lies ... powiat chrzanowski |
371 | 128,103 | Chrzanów Chrzanów Chrzanów is a town in south Poland with 39,704 inhabitants . It is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship and is the capital of Chrzanów County.- To 1809:... |
Trzebinia Trzebinia Trzebinia is a town in Chrzanów County, Lesser Poland, Poland with an Orlen oil refinery and a major rail junction of the Kraków - Katowice line that connections to Oświęcim and Spytkowice.-History:... , Libiąż Libiaz Libiąż is a town in Chrzanów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 17,671 inhabitants .... , Alwernia Alwernia Alwernia is a Polish town situated some 36 km west of Kraków in the Chrzanów district of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship . The town, as well as possessing a large chemical works, is a centre for recreation and tourism.-History:The name of the town is taken from that of the Franciscan hermitage... |
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| Limanowa County Limanowa County Limanowa County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Limanowa, which lies ... powiat limanowski |
952 | 121,658 | Limanowa Limanowa Limanowa is a small town in southern Poland, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It is the capital of Limanowa County.... |
Mszana Dolna Mszana Dolna Mszana Dolna is a town in Limanowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 7,431 inhabitants . Historically it was part of Galicia.- External links :* http://www.mszana-dolna.pl... |
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| Myślenice County Myslenice County Myślenice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Myślenice, which lies ... powiat myślenicki |
673 | 116,793 | Myślenice Myslenice Myślenice is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Kraków Voivodeship . Population: 20,261.-Twin towns — Sister cities:Myślenice is twinned with: Bełchatów, Poland- Sports :... |
Sułkowice, Dobczyce Dobczyce Dobczyce is a town in southern Poland, situated since 1999 in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship . There is a large dam on the river Raba and a partially rebuilt 14th century castle, which is open for tourists. Dobczyce is also the name of a small part of Bobrowniki Małe, a village in Lesser Poland.... |
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| Olkusz County Olkusz County Olkusz County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Olkusz, which lies ... powiat olkuski |
622 | 114,286 | Olkusz Olkusz Olkusz is a town in south Poland with 37,696 inhabitants . Situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship , it is the capital of Olkusz County... |
Bukowno Bukowno Bukowno is a town in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 10,564 inhabitants . Till 1975 city belonged to the Cracow Voivodeship and since 1975 until 1998 to the Katowice Voivodeship... , Wolbrom Wolbrom Wolbrom is a town in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 9,568 inhabitants .-External Links:* an online exhibition by Yad Vashem... |
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| Gorlice County Gorlice County Gorlice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. It was created on 1 January 1999 as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Gorlice,... powiat gorlicki |
967 | 106,540 | Gorlice Gorlice Gorlice is a city and an urban municipality in south eastern Poland with around 29,500 inhabitants . It is situated south east of Kraków and south of Tarnów between Jasło and Nowy Sącz in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Nowy Sącz Voivodeship... |
Biecz Biecz Biecz is a town and municipality in southeastern Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Gorlice County. It is in the Carpathian Mountains, in the Doły Jasielsko Sanockie, by the Ropa River... , Bobowa Bobowa Bobowa is a town in the Gorlice County, Poland. Administratively attached to the Lesser Polish Voivodeship, it is located 18 kilometres from Gorlice, at Biała Tarnowska River. It was formerly a village, being granted a town status since 1 January 2009... |
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| Wieliczka County Wieliczka County Wieliczka County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Wieliczka, which lies ... powiat wielicki |
428 | 105,266 | Wieliczka Wieliczka -External links:***... |
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| Bochnia County Bochnia County Bochnia County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Bochnia, which lies ... powiat bocheński |
649 | 100,382 | Bochnia Bochnia Bochnia is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland. The town lies approximately in halfway [] between Tarnów and the regional capital Kraków . Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built circa 1248... |
Nowy Wiśnicz Nowy Wisnicz Nowy Wiśnicz is a small town in Bochnia County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,724 inhabitants . It is located 4 miles south of Bochnia.-Former structures:... |
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| Brzesko County Brzesko County Brzesko County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Brzesko, which lies ... powiat brzeski |
590 | 90,214 | Brzesko Brzesko Brzesko is a town in southern Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It lies approximately west of Tarnów and east of the regional capital Kraków. Since Polish administrative reorganization , Brzesko has been the administrative capital of Brzesko County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship... |
Czchów Czchów Czchów is a town in Brzesko County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,205 inhabitants .... |
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| Sucha County Sucha County Sucha County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. Its administrative seat and largest town is Sucha Beskidzka, which lies south-west of the regional capital Kraków... powiat suski |
686 | 82,045 | Sucha Beskidzka Sucha Beskidzka -Famous people from Sucha Beskidzka:* Billy Wilder* Walery Goetel - geologist and palaeontologist; researcher of geological structure of the Tatra Mountains-Twin towns — sister cities:... |
Maków Podhalański Maków Podhalanski Maków Podhalański is a town in southern Poland. Population: 5,738 .Since 1999 situated in Sucha County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Previously in Bielsko-Biala Voivodeship.-External links:*... , Jordanów Jordanów ----Jordanów .Jordanów was founded in 1564 by Spytko Jordan on the salt road from Kraków and Wieliczka to Orava and Hungary. In 1581 it got a right to organize annual fairs, which in 17th century became famous in south regions of the Crown. Main goods traded there were linen, cattle and salt.Since... |
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| Tatra County Tatra County Tatra County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is... powiat tatrzański |
472 | 65,393 | Zakopane Zakopane Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a... |
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| Dąbrowa County Dabrowa County Dąbrowa County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the town of Dąbrowa Tarnowska, which lies east... powiat dąbrowski |
530 | 58,572 | Dąbrowa Tarnowska Dabrowa Tarnowska Dąbrowa Tarnowska is a town in Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, about north of Tarnów. It is the capital of Dąbrowa County. Before reorganization Dąbrowa Tarnowska was part of Tarnów Voivodeship . Population is 11'402... |
Szczucin Szczucin Szczucin is a town in Dąbrowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Szczucin... |
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| Miechów County Miechów County Miechów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Miechów, which lies north... powiat miechowski |
677 | 50,769 | Miechów Miechów Miechów is a town in Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, about 40 km north of Kraków. It is the capital of Miechów County. Population is 11,852 .... |
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| Proszowice County Proszowice County Proszowice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is Proszowice, which lies north-east of... powiat proszowicki |
415 | 43,441 | Proszowice Proszowice Proszowice is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Kraków Voivodeship . Its population numbers 6,206 inhabitants . It is the capital of Proszowice County.... |
Nowe Brzesko Nowe Brzesko Nowe Brzesko is a town in Proszowice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Nowe Brzesko. It lies approximately south-east of Proszowice and east of the regional capital Kraków.The town has an approximate population of 1,700... |
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| * seat not part of the county | |||||
Protected areas
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s in Lesser Poland Voivodeship include six National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
s and 11 Landscape Parks
Landscape Park (Poland)
A Landscape Park is the name given in Poland to a type of protected area, of lower status than a National Park and with less stringent restrictions on development and economic use....
. These are listed below.
- Babia Góra National Park (a UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
-designated biosphere reserveBiosphere reserveThe Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
) - Gorce National ParkGorce National ParkGorce National Park is a national park in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It covers central and northeastern parts of the Gorce mountains, which are part of the Western Beskids ....
- Magura National Park (partly in Subcarpathian VoivodeshipSubcarpathian VoivodeshipPodkarpackie Voivodeship , or Subcarpathian Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, or province, in extreme-southeastern Poland. Its administrative capital and largest city is Rzeszów...
) - Ojców National ParkOjców National ParkOjców National Park is a national park in Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland, established in 1956. It takes its name from the village of Ojców, where it also has its headquarters....
- Pieniny National ParkPieniny National Park (Poland)Pieniny National Park is a protected area in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, in the heart of the Pieniny Mountains.- The location :...
- Tatra National Park (part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve shared with SlovakiaSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
) - Bielany-Tyniec Landscape ParkBielany-Tyniec Landscape ParkBielany-Tyniec Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland, established in 1981, covering an area of ....
- Ciężkowice-Rożnów Landscape ParkCiezkowice-Roznów Landscape ParkCiężkowice-Rożnów Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland, established in 1995, covering an area of ....
- Dłubnia Landscape Park
- Eagle Nests Landscape ParkEagle Nests Landscape ParkThe Eagles' Nests Landscape Park is a protected area in south-western Poland, and one of over a hundred Polish Landscape Parks. It was established in 1980, and covers much of the area of the Trail of the Eagles' Nests, marked as No...
(partly in Silesian VoivodeshipSilesian VoivodeshipSilesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
) - Kraków Valleys Landscape ParkKraków Valleys Landscape ParkKraków Valleys Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland, covering an area of ....
- Little Beskids Landscape ParkLittle Beskids Landscape ParkLittle Beskids Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland, established in 1998, covering an area of . It lies within the Little Beskids mountain range. Its highest peak is Czupel, at ....
(partly in Silesian Voivodeship) - Pasmo Brzanki Landscape ParkPasmo Brzanki Landscape ParkPasmo Brzanki Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland, established in 1995.The Park is shared between two voivodeships: Lesser Poland Voivodeship and Subcarpathian Voivodeship...
(partly in Subcarpathian Voivodeship) - Poprad Landscape ParkPoprad Landscape ParkPoprad Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland.The Park lies within Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in the part of the Beskid mountain range south of Nowy Sącz, in the basin of the Poprad river. It borders Slovakia....
- Rudno Landscape ParkRudno Landscape ParkRudno Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland.The Park lies within Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It takes its name from the village of Rudno....
- Tenczynek Landscape ParkTenczynek Landscape ParkTenczynek Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland, established in 1981, covering an area of ....
- Wiśnicz-Lipnica Landscape ParkWisnicz-Lipnica Landscape ParkWiśnicz-Lipnica Landscape Park is a protected area in southern Poland, established in 1997, covering an area of ....
See also
- Second Polish RepublicSecond Polish RepublicThe Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
’s Kraków Voivodeship (1919–1939) - Lesser Polish Way