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Baia Mare
City: Baia Mare
Coat-of-Arms:
State: Romania
Address: Primăria Municipiului Baia Mare
Str. Gh. Sincai nr. 37
Baia Mare, 430311
ROMANIA
T:
Fax:
0040 262 213 824
0040 262 213 261
Website:
E-mail:
www.baiamarecity.ro
City Mayor: Cătălin Cherecheş
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (1990)
Baia Mare (large mine) is a city in Romania, Transylvania, and the administrative
center of Maramuresh District. The city area is 233.3 km2
– one of the largest
Romanian cities. The population is 140,937 residents (2007).
Baia Mare is first mentioned in 1142, when Gedza II, a Hungarian king, came here
with German colonists. Hungarian population always prevailed among the local
residents; the Romanians were the second, and the Germans were the third. In the
1920-1940s, Baia Mare was the part of the Romanian Kingdom. Since 1944, it had
been the part of Hungaria. Pursuant to the Paris Agreement, Baia Mare became the
integral part of Romania.
The city is the hub of non-ferrous metal production. Here, the non-ferrous metallurgy
plant operates (lead, copper, and gold); sulfuric acid is produced, and the enterprises
of mining, food and wood processing industries function.
Rzeszów
City: Rzeszów
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miasta Rzeszowa
Rynek 1
Rzeszow, 35-064
POLSKA
T / Fax: 004817 862 2410, 862 2810
004817 862 2641
Website:
E-mail:
www.rzeszow.pl
President: Tadeusz Ferenc
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (19/09/2000)
Rzeszów is the administrative center of Transcarpathian Province, the biggest local
agglomeration of South-Eastern Poland, true commercial, industrial and economic
city and the largest cultural hub of this country part. It is situated in the border area
near the Vislok River. The linear distance from Rzeszów to Ukrainian border is about
100 km.
It was founded as a defensive town in the 14th century. The city gained its local rights
from King Casimir the Great in 1354. In the 15th century, the town was burnt out.
After rebuilding, Rzeszów obtained a lot of privileges, that promoted its quick
development.
In 1772, Austrians ruled in the city. Then, for 146 years, the city was the part of the
Habsburg Empire. Rzeszów became independent in 1845. The city was developing at
that time thanks to the political and economic freedoms, promoted by Halychyna.
The dynamic growth was interrupted by World War II. In the aftermath, the city was
partially destroyed. In 1941, Hitler`s forces set up a ghetto in Rzeszów. The war over,
Rzeszów was said to be the capital of Rzeszow Province. The city was developing
and getting up-to-date.
The city’s old part includes only the small area of modern Rzeszów – Market and
several streets. Approximately 400 buildings and architectural monuments, most of
which are located in the downtown, are preserved on municipal territory. Lubomirski
Palace, the city’s main square and its stone monuments, the local town hall (the 15th
c.), Bernadine’s Monastery, Old-New Synagogue and Underground have important
architectural value.
Rzeszów holds a lot of cultural and entertaining events and festivals, some of which
are considered international. The International Festival of Polish Folk Bands is said to
be the most famous cultural event. The Multicultural Festival “Halychyna”, Teen
Chorus Festival and International Music Festival “Carpathia” are periodically held in
Rzeszów.
Rzeszów is an important industrial center. The production of household appliances,
food, light, construction, furniture and telecommunication industries are developing
in the city. Airline industry and pharmaceutics are developing the most effectively.
Rzeszów is a large academic center. Near 60,000 students acquire a degree here every
year.
Chrzanów
City: Chrzanów
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miejski w Chrzanowie
ul.Henryka 20
Chrzanow
32-500
POLSKA
T:
Fax:
00327 585 152 – Mayor’s Chamber
00326 233 786; 623 3786
Website:
E-mail:
www.chrzanow.pl
Burgomaster: Ryszard Kosowski
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (16/02/2001)
Chrzanów is a district city, located in the Western part of Malopolskie Province, on
the Visla left tributary – the Hehlo River. The city area, where about 40,000 residents
live, is almost 80 km2. The linear distance from Ivano-Frankivsk to Chrzanów
constitutes 408 km.
Chrzanów obtained the Magdeburg Rights in 1393. Old Polish Chrzanów was famous
for cattle and precious metals trade – mostly ore, tin zink and iron. The importance of
local tin trade is proved by the established unit of this precious metal weight –
Centner of Chrzanów weight.
The 17th century meant recession, connected with military actions, epidemies and
fires. Only at the end of the 18th century, thanks to the new extraction methods, the
mines began to develop intensively. At that time, the city and its surrounding territory
partially belonged to the Western part of Halychyna, Warsaw Kingdom, and the
Republic of Kraków. It had belonged to Halychyna since 1869.
Being previously the city of craftsmen and merchants, Chrzanów turned into an
industrial center and a province capital. At the beginning of the 20th
century, two
largest enterprises began to operate in Chrzanów. They were the first Polish
“Locomotive Plant” and Refractory Materials Plant “Stella”, which function
nowadays.
Being close to Cracow, Oswiencim, Vadovits and modern Water Center “Hehlo
Strait”, the city attracts a number of tourists.
Chrzanów is the city of medieval history. Most of the preserved ancient memorials
originate from the 19th
and early 20th centuries. While walking along Chrzanów
streets, one should visit St. Nicolas Church with medieval gothic carving and baroque
chapel of St. Stanislav, finally built in 1641.
Zielona Góra
City: Zielona Góra
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miasta Zielona Góra
ul. Podgorna 22
Zielona Góra
65-424
POLSKA
T/ Fax: 0048 68 45 64 110, 45 64 111
0048 68 45 64 155
Website:
E-mail:
www.zielona-gora.pl
President: Janusz Kubicki
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (06/04/2001)
Zielona Góra is a city in Western Poland, one of two administrative centers of Lubusz
Province, which is situated at the crossroads of historical way Vrotslav-Shenin. The
population is 118,600 residents. The linear distance from Zielona Góra to Ivano-
Frankivsk is 732 km.
Zielona Góra was first mentioned in 1222. In 1323 approximately, the settlement,
located in the small picturesque valley of the Oder River, was granted the city status.
The Magdeburg Law caused the large inflow of German colonists to this place. In the
1430s, the city was surrounded with a safety wall, but soon it was destroyed. (Now,
only small parts of its whisper through centuries.)
The central regions of Zielona Góra attract tourists with numerous interesting stone
constructions of the 19th
century. Most of the old buildings were built at the
beginning of the 20th century and have eclectic style. The historical center is the
market area with an ancient city hall of the 15th century. Late-gothic Cathedral of St.
Yadviga is an old monument of sacral architecture, preserved in Zielona Góra. One
should definitely visit the museum of Lubusz land. It is located in the building of ex-
council, built in 1980. There is the only wine production department, where one may
see special equipment and wine utensils.
Zielona Góra is often called Vynnyi Grad or Bahys Grad. Since the city foundation,
its name has been connected with vine growing. The local vineyards were first
mentioned in 1314, but the famous white wine is supposed to have been produced
there since the 11th century. The wines, produced in Zielona Góra, were exported not
only to Polish cities but abroad as well. The most popular local sort of white wine
was “Monte Verde”. In the course of time, the wine production in this region
decreased, and it was so due to the climate change. Nowadays, the wine is not
produced in Zielona Góra. (The last plant decayed at the beginning of the 1990s.)
Now, several vineyards are still in the Wine Park, which surrounds the Palm
conservatory. (The traditional grape festivals have been held here since 1852.) Each
September during a week, there are different presentations, sport and trading events
in Zielona Góra. At present, mechanic engineering, textile and food industries are
well-developed in the city.
Sierpukhov
City: Sierpukhov
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Russian Federation
Address: City Administration
88 Sovietskaia St.
Sierpukhov
Moscow District
The Russian Federation
T: 007 496 779 0001 – Mayor’s Chamber
Website:
E-mail:
http://www.серпухов.рф/
Head of Administration: Zalesov, Pavel
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (18/09/2001)
Sierpukhov is the administrative center of Sierpukhov Region of Moscow District
(Russia). The city is located 99 km south to the capital of the Russian Federation.
There are no precise data about the city foundation. Sierpukhov is first mentioned as
a city in the Ecclesiastical Charter of Ivan Kalita, the great Moscow tzar. The text of
this document is preserved in two variants and dates back to 1328-1339. The
Sierpuhov Historical and Art Museum is a unique cultural artifact, considered to be
the largest one in Russia, and it is famous for the easel paintings of Russian and West
European artists, the works of famous sculptors and masterpieces of applied art as
well. Soborna Mountain is the ancient center of Sierpukhov. The remnants of white
stone Kremlin walls and Troitskyi Cathedral, which is the home for the affiliate of the
Historical and Art Museum, are conserved. The Kremlin of Sierpukhov didn’t have
any direct counterparts that would serve as stone protection during the 17th century.
The city area is 32.6 km2, 22.3 km
2 thereof is used for construction. The city
population is more than 126,000 people. Sierpukhov is a green city that includes
about 50 gardens and squares. The linear distance from Serpukhov to Ivano-
Frankivsk is over 1,100 km.
The industry is highly developed, that has been proved through the ages. As far back
as the 18th century, Sierpukhov became one of the main industrial centers of Russia.
The city is beneficially located at the crossroads of trade routes, and its infrastructure
is well-developed. Sierpukhov transport junction should mean railway, road and
water ways. For the 19th century, the city was developing as a textile production
center. 92 percent of all-city blue-collars worked at textile factories. In the city
suburbs, there is a biosphere reserve, which was established in 1945 to preserve a
unique natural complex. The reserve is the museum of midland nature with 100-year-
old forests, arctic lakes, picturesque landscapes and a wonderful animal world.
In Sierpukhov, there are two open monasteries. They are the Sierpukhov Monastery
of Mistress and Presentation of Virgin Mary and Vysotsky Monastery. The latter is
the home for Inexhaustible Chalice, the only preserved wonderworking Marian icon.
Rybnik
City: Rybnik
Coat-of-Arms and Flag:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miasta Rybnika
ul. B.Chrobrego 2
Rybnik
44-200
POLSKA
T:
Fax:
032 422 3011 – Mayor’s Chamber
032 439 2000
032 422 4124
Website:
E-mail:
www.rybnik.pl
President of the City: Adam Fudali (4th term)
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (12/10/2001)
Rybnik is a city in Southern Poland (Silesian Province). It is located 290 km to the
south of Warsaw on Polish-Czech border. The city population is over 140,000
residents. The linear distance from Rybnik to Ivano-Frankivsk constitutes 465 km.
Rybnik is the city with district rights and is the 25th largest Polish city by population
number and the 14th
largest Polish one by terrain criterion. Rybnik is divided into 27
districts, most of which have a suburb status.
There are no precise data about its foundation. The first humans settled here in 8000
B.C. In 1327, the city obtained Magdeburg Rights. In the Middle Ages, Rybnik was a
fisherman settlement, located on an important trade route in the Ratsiborske
Kingdom. In the city suburbs, there were a lot of fishing ponds, due to which the city
acquired its name Rybnik (“fishing pond”). In the post-war period, a partially
destroyed city was being rebuilt. The development of coal-mining industry was a
cutting edge; education, culture and sport were top priorities as well.
Rybnik doesn`t have great cultural and architectural memorials, however, there are
some old and interesting objects. Most of them are in the central part of the city. The
most important ones include St. Anthony Church in Basel, neogothic sanctity, built
according to Ludwig Schneider’s project in 1903-1906; the ancient nursing home of
1887; a neoclassicistic city hall, built in 1928; the classicistic ancient city hall with a
clock tower of 1822 (The latter is the local museum now.).
Rybnik is a rather green city. (It took the first place in the Polish contest “Green City
2000”.) In the city, there are six green districts which have park status and also
several districts with square status. The current area of a green local territory exceeds
103 ha. In the northern suburbs, there is the Regional Park, where man-made water
network is still preserved. In Rybnik, there is the most modern stadium in Poland and
one of the longest Polish bicycle path network – over 100 km. The private post office,
which was the first in Poland, still works in Rybnik. Old City, Rybnik Strait,
Aeroclub ROW, parks and forests attract multinational tourists.
Oradea
City: Oradea
Coat-of-Arms:
State: Romania
Address: Primăria municipiului Oradea
Piata Unirii nr.1
Oradea
410100
ROMANIA
Fax: 0040 259 437 544
Website:
E-mail:
www.oradea.ro
Mayor of the City: Ilie Gavril Bolojan, Judetul Bihor
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (05/05/2003)
Oradea or Oradia is a Romanian city – the center of Bihor Province. The city is
located in the western part of the country; in essence, in Krishana, on the banks of the
Muresh River near the Hungarian-Romanian border. The population is more than
200,000 inhabitants. The linear distance from Oradea and Ivano-Frankivsk is 294 km.
In 1113, Oradea is first mentioned as Varad, which means castle. The city tower,
some parts of which are still preserved, was first mentioned in 1241. (It was to protect
the settlement from Mongol-Tatar invasions. However, only in the 16th
century the
populated area began to turn into a city. In the 1700s, Franz Anton Hillebrandt, an
engineer from Vienna, suggested a city project in a baroque style.) Ferdinand Square
is the heart of the city. The theater, mayor’s office, library, cathedrals and the
monument to Mihail Vityazul, the province monarch, are located on this square. The
architecture of Oradea’s center includes the buildings of the 18th and 19
th centuries –
the modern style, and Austrian classicism. Cathedrals, churches, a synagogue with a
huge dome are located in the downtown.
Although Oradea is a Romanian city, the residents speak Hungarian; one may also
hear Russian and Romanian. The city centre is totally different from the main part. In
the north-western part of Oradea, near the dwelling houses, there is an industrial area
with chemical plants. On the outskirts, near the Hungarian border, there is a religious
centre of the country’s western part – the complex of Bihor’s bishop office. The
landmarks of Oradea also include Zeriy, which is a palace and museum, built in
1762-1777. In the 1899-1900s, the public theatre was built. (Nowadays, the
Romanian and Hungarian troupes perform there.) Oradea has a lot of buildings with
magnificent attributes. For example, the Moon Church, Greek Catholic Palace, Palace
with stained-glass windows “Black Eagle”, Apolon Palace and Roman Catholic
Cathedral. In Oradea, there are over 100 religious landmarks. The largest baptist
church is in this city as well.
The industries include furniture, textile, footwear and food domains.
Oradea is a tourist hub and health resort, as it has a great deal of curative geothermal
waters. Baile Felix, a spa resort, is very popular.
Surgut
City: Surgut
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Russian Federation
Address: Surgut City Administration
8 Engelsa St.
628400, Surgut
Yugra, Khanty-Mansiisk County
Tiumien District
RUSSIA
T:
Fax:
007 3462 522 175; 282 215
522 182; 522 206
Webpage:
E-mail:
www.admsurgut.ru
Chairman: Dmytro Popov
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement
(September 2003)
Surgut is a Russian city, and the administrative centre of Surgut Region of Khanty-
Mansiisk County. The name itself has derived from sur (fish) and gut (pit), which
result in a fish place, all in all. The two lexical units are considered to be Khanty
words.
In the year of 1594, Surgut was founded pursuant to the decree of Tsar Fedir
Ivanovych. A warrior, clergyman, merchant, and hunter were the first settlers here. At
the end of the 16th century, Surgut was a small two-gate fortress, with four complete
towers and a let-in one. In the 1960s, the city turned into an industrial hub, with a
number of oil and gas wells. In 1965, a city of Surgut was declared.
Surgut is one of the oldest settlements of Siberia. The municipal territory covers the
area of 200 km2. The historic city is located on the bank of the River Ob. To be more
precise, just in the heart. The linear distance from Surgut to Ivano-Frankivsk
constitutes 3,297 km.
Oil extraction and drilling-for-gas are the two sectors of local economy.
Surgutnaftogaz and Surgutgazprom are the biggest enterprises here. The city is the
non-official oil hub of Russia, with great transport network and important ways.
Pipelines, highways, airlines, waterways, and railway crisscross in the City of Surgut.
Hence, the spots of Western Siberia are interconnected. In the area, there are two
power stations which perform on natural and associated gas. Open Joint-Stock
Company “Tiumien Energy Sources”, which is located in Surgut, is the second
largest supplier of the products in the whole of Russia. The city is rich in a number of
plants. Natural gas processing is one of the industries developed here. Unfortunately,
Surgut had faced the dole of other lively cities. All the relics of the past were pulled
down. (The only building left is the Museum of Local History. It was erected in the
19th century.)
A millennium was a milestone for Surgut. A unique highway bridge was constructed
over the Ob. (The thing is a copy of the Golden Gate Bridge.) Barsova Gora is a rare
archeological monument, which is situated on the right bank of the Ob. More than
3,000 rooms and annexes, 61 settlements, mounds, and temples have been conserved.
Some of them go back to the Stone Age. The relics go in a line and stretch for eight
kilometers in length. A reserve is going to be set up here.
In the year of 2002, the Centre for Ukrainian Culture was established in Surgut. Lots
of Ukrainians live on the territory; they produce own newspaper and broadcast
events.
Tomaszów Mazowiecki
City: Tomaszów Mazowiecki
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miasta w Tomaszowie Maz.
ul.POW 10/16
Tomaszów Mazowiecki
97-200
POLSKA
T:
Fax:
044 724 2311
044 724 4359
Webpage:
E-mail:
www.tomaszow-maz.eu
President: Rafal Zagozdon
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (08/05/2004)
The municipality is situated in the central part of Poland. It stands on the River
Pilytsia. The city is the administrative centre of Tomaszow County of Lodz
Voivodeship.
Tomaszów Mazowiecki was founded by Earl Ostrowskyi in 1788. Just then, iron ore
was discovered there. 1824 was a prime time for commerce and industries. In 1830,
the Magdeburg Rights were granted to the municipality. The first railway station was
built here in the year of 1885. Textile industry made the municipality an important
spot.
40,000 people resided on the territory before World War I. The Church of Jesus
Christ, which was erected in 1903, is one the local landmarks. For time being, it is the
prayer house for evangelists and Lutherans. In 1919, the city was announced to be the
capital of the county. It was the heyday of Poland.
Nowadays, there are more than 65,700 residents here. The city covers the area of 41.7
m2.
Economy is represented by the following industries: Production of artificial fibers;
textile and food domains.
Brest
City: Brest
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Belarus
Address: the Executive Committee of
Brest City Council
3 Engelsa St.
Brest
224005
T:
Fax:
00 375 162 232 062
00 375 162 233 702
00 375 162 235 494
Webpage:
E-mail:
www.city.brest.by
Chairman:
Oleksandr Palyshenkov
Chamber: 00 375 162 239 838; 212 193
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (24/08/2004)
Brest is located in the South-Western part of Belarus. The city is the administrative
centre of Brest District, which borders on Volyn Oblast and Rivne Oblast in the
south. The territory covers the area of 72.9 km2. More than 300,000 people reside
here. The linear distance from Brest to Ivano-Frankivsk constitutes 360 km.
Berestie is the obsolete for Brest. The city was first mentioned in the Primary
Chronicle (1019). At that time, numerous contenders would ascend Kyiv thrown.
In the year of 1390, a remarkable and great event marked the life of Brest. In essence,
the Magdeburg Rights were granted. Since then, it had been a true municipality. In
1566, Brest became the centre of Brest Voivodeship. The Union of Brest was signed
in 1596. Germans were hosts here in 1915. Poles reigned in the territory in 1919. The
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed in March 1918. The German troops occupied the
municipal territory on September 17, 1939. Pursuant to Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,
Brest became the integral part of the USSR. After the USSR had collapsed, the city
was declared the centre of Brest District of the Republic of Belarus.
Brest is one of the historic and cultural cities of Belarus. The Berestie Museum,
which reveals the truth about local history and uncovers archaeological facts, the
Museum of Conserved Masterpieces, the Art Museum, and Brest Fortress make
municipal stock. The Theatre of Drama and Music, and Puppet Theatre perform in
Brest. The Festival of National Cinematography, and the International Festival of
Dramatic Art, White Tower for short, are two famous events. The city is rich in
cathedrals, temples, and churches.
Brest is a big industrial hub. Engineering, and food and light industries are of priority.
Lumbering, wood-processing, and feed mill industry are well-developed; energy
policy is implemented, while paper domain is accented.
Nyíregyháza
City: Nyíregyháza
Coat-of-Arms:
State: Hungary
Address: Nyíregyháza Megyei Jogú
Város Polgármesteri Hivatal
Kossuth tér 1
Nyíregyháza, H-4400
HUNGARY
T:
Fax:
Mayor’s Chamber – 00 364 252 4500
00 364 252 4566
Webpage:
E-mail:
www.nyirhalo.hu
Mayor: Dr. Kovács Ferenc
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (11/09/2004)
Nyíregyháza is a city in northeastern Hungary and the county capital of Szabolcs-
Szatmár-Bereg. With a population of 118,000, it is the seventh-largest city in
Hungary and is one of the leading cities of Northern Hungary and of the northern part
of the Great Hungarian Plain. Its development has been ongoing since the 18th
century; it is the economic and cultural center of the region. Its zoo, exhibiting more
than 300 species including real rarities, is recognized throughout Europe.
The first written mentions of Nyíregyháza date back to 1209, although it was then
called simply Nyír (‘birch’), after the Nyírseg, the greater region in which the city
lies; egyház means ‘church, cathedral’. In the middle of the 15th century the town had
about 400 inhabitants. In the 16th century, during the Turkish occupation of Hungary,
Nyíregyháza became deserted; it was resettled only in the 1630s – 1640s.
After the War for Independence led by Prince Francis II Rákóczi, the population of
the town increased. Most of the new settlers were Slovaks from the area of
Békéscsaba. In 1786 Nyíregyháza was granted the right to hold four market days a
year; by this time the town was the biggest town of the county with 7,500 inhabitants.
In the early 19th century Nyíregyháza was wealthy enough to become free from its
feudal lords, the Dessewffy and Károlyi families. During these prosperous years the
town got a new town hall, a hospital, a restaurant, and several schools by Lake Sóstó
("Salty Lake").
The inhabitants of the town took an active part in the revolution and war for
independence in 1848-1849, and after the suppression of the revolution several
citizens were imprisoned, among them Márton Hatzel, the mayor.
In the second half of the 19th
century, Nyíregyháza became more and more urbanized
and in 1876 the town became the county seat of Szabolcs county (which is now the
part of the larger integrated county Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg). In 1858, the railroad
line reached Nyíregyháza; several new buildings were built, including a telegraph
office, the main post office and the theater. In 1911, the construction of tramways
was finished.
After the many trials and tribulations of World War I, Nyíregyháza was under
Romanian occupation for ten months. Between the two world wars the city celebrated
the 100th anniversary of becoming free from its feudal landowners.
During World War II more than 6,000 Jews were deported, and another 2,000
citizens were sent to Russian labor camps. Several buildings were destroyed,
including the Status Quo Synagogue.
From the 1960s the city was growing and developing quickly. Today, Nyíregyháza is
one of the most prosperous cities of Hungary, being both an educational center and a
popular tourist destination.
Nyíregyháza also has several museums and exhibitions, showing the city’s rich
cultural heritage.
Opole
City: Opole
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miasta Opola
Rynek-Ratucz
Opole, 45-015
POLSKA
T: 0077 454 3845
0077 451 1810
Webpage:
E-mail:
www.opole.pl
President: Ryszard Zembaczyński
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (18/04/2005)
Opole is a city in Southern Poland. It stands on the River Oder (Odra). 125,992
people live there. Opole is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship; it is
the seat of Opole County. Today, many German Upper Silesians and Poles of
German ancestry live in Opole region; in the city itself, Germans make up less than
3% of the population.
The name Opole must have originated from the medieval Slavic term for a group of
settlements. Opole’s history begins in the 8th century. According to the archeological
excavations, the first Slavic settlement was founded on Ostrówek, the northern part of
Pasieka island in the middle of the River Odra. In the early 10th century, it developed
into one of the main gróds of the Slavic Opolanie. Opole would become a duchy in
1172 and would share much in common with the Duchy of Racibórz, with which it
was often combined. The Duchy of Opole was temporarily reestablished in 1290.
In 1254, Opole received German town law, which was expanded with Neumarkt law
in 1327 and the Magdeburg rights in 1410. Along with most of Silesia, in 1327 the
Duchy of Opole came under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bohemia. In 1521,
the Duchy of Racibórz was inherited by the Duchy of Opole, by then also known by
its German equivalent – Oppeln.
Oppeln was the administrative seat of the Province of Upper Silesia from 1919–1939.
Soon, Polish Eastern Upper Silesia was re-added to the Province of Upper Silesia,
and Oppeln lost its status as provincial capital to Katowice (renamed Kattowitz).
After the end of the Second World War in 1945, Oppeln was transferred from
Germany to Poland according to the Potsdam Conference, and given its original
Slavic name of Opole. Opole became the part of the Katowice Voivodeship, later, of
the Opole Voivodeship.
Opole hosts the annual National Festival of Polish Song. The city is also known for
its 10th-century Church of St. Adalbert and the 14
th-century Church of the Holy Cross.
Târgovişte
City: Târgovişte
Coat-of-Arms:
State: Romania
Address: Primăria municipiului Târgoviste
Str.Revolutiei nr. 1-3
Targoviste, 130011
ROMANIA
T:
Fax:
0040 245 611 222; 0040 245 613 928;
0040 245 217 951
Webpage:
E-mail:
http://www.pmtgv.ro/
President:
Gabriel Florin Boriga
Document/Date of Signature: Memorandum of Understanding
(07/05/2005)
Târgovişte is a city in Romania and the seat of the Dâmbovița County. It is situated
on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. As of 2011, Târgoviște has the population of
73,964; it is the 26th
largest city in Romania. One of the most important cities in the
history of Wallachia, it was its capital between early 15th century and 16
th century.
The name Târgoviște is a name of Slavic origin which the city acquired in the Middle
Ages. It has derived from the Slavic word for marketplace, referring to the place
rather than the market itself.
The area of Târgoviște first inhabited is located where today stand Saint Nicholas-
Geartoglu Church and Stelea Veche Church.
Another nucleus of the city was built by Saxon colonists from Transylvania, in the
area where Catholic Saint Mary Church is located, a church that was built during the
early years of the colony.
The colonists influenced the local administration, as Târgoviște was the only town in
Wallachia that had Transylvanian organization features, having official titles such as
birău and folnog, which are found in documents together with local officials, like
vornic and pristav.
After 1400, the town began to grow and become denser.
In the 14th century, the capital of Wallachia was Curtea de Argeș, however, due to
Târgoviște's economic growth, toward the end of the century, it became a secondary
residence of the Wallachian hospodar. In 1396, Bavarese traveler Johann Schiltberger
mentions both Curtea de Argeș and Târgoviște as capitals of Wallachia. While
Mircea I lived in Curtea de Argeș, Michael I, Mircea's son and co-prince lived in
Târgoviște, where he continued to live even as a single ruler.
Throughout the period it was the capital of Wallachia, the Royal Court had been
constantly refurbished and extended. The compound was surrounded by stone walls
and a moat and a new church and a tower had been built. Vlad III Dracula later added
the Chindia Tower, now a symbol of the city.
In 1465 (for the next two centuries), the rulers alternated the capital between
Târgoviște and Bucharest, often for political reasons, as the former was preferred by
the rulers who were friendly toward Transylvania and the King of Hungary.
Throughout the 15th
and 16th
centuries, Târgoviște was a major trade hub.
By the 16th
century, the Romanians became majority in the city, as some Saxons left
for Transylvania and others were assimilated.
As the capital of Wallachia, Târgoviște faced numerous sieges and invasions.
After the capital had been moved to Bucharest during the rule of Constantin
Brâncoveanu (1688-1714), Târgoviște lost its importance, decaying economically.
Târgoviște was the site of the trial and execution of Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife
Elena in December 1989.
Dzielnica Ochota miasta stołecznego Warszawy
County: Dzielnica Ochota miasta stołecznego
Warszawy
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Dzielnicy Ochota m. st.
Warszawy
ul. Grójecka 17a
02-021 Warszawa
POLSKA
T
Fax:
022 822 0614, 578 3500, 822 2021
659 8008
Website:
E-mail:
www.urzadochota.waw.pl
Burgomaster: Wojciech Maurycy Komorowski
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (14/09/2006)
The county is one of the many units of Warsaw. (In fact, there are eighteen counties
overall.) Dzielnica is the Polish for county.
Reportedly, Ochota is the name of a pub, which was built in the year of 1835 and
located in Krakivska Street. In the course of time, the whole of settlement was called
Ochota. It was the part of Velyka Volia, a royal village. The county itself was first
mentioned in old 1238.
Roads were built in the 18th century, while the railway station was introduced to the
dwellers in the mid-19th
epoch. The county was developing. Sewer system, plumbery,
and the Child Jesus Hospital were the few cutting edges. The interwar 1920s were
roaring and truly booming. New populated areas popped up; green spots were
planned; parks were developed. In the year of 1939, Ochota residents defended
Warsaw from the Nazis. (The time is a memorial.) Ochota was redeveloped. New
high-rise buildings were erected; public institutions were set up. The old county was
preserved.
Nowadays, Ochota is one of the counties of Warsaw. It covers the territory of 972 ha.
Here, 340 ha would mean green space. 90,000 people live in the territory. There are
two kindergardens, 21 primary schools, fourteen secondary establishments, five
gymnasiums, nine lyceums, two vocational schools, five universities, and eight
hostels in the county. In 2003, Ochota was ranked for ‘the Best County’. (In essence,
it took the fourth place.)
The linear distance from Ivano-Frankivsk to Warsaw constitutes 456 km.
Trakai
City: Trakai
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Lithuania
Address: Trakų Rajono Savivaldybės Meras
Vytauto g.33
Trakai, LT-21106
LITHUANIA
Т:
Fax:
00370 528 554 87
00370 528 555 24
Website:
Е-mail:
www.trakai.lt
Mayor: Vincas Kapočius
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (09/11/2006)
Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It is the administrative centre of
Trakai District. The city covers the territory of 11.52 km2; 5,357 people live here. A
notable feature of Trakai is as it follows:
The town was built and preserved by different peoples. They were Karaims, Tatars,
Lithuanians, Russians, Jews and Poles.
Tracken is the first name of the city. (It was first recorded like that in 1337.) Tracken
or Trakai means glade. Troki is the Polish for Trakai.
Trakai is a water city, surrounded by 200 lakes. The Galvė is the deepest.
Trakai Historical National Park was founded on April 23, 1991 to preserve Trakai as
the centre of Lithuanian statehood as well as the park's untouched nature. It is the
only like-park both in Lithuania and Europe.
There are a number of architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Trakai. The
castle museum was established in 1962. Festivals and concerts take place in the
island castle each summer.
Jelgava
City: Jelgava
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Latvia
Address: Lielā iela 11,
Jelgava, LV-3001
LATVIJA
Т:
Fax:
00 371 630 055 22 00 371 630 055 67
00 371 630 290 59
Website:
Е-mail:
www.jelgava.lv
Mayor: Andris Rāviņš
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (25/10/2007)
Jelgava is a city in central Latvia; 64,000 people live there. It is the largest populated
area in the region of Zemgale (Semigalia). Many years ago, Jelgava was the capital of
the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and the administrative center of the
Courland Governorate, Russian Empire.
Jelgava is situated on a fertile plain, rising only 3.5 metres above sea level. So, the
plain and city can be flooded sometimes. Jelgava is a railway hub. Jelgava has
regular, broad streets lined with the mansions of the Baltic German nobility.
Jelgava or jālgab means a city on the river. Mitawa is the Polish for Jelgava.
The first settlers came here in the 10th
century.
The municipal rights were granted in 1573.
Jelgava was occupied and annexed with the rest of Latvia by the Soviet Union in
1940.
Nowadays, Jelgava is a popular tourist site.
Świdnica
City: Świdnica
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miasta Świdnica
ul. Armii Krajowej 49
58-100 Świdnica
POLSKA
T:
Fax:
074 856 2800
074 856 8721
Webpage:
E-mail:
www.um.swidnica.pl
President: Wojciech Murdzek
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (19/09/2008)
Świdnica is a city in South-Western Poland; Schweidnitz is the German for Świdnica.
It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in the territory.
(The city used to be the integral part of Wałbrzych Voivodeship.) It is the current seat
of both Świdnica County and Gmina Świdnica. About 60,317 people live here.
Świdnica became a town in 1250; however, there are no records on the fact. At the
dawn of the history, the city belonged to the Duchy of Wrocław and experienced two
important privileges. Just then, Świdnica had city walls and six gates; crafts and trade
were blossoming; the city was declared the capital of the Duchy of Świdnica.
The 14th
century was a truly prime time for the area. Prosperity was said to be the key
attribute.
In 1471, there were 47 trade guilds in operation, nearly 300 homes had the rights to
brew beer, and various fairs were organized. The beer was distributed in many
European cities, including Breslau, Prague, Heidelberg, Kraków, and Pisa. The beer
was offered in pubs.
In 1526, all of Silesia, including Schweidnitz, came under the rule of the Habsburg
Monarchy. The town was placed under Polish administration according to the post-
war Potsdam Conference in 1945 and renamed Świdnica.
Nowadays, Świdnica is a very picturesque place, with a bunch of benefits for each
tourist.
Lublin
City: Lublin
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miasta Lublin
Plac Wladislawa Lokietka 1
Lublin, 20-950
POLSKA
T: 081 466 2000, 081 466 2002
Website:
E-mail:
www.um.lublin.eu
President: Krzysztof Żuk
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (07/05/2009)
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland, and the second largest city of Lesser Poland.
It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with 349,103 residents registered. Cracow
Gate in the Old Town is a most recognizable landmark of the city.
The first settlers came here in the early Middle Ages. The oldest historical records
mentioning Lublin take root in 1198. The city was a target for Tatars, Ruthenes,
Yotvingians and Lithuanians and was destroyed a number of times. It received a city
charter in 1317. Casimir the Great, appreciating the strategic importance of the site,
built a castle in 1341 and encircled the city with walls.
In 1392, the city received an important trade privilege from King Władysław Jagiełło.
On June 26, 1569, the Union of Lublin was proclaimed here; thus, Poland and
Lithuania got united. Liublinas is the Lithuanian for Lublin. At the beginning of the
19th century, a number of modern urban developments took place, with new squares,
streets, and public buildings coming into existence. In the year of 1915, the
municipality was occupied by German and Austro-Hungarian armies.
Lublin had the lowest per capita GDP in the European Union until Bulgaria and
Romania got the membership in 2007.
Nowadays, Lublin is a regional center of IT companies. The local economy is being
reoriented toward the service industries. Lublin is a cultural hub. The Lublin Museum
is a top-notch establishment; it is one of the oldest and largest museums of Eastern
Poland. Lublin is a city with filmmaking past. A number of moving pictures were
shot here. The populated area is rich in NGOs, galleries, and art halls.
Lublin is the city that symbolizes European idea of integration, universal heritage of
democracy and tolerance and the idea of dialogue between the cultures of the West
and East. Lublin is a unique place where the cultures and religions meet. Here, the
East meets the West, and the European Union meets Belarus and Ukraine. It is the
perfect place of cooperation for European artists living within and outside the
European Union. Lublin is a city open to artists, a place where unique initiatives and
activities take place.
Koszalin
City: Koszalin
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Urząd Miejski
ul. Rynek Staromiejski
6-7 75-007 Koszalin
POLSKA
T:
Fax:
094 348 8600
094 342 2478, 094 348 8625
Webpage:
E-mail:
http://www.koszalin.pl/
President: Piotr Jedliński
Document/ Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (07/05/2010)
Koszalin is the largest city of Middle Pomerania. Köslin is the German for Koszalin.
It is first mentioned in 1108 in the Chronicle of Greater Poland. In the year of 1331,
the city got the direct access to the Baltic Sea.
On the fourth of March 1945, Koszalin was occupied by the Soviet Union. According
to the post-war Potsdam Agreement, the city was placed under Polish administration.
Initially, the city was considered to become the capital of the voivodeship. However,
it wasn’t to be so.
In the 1950s, Koszalin was the capital of Koszalin Voivodeship, sometimes called
Middle Pomerania. In 1998, the city was assigned to become the part of the West
Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The city borders on Chełmska hill, a site of pagan worship in prehistory, and upon
which is now built the tower ‘sanctuary of the covenant’, which was consecrated by
Pope John Paul II in 1991, and is currently a pilgrimage site.
Koszalin’s most distinctive landmark is St. Mary's Cathedral, dating from the early
14th century.
Powiat Nowosolski
District: Powiat Nowosolski
State: The Republic of Poland
Address: Starostwo Powiatowe w Nowej Soli
ul. Moniuszki 3b
67-100 Nowa Sól
POLSKA
T:
Fax:
0048 684 586 800
0048 684 586 831
Webpage:
E-mail:
http://www.powiat-nowosolski.pl
Chairman:
Józef Suszyński
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (07/05/2010)
Powiat Nowosolski is a Polish district, subjected to Lubusz Voivodeship. The very
area was declared to be as soon as new administrative and territorial structure had
been introduced. It happened in 1999.
The district covers the area of 770,58 sq. km. 86,794 people reside here. Nowa Sól is
the heart of the district. The city stands on the River Odra and is located in the
Western part of Poland. Cities, towns and counties make the district.
Ivano-Frankivsk has been twinned with Powiat Nowosolski for too long a time.
Education is a most fruitful domain: Several agreements have been concluded.
Exchanges are held annually.
Přerov
City: Přerov
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The Czech Republic
Address: Městský úřad Přerov
Bratrská 34
Přerov 2, 750-11
ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA
T:
Fax:
00420 581 268 111
00420 581 738 613
Webpage: www.mu-prerov.cz
Mayor: Ing. Jiří Lajtoch
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (07/08/2010)
Přerov is a town in the Olomouc Region, where the River Bečva flows through.
Přerov is a statute town (2006). 47,373 people reside here. Přerov is about 22 km to
the South-West of Olomouc. In the past it was a major crossroads in the heart of
Moravia.
The first settlement dates back to primeval times. There is a prehistoric site from the
Stone Age on the mound called Hradisko. The oldest written records of Přerov take
root in 1133 when King Přemysl Otakar gave Přerov the privilege of being a royal
town. The mansion of Přerov was the residence of an influential house. (Přerov is
called the city of Comenius and Blahoslav, the most significant personalities of the
Unity of Brethren as well as of Bohemian culture in the 16th
and 17th centuries.) The
cultural and social life of the city in the 19th century took up traditions of the past,
above all, those of the Brethren time. Přerov ranked among the most advanced cities
in Moravia and contributed to Czech national development. The railroad, introduced
in 1841, made Přerov a developing city. In June 1945, during the expulsion of
Germans from Czechoslovakia, 71 men, 120 women and 74 children were killed in
German massacre.
Nowadays, Přerov is the social, administrative and cultural centre of the district with
developing economics.
Arlington
County: Arlington, Virginia
Coat-of-Arms:
State: The United States of America
Address: Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Blvd. Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-5406
the USA
Т:
Fax:
703 228 3130
703 228 7430
Webpage:
Е-mail:
www.arlingtonva.us
Chair: J. Walter Tejada
Document/Date of Signature: Partnership Agreement (04/03/2011)
Established March 13, 1847 as Alexandria County, the name was changed to
Arlington on March 16, 1920. The county is named for the estate where George
Washington Parke Custis lived before he built the house currently known as
Arlington House in Arlington National Cemetery. The estate had been named to
honor the Earl of Arlington.
The Arlington County Planning Division estimates that Arlington's population as of
July 1, 2012 was 212,800.
In 2000, Arlington was the 13th most densely-population jurisdiction in the U.S.
(7,287 persons per square mile.) As of July 1, 2012, the population density was
8,248 per square mile.
Arlington County has the highest percentage of people with bachelor's or
graduate/professional degrees in the Washington DC area.
About 90% of all graduating high school seniors in Arlington County go on to attend
college.
About 15% of Arlington County's population is Hispanic or Latino - the third highest
percentage (after Prince William County and Loudoun County) in the Washington
metropolitan area.
About 27% of Arlington County residents speak a language other than English at
home.
The land area of Arlington County is 25.8 square miles and the highest point in the
County is 461 feet above sea level.
Eleven of the eighty-six stations of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority's (WMATA) Metrorail system are located in Arlington. The Rosslyn Metro
Station features one of the longest continuous escalators in the world (194 feet, 8
inches). It takes 140 seconds to ride from top to bottom.
