Mysłowice

See also: Mysłowice, West Pomeranian Voivodeship

Mysłowice
Wolności Square
Coat of arms
Mysłowice
Coordinates: 50°14′N 19°8′E / 50.233°N 19.133°E / 50.233; 19.133
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Silesian
County	city county
Established	14th century
Town rights	1360
Government
– Mayor	Edward Lasok
Area
– City	65.75 km2 (25.4 sq mi)
Population (2008)
– City	74,912
– Density	1,139.3/km2 (2,950.9/sq mi)
– Urban	2,746,000
– Metro	5,294,000
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	41-400 to 41-412
Area code(s)	+48 32
Car plates	SM
Website	http://www.myslowice.pl

Mysłowice [mɨswɔˈvit​͡sɛ] (German Myslowitz) is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The south district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Przemsza and Brynica rivers (tributaries of the Vistula).

It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999, previously in the Katowice Voivodeship, and before then, the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship. Mysłowice is one of the cities comprising the 2.7 million conurbation - Katowice urban area and within the greater Silesian metropolitan area with a population of about 5,294,000.^[1] The population of the city is 74,912 (2008).^[2]

History

Mysłowice is one of the oldest towns in Upper Silesia. Located at the confluence of the White and Black Przemsza rivers, it is situated on an important trading route from Wrocław to Kraków. The earliest traces of the modern settlement date back to the 12th and 13th century. The first mention of a parish priest is found in a document from 1306. In 1360, Mysłowice was already referred to as a town. Over the centuries the ownership of the town changed frequently, as did the borders between different countries. After the foundation of the German Empire in 1871 the area became known as "Dreikaisereck" ("triangle of three emperors") as it was situated at the point where the Austrian, German and Russian Empires adjoined. After World War I and a plebiscite in 1922 Mysłowice and a part of Upper Silesia became part of the newly restored Poland.

Education

Mysłowice is home to a university-level institution called Górnośląska Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna im. Kard. Augusta Hlonda (English: August Hlond College of Pedagogy) located at ul. Piastów Śląskich 10.

Mysłowice has eight Junior High Schools and five Secondary and vocational schools. There are at least 20 kindergartens located in Mysłowice, residing at location with greater density of children. On top of that, there are also 17 primary schools operating in the city.

Monuments

There are some buildings in Myslowice which prove the medieval origin of the town. Farna Church, located near the market square, is the oldest and probably the only brick church in Myslowice. Saint Cross's Church is also another brick building, maintained in baroque and classicistic style. And according to catholic tradition it is the oldest place of religious cult. There is also Jewish cemetery in the town. The origins of the place trace back to the 18th century, when Jews decided to buy a tract in order to create their own graveyard.

Culture

The Off Festival is an annual music festival started in 2006 by musician Artur Rojek (however, in 2010 it was moved to Katowice^[3]). Bands from Mysłowice include Myslovitz formed 1992 (named after their hometown), as well as Lenny Valentino (1998–2001).

Notable residents

• Georg Koßmala (1896-1945), Wehrmacht general
• Albert Norden (1904-1982), East German politician

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Twin towns — Sister cities

Mysłowice is twinned with these cities:^[4]

• Enzkreis in Germany^[4]
• Sokola Góra in Poland^[4]
• Frýdek-Místek in the Czech Republic^[4]

References

1. ^ European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) [1]
2. ^ Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2008 - Central Statistical Office in Poland ISSN 1505-5507 , 13.08.2008
3. ^ http://www.tvn24.pl/-1,1645017,0,1,rojek-zabiera-festiwal-z-myslowic,wiadomosc.html
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Mysłowiceown Council (2011 [last update]). "Mysłowice Partner Towns". myslowice.pl. http://www.myslowice.pl/menu_bez_js.php?typ=wspolpraca_zagraniczna. Retrieved 17 May 2011. 

External links

Media related to Mysłowice at Wikimedia Commons

• http://www.myslowice.pl Official site of Mysłowice
• http://m-ce.net Site of Mysłowice
• http://www.m-ce.pl The Website of Myslowice (Polish, some content in English)
• http://www.myslowice.zobacz.slask.pl Myslowice, Silesia (Polish, some content in English)

Coordinates: 50°14′N 19°08′E / 50.233°N 19.133°E / 50.233; 19.133