Feasibility study: „European city and culture tourism – Thuringian ...

Final report, VIA REGIA „European city- and culture tourism“
Renaissance and a Gothic bridge originating from the year 1390 complete the lovely picture
of this city.
Noteworthy with respect to this region is a.o. the cycling and hiking trail ER 2 Szlak
Liczyrzepy (Rübezahl‘s route), which represents one section in the emerging system of
bicycle trails in the Polish part of the Euro-Region NYSA. This region offers many more
designated bicycle trails with a total length of more than 300 km. A graphic depiction of
these trails can be found under http://www.pttk-jg.pl/rower/m_rower.htm.
4.2.2 Region Opolski
4.2.2.1 Characteristic of the region
Loads of sights originating from various epochs can be found in this region as for instance
the precious Renaissance- and Prince Castle of the Piast Dystany in Brzeg. Another pearl of
the region is the place Paczków Opole (German: Oppeln) with its historic city district.
Because of the music festival that is carried out each year, the place is also referred to as
“Centre of Polish Folk Music”. Even today, the nearby situated Góra Św. Anny (St.
Annaberg) is still home of the largest German minority in Poland.
As well the nature friends will get their money’s worth in this region. A popular starting point
for hiking- and cycling tours, as well as water sports and horse riding is the historic city
Glucholazy, situated at the foot of the landscape park Opatowski Mountains, which is a
mountain chain of the Western Sudetes.
4.2.2.2 Important cities of the region Opolskie
Opole
The region’s Capitol is today a cultural, scientific, and tourist centre, being renowned as
„Centre of Polish Folk Music“. The festival takes place once a year in the Amphitheater. The
historic city district is ornamented with the, by Schinkel and Stüler rebuilt city hall in
Florentine pattern, the Gothic Cathedral, the former monastery, and numerous middle class
houses originating in the 17 th – 18 th century. Only the „Piastenturm“ remained intact from the
castle.
The Franziskanerkirche is home to a mausoleum of the Silesian Piasts. The long history of
the city can be told in the best way by the Silesian State Museum.
Brzeg
Brzeg lies situated at the VIA REGIA between Opole and Wroclaw. It is one oft he oldest
and most beautiful cities of Silesia. In 1234 it was first-mentioned as fishing- and trading
settlement. Until today the Old Town, founded according to Neumarkt law has remained
preserved. Another interesting sight is the gothic castle, where the Collegiate Church Sankt
Hedwig including its great collection of books was erected.
Besides the monasteries, the Odertor, numerous town houses, the Renaissance city hall,
and the parish church St. Nikolai, the picturesque Renaissance- and Prince Castle of the
Piast Dystany situated at the Oder, represents the most precious monument of architecture.
It contains the Piasts Museum with art collections from the Gothic- and Renaissance era, as
well as princely graves in the chapel of the Saint Hedwig.
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