Bełchatów

Template:Infobox settlement Bełchatów (Template:IPAc-pl) is a city in central Poland,Template:TERYT with a population of 55,583, as of December 2021.<ref name=population/> It is located in Łódź Voivodeship, Template:Convert southwest of Warsaw.

The Elektrownia Bełchatów, located in Bełchatów, is the largest coal fueled power plant in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. It produces 27–28 TWh of electricity per year, or 20% of the total power generation in Poland.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> 8,000 people work directly for the company that runs the coal mine and electricity plants.<ref name=":0" />

The city is also known for the successful volleyball club Skra Bełchatów and local krówki (traditional Polish candy).

Districts

One municipal division of Bełchatów comprises numerous housing estates, including the Budowlanych housing estate located in the central part of the town (close to the "Kultura" cinema, the Municipal Cultural Center, the Town Hall and the church). The estate is also close to the "Rakówka" river and Olszewski Park.

Other municipal divisions of Bełchatów include Dobrzelów District, Grocholice, and the following housing estates:

Osiedle 1 Maja
Osiedle Binków
Osiedle Dolnośląskie
Osiedle Konopnickiej
Osiedle Kopernika
Osiedle Łąkowa
Osiedle Okrzei
Osiedle Olsztyńskie
Osiedle Przytorze
Osiedle Słoneczne
Osiedle Tysiąclecia
Osiedle Wolności
Osiedle Żołnierzy P.O.W.Template:Space

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History

Grocholice was a private church town, whereas Bełchatów, Dobrzelów and Zdzieszulice were private villages of Polish nobility, administratively located in the Piotrków County in the Sieradz Voivodeship in the Greater Poland Province of the Kingdom of Poland.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Cuisine

The officially protected traditional food of Bełchatów (as designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland) is wyborowa krówka bełchatowska, a local type of krówka (traditional Polish candy).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sports

Skra Bełchatów – men's volleyball team playing in PlusLiga (Polish top division), 9–time Polish Champions, 7–time Polish Cup winners.
GKS Bełchatów – men's football team playing in the lower divisions, which has also played in Ekstraklasa (top division) in the past.

International relations

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Twin towns - sister cities

Bełchatów is twinned with:<ref name="Bełchatów twinnings">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col

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Former twin towns

Template:Flagicon Sovetsk, Russia

In February 2022, Bełchatów suspended its partnership with the Russian city of Sovetsk as a reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>