View source for Opole Voivodeship

{{Short description|Voivodeship in Poland}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Opole Voivodeship
|native_name = Województwo opolskie
|settlement_type = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
|image_skyline = 
|image_flag = POL województwo opolskie flag.svg
|image_shield = POL województwo opolskie COA.svg
|image_map = Opolskie in Poland (+rivers).svg
|map_caption = Location within Poland
|image_map1 = Opole Voivodeship administrative map.svg
|map_caption1 = Administrative divisions
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{POL}}
|seat_type = Capital
|seat = [[Opole]]
|parts_type = [[Powiat|Counties]]
|parts = 1 city, 11 land counties,<br />further divided into 71 [[gmina]]s
|p1=[[Opole]]|p2=[[Brzeg County]]|p3=[[Głubczyce County]]|p4=[[Kędzierzyn-Koźle County]]|p5=[[Kluczbork County]]|p6=[[Krapkowice County]]|p7=[[Namysłów County]]|p8=[[Nysa County]]|p9=[[Olesno County]]|p10=[[Opole County]]|p11=[[Prudnik County]]|p12=[[Strzelce County]]
| coor_pinpoint = Opole
| governing_body = [[Voivodeship executive board|Executive board]]
| leader_title1 = [[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|Voivode]]
| leader_name1 = [[Monika Jurek]] ([[Civic Platform|PO]])
| leader_title2 = [[Voivodeship marshal|Marshal]]
| leader_name2 = [[Szymon Ogłaza]] ([[Civic Platform|PO]])
| leader_title3 = [[European Parliament|EP]]
| leader_name3 = [[Lower Silesian and Opole (European Parliament constituency)|Lower Silesian and Opole]]
| coordinates = {{coord|50|40|N|17|56|E|region:PL|display=inline}}
| area_total_km2 = 9412.5
| total_type=Total
| population_as_of = 2019-06-30<ref name=pop>{{cite web|title=Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June|url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/population-size-and-structure-and-vital-statistics-in-poland-by-territorial-divison-in-2019-as-of-30th-june,3,26.html|website=stat.gov.pl|publisher=Statistics Poland|date=2019-10-15|access-date=2020-02-14|archive-date=2021-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419132648/https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/population-size-and-structure-and-vital-statistics-in-poland-by-territorial-divison-in-2019-as-of-30th-june,3,26.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| population_total = 984345
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban= 524473
| population_blank1_title=Rural
| population_blank1= 459872
| demographics_type2 = Languages
| demographics2_title1 = Languages
| demographics2_info1 = 
{{plainlist|
* [[Polish language|Polish]] (official)
* [[German language|German]] (co-official in 28 communes)
}}
| demographics_type1       = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat | access-date=18 September 2023 | archive-date=27 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227213552/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | url-status=live }}</ref>
|demographics1_title1     = Total
|demographics1_info1      = €14.628 billion (2023)
| demographics1_title2     = Per capita
|demographics1_info2      = €16,300 (2023)
| blank_name_sec2 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec2 = 0.870<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/POL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|title=Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Global Data Lab|website=globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2021-12-13|publisher=[[Radboud University Nijmegen]]|archive-date=2023-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609013611/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/POL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of Polish voivodeships by Human Development Index|10th]]
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:PL|PL-16]]
| registration_plate     = [[Polish car number plates|O]]
| website=http://www.opolskie.pl/
| footnotes =
|image_blank_emblem= Opolskie.svg
|blank_emblem_type=[[Brandmark]]
|blank_emblem_size=120px
}}
'''Opole Voivodeship''' ({{langx|pl|województwo opolskie}} {{IPA|pl|vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ ɔˈpɔlskʲɛ||LL-Q809 (pol)-KaMan-województwo opolskie.wav}}, {{langx|szl|wojewodstwo Ôpole}}), is the smallest and least populated [[voivodeships of Poland|voivodeship]] ([[province]]) of [[Poland]]. The province's name derives from that of the region's capital and largest city, [[Opole]]. It is part of [[Silesia]]. A relatively large [[Germans|German]] minority lives in the voivodeship, and the [[German language]] is co-official in 28 communes.

Opole Voivodeship is bordered by [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship]] to the west, [[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]] and [[Łódź Voivodeship]]s to the north, [[Silesian Voivodeship]] to the east, and the [[Czech Republic]] ([[Olomouc Region]] and [[Moravian-Silesian Region]]) to the south.

Opole Province's geographic location, economic potential, and its population's level of education make it an attractive business partner for other Polish regions (especially [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Lower Silesian]] and [[Silesian Voivodeship]]s) and for foreign investors. Formed in 1997, the [[Euroregion Praděd|Praděd/Pradziad]] [[Euroregion]] with its headquarter in [[Prudnik]] has facilitated economic, cultural and tourist exchanges between the border areas of Poland and the [[Czech Republic]].

==History==
[[File:OPna49.png|thumb|Voivodeships between 1975 and 1998 superimposed over the current borders of the Opole Voivodeship]]
The territory became part of the emerging Polish state in the 10th century, and later on, [[Brzeg]], [[Namysłów]], [[Niemodlin]], [[Opole]], [[Prudnik]] and [[Strzelce Opolskie]] were ducal seats of local lines of the [[Piast dynasty]].

Opole Voivodeship was created on January 1, 1999, out of the former Opole Voivodeship and parts of [[Częstochowa Voivodeship]], pursuant to the [[Polish local government reforms]] adopted in 1998.
Originally, the government, advised by prominent historians, had wanted to disestablish Opolskie and partition its territory between the [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Lower Silesian]] and [[Silesian Voivodeship]] (eastern [[Upper Silesia]] and western [[Lesser Poland]]). The plan was that Brzeg and Namysłów, as the Western part of the region, were to be transferred to Lower Silesia, while the rest was to become, along with a part of the Częstochowa Voivodeship, an integral part of the new 'Silesian' region. However, the plans resulted in an outcry from the [[German minority in Poland|German minority]] population of Opole Voivodeship, who feared that should their region be abolished, they would lose all hope of regional representation (in the proposed Silesian Region, they would have formed a very small minority among a great number of ethnic Poles). To the surprise of many of the ethnic Germans in Opole however, the local Polish Silesian population and groups of ethnic Poles also rose up to oppose the planned reforms; this came about as a result of an overwhelming feeling of attachment to the voivodeships that were scheduled to be 'redrawn', as well as a fear of 'alienation' should one find themselves residing in a new, unfamiliar region.

The solution came in late 1999, when [[Olesno]] was, after 24 years apart, finally reunited with the Opole Voivodeship to form the new legally defined region. A historic moment came in 2006 when the town of [[Radłów, Opole Voivodeship|Radłów]] changed its local laws to make German, alongside Polish, the district's second official language, becoming the first town in the region to do so.

==Geography==
The [[voivodeship]] lies in southwestern Poland, the major part on the [[Silesian Lowland]] ({{lang|pl|Nizina Śląska}}). To the east, the region touches upon the [[Silesian Upland]] ([[Silesian Uplands]], {{lang|pl|Wyżyna Śląska}}) with the famous [[Góra Świętej Anny|Saint Anne Mountain]]; the [[Sudetes]] range, the [[Opawskie Mountains]], lies to the southwest. The [[Oder River]] cuts across the middle of the voivodeship. The northern part of the voivodeship, along the [[Mała Panew]] River, is densely forested, while the southern part consists of arable land.

The region has the warmest climate in the country.

===Protected areas===
[[Protected area]]s in Opole Voivodeship include the following three areas designated as [[Landscape Park (Poland)|Landscape Parks]]:
*[[Opawskie Mountains Landscape Park]]
*[[Góra Świętej Anny Landscape Park]]
*[[Stobrawa Landscape Park]]

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Opole
|metric first=Yes
|single line=Yes
|Jan high C = 2
|Feb high C = 3
|Mar high C = 8
|Apr high C = 15
|May high C = 20
|Jun high C = 22
|Jul high C = 25
|Aug high C = 25
|Sep high C = 20
|Oct high C = 15
|Nov high C = 8
|Dec high C = 3
|year high C = 13.8
|Jan low C = -3
|Feb low C = -3
|Mar low C = 0
|Apr low C = 4
|May low C = 8
|Jun low C = 11
|Jul low C = 14
|Aug low C = 14
|Sep low C = 10
|Oct low C = 5
|Nov low C = 1
|Dec low C = -2
|year low C = 4.9
|date=1985-2015
|source=MeteoBlue<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meteoblue.com/pl/pogoda/prognoza/modelclimate/opole_polska_3090048 | title=Symulacja historycznych danych klimatycznych i pogodowych dla Opole }}</ref>
}}

==Administrative division==
Opole Voivodeship is divided into 12 counties ([[powiat]]s): 1 city county and 11 land counties. These are further divided into 71 [[gmina]]s.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering is by decreasing population).
[[File:Market Square Opole Southside 2019.jpg|thumb|right|[[Opole]], the voivodeship's capital]]
[[File:NysaRynek PiotrFuz 1280.jpg|thumb|right|[[Nysa, Poland|Nysa]], the third-largest town by population in the south-west]]
[[File:Brzeg town hall.jpg|thumb|[[Brzeg]], a popular tourist attraction for its [[Renaissance]] [[Brzeg Town Hall|Town Hall]] and [[Brzeg Castle|Castle]]]]
[[File:Rynek i ratusz w Prudniku (2020) 02.jpg|thumb|[[Prudnik]], with its preserved medieval town centre]]
[[File:Kluczbork - ratusz.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kluczbork]] serves as a key rail line junction in the north-east of the region]]

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-  style="background:#d0d8dd; text-align:center;"
||'''English and<br /> Polish names'''
||'''Area<br /> <small>(km<sup>2</sup>)</small>'''
||'''Population<br /> <small>(2019)</small>'''
||'''Seat'''
|  style="width:30%; "|'''Other towns'''
||'''Total<br /> [[gmina]]s'''
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
|colspan=6|'''City counties'''
|-
| [[Opole]]
| style="text-align:right;"|96
| style="text-align:right;"|128,208
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
|colspan=6|'''Land counties'''
|-
|[[Nysa County]]<br /> powiat nyski
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,224
| style="text-align:right;"|136,393
|[[Nysa, Poland|Nysa]]
|[[Głuchołazy]], [[Paczków]], [[Otmuchów]], [[Korfantów]]
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|[[Opole County]]<br /> powiat opolski
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,587
| style="text-align:right;"|123,487
|[[Opole]]*
|[[Ozimek]], [[Niemodlin]], [[Prószków]]
| style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
|[[Kędzierzyn-Koźle County]]<br /> powiat kędzierzyńsko-kozielski
| style="text-align:right;"| 625
| style="text-align:right;"|94,135
|[[Kędzierzyn-Koźle]]
|
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Brzeg County]]<br /> powiat brzeski
| style="text-align:right;"| 877
| style="text-align:right;"|90,054
|[[Brzeg]]
|[[Grodków]], [[Lewin Brzeski]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Strzelce County]]<br /> powiat strzelecki
| style="text-align:right;"| 744
| style="text-align:right;"|74,460
|[[Strzelce Opolskie]]
|[[Zawadzkie]], [[Kolonowskie]], [[Leśnica]], [[Ujazd, Opole Voivodeship|Ujazd]]
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|[[Kluczbork County]]<br /> powiat kluczborski
| style="text-align:right;"| 852
| style="text-align:right;"|65,644
|[[Kluczbork]]
|[[Wołczyn]], [[Byczyna]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|[[Olesno County]]<br /> powiat oleski
| style="text-align:right;"| 974
| style="text-align:right;"|64,411
|[[Olesno]]
|[[Praszka]], [[Dobrodzień]], [[Gorzów Śląski]]
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|[[Krapkowice County]]<br /> powiat krapkowicki
| style="text-align:right;"| 442
| style="text-align:right;"|63,857
|[[Krapkowice]]
|[[Zdzieszowice]], [[Gogolin]], [[Strzeleczki]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|[[Prudnik County]]<br /> powiat prudnicki
| style="text-align:right;"| 571
| style="text-align:right;"|55,325
|[[Prudnik]]
|[[Głogówek]], [[Biała, Opole Voivodeship|Biała]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|[[Głubczyce County]]<br /> powiat głubczycki
| style="text-align:right;"| 673
| style="text-align:right;"|45,679
|[[Głubczyce]]
|[[Kietrz]], [[Baborów]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|[[Namysłów County]]<br /> powiat namysłowski
| style="text-align:right;"| 748
| style="text-align:right;"|42,692
|[[Namysłów]]
|
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
|colspan=6 style="text-align:center;font-size:90%"|* seat not part of the county
|}

==Cities and towns==
The voivodeship contains 2 cities and 34 towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (as of 2019):<ref name=pop/>
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
'''Cities (governed by a city mayor or ''prezydent miasta''): '''
#[[Opole]] (128,208)
#[[Kędzierzyn-Koźle]] (60,852)

'''Towns:'''
#[[Nysa, Poland|Nysa]] (43,489)
#[[Brzeg]] (35,890)
#[[Kluczbork]] (23,554)
#[[Prudnik]] (21,041)
#[[Strzelce Opolskie]] (17,900)
#[[Namysłów]] (16,551)
#[[Krapkowice]] (16,301)
#[[Głuchołazy]] (13,534)
#[[Głubczyce]] (12,552)
#[[Zdzieszowice]] (11,445)
#[[Olesno]] (9,374)
#[[Ozimek]] (8,657)
#[[Grodków]] (8,595)
#[[Praszka]] (7,655)
#[[Paczków]] (7,460)
#[[Zawadzkie]] (7,135)
#[[Gogolin]] (6,682)
#[[Otmuchów]] (6,581)
#[[Niemodlin]] (6,315)
#[[Kietrz]] (6,005)
#[[Wołczyn]] (5,907)
#[[Lewin Brzeski]] (5,736)
#[[Głogówek]] (5,592)
#[[Tułowice, Opole Voivodeship|Tułowice]] (4,011)
#[[Dobrodzień]] (3,720)
#[[Byczyna]] (3,582)
#[[Kolonowskie]] (3,309)
#[[Baborów]] (2,905)
#[[Prószków]] (2,570)
#[[Leśnica]] (2,556)
#[[Gorzów Śląski]] (2,452)
#[[Biała, Opole Voivodeship|Biała]] (2,426)
#[[Korfantów]] (1,808)
#[[Ujazd, Opole Voivodeship|Ujazd]] (1,763)
}}

==Demographics==
{{historical populations|1988|1080701|2002|1065043|2011|1016212|2021|954133|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Poland - National Censuses|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat/}}</ref>}}The Opole Voivodeship is the smallest region in the administrative makeup of the country in terms of both area and population.

About 15% of the one million inhabitants of this voivodeship are [[ethnic Germans]], which constitutes 90% of all ethnic Germans in Poland. Towns with particularly high concentrations of German speakers include: [[Strzelce Opolskie]]; [[Dobrodzien]]; [[Prudnik]]; [[Głogówek]]; and [[Gogolin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poglad-berlinwest.de/Miscelleanous/PolishAnd%20GermanSilesia.html|title=Klimczak.PolishAndGermanSilesia|access-date=30 January 2016|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161647/http://www.poglad-berlinwest.de/Miscelleanous/PolishAnd%20GermanSilesia.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, [[Bilingual communes in Poland#Polish/German|many areas are officially bilingual]] and the German language and culture play a significant role in education in the region. Ethnic Germans first came to this region during the Late Middle Ages.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_CqpCAAAAIAAJ|title=Die Verbreitung und die Herkunft der Deutschen in Schlesien|last=Weinhold|first=Karl|publisher=J. Engelhorn|year=1887|location=Stuttgart|language=de|trans-title=The Spread and the Origin of Germans in Silesia}}</ref> The area was once part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussian]] [[province of Silesia]]. {{Further|German minority in Poland}}

==Economy==
The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the province was 10.1 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 2.0% of Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 17,000 euros or 56% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 66% of the EU average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat|access-date=2020-03-07|archive-date=2020-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417095003/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Opole Voivodeship is an industrial as well as an agricultural region. With respect to [[mineral]] resources, of major importance are deposits of raw materials for building: [[limestone]] ([[Strzelce Opolskie]]), [[marl]] (near [[Opole]]), [[marble]], and [[basalt]]. The favourable [[climate]], fertile soils, and high farming culture contribute to the development of [[agriculture]], which is among the most productive in the country.

A total of nineteen industries are represented in the voivodeship. The most important are cement and lime, furniture, food, car manufacturing, and chemical industries. In 1997, the biggest production growth in the area was in companies producing wood and wood products, electrical equipment, machinery and appliances, as well as cellulose and paper products. In 1997, the top company in the region was [[Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn|Zakłady Azotowe S.A.]] in [[Kędzierzyn-Koźle]], whose income was over [[Polish złoty|PLN]] 860 million. The voivodship's economy consists of more than 53,000 businesses, mostly small and medium-sized, employing over 332,000 people. Manufacturing companies employ over 89,000 people; 95.7% of all the region's business operate in the private sector.

===Tourism===
The Opole Voivodeship is a green region with three large lakes: [[Turawskie Lake|Turawskie]], [[Nyskie Lake|Nyskie]], and [[Otmuchów Lake|Otmuchów]] (the latter two are connected). The Opawskie Mountains between Prudnik and Głuchołazy are extremely popular. The region also includes [[Brzeg Castle|the castle]] in [[Brzeg]], built during the reign of the [[Piast dynasty]]—pearl of the [[Silesia]]n Renaissance, the Franciscan monastery on top of [[Góra Świętej Anny (hill)|Góra Świętej Anny]] (Saint Anne Mountain), as well as the medieval old town and defence fortifications in [[Paczków]] (referred to as the Polish [[Carcassonne]]), all designated [[Historic Monument (Poland)|Historic Monument of Poland]].<ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 10 grudnia 2018 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Brzeg - Zamek Piastów Śląskich z renesansową bramą i kaplicą zamkową pod wezwaniem św. Jadwigi - nekropolią Piastów"|year=2019|number=71}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 14 kwietnia 2004 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii|year=2004|volume=102|number=1061}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 22 października 2012 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Paczków - zespół staromiejski ze średniowiecznym systemem fortyfikacji"|year=2012|number=1240}}</ref> [[Kamień Śląski]] with its [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] palace hosts a [[sanctuary]] dedicated to Saint [[Hyacinth of Poland]], who was born in the village. Other landmark palaces are located in [[Moszna, Opole Voivodeship|Moszna]], [[Narok, Opole Voivodeship|Narok]], [[Żyrowa]], castles in [[Namysłów Castle|Namysłów]], [[Niemodlin]], [[Otmuchów Castle|Otmuchów]], [[Prószków]], and the preserved medieval Piast Tower in Opole.

There are several [[World War II]] memorials in the voivodeship, including at the site of the [[Blechhammer concentration camp]] and [[Stalag VIII-B]] [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|prisoner-of-war camp]], and at sites of German-perpetrated massacres. The village of [[Popielów, Opole Voivodeship|Popielów]] hosts a small cemetery of the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]], where two British soldiers are buried, who as [[German atrocities committed against prisoners of war during World War II|prisoners-of-war]] were killed by a German guard during [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labour]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/5001679/popielow-cemetery/|title=Popielow Cemetery|website=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-28772810|title=Nephew finds WW2 PoW's grave in Poland after 29 years|website=BBC|date=21 August 2014|access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref>

<gallery mode=packed>
Brzeg Op.JPG|[[Brzeg Castle]]
Pałac w Mosznej 2019.jpg|[[Moszna Castle]]
Paczkow 01.jpg|[[Paczków]] Old Town
20180812 Bazylika św. Jakuba i św. Agnieszki w Nysie 1442 8715 DxO.jpg|[[Basilica of St. James and St. Agnes, Nysa]]
2014 Otmuchów, zamek 01.JPG|Medieval [[Otmuchów Castle]]
</gallery>

===International tourism===
According to the [[Central Statistical Office (Poland)|Central Statistical Office of Poland]], Opole Voivodeship is most frequently visited by international tourists from countries located in [[Europe]] (94.6%). The rank was followed by tourists from [[Asia]], compromising 2.4% of the total international tourist figure, followed by that of [[North America]] at 1.8%. The general composition of international tourists visiting the Opole Voivodeship remains unchanged, with 46.2% of tourists heading from [[Germany]].

International tourists visiting Opole Voivodeship with an overnight stay according to country of permanent residence:<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=opole.stat.gov.pl|url=http://opole.stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/opole/pl/defaultaktualnosci/745/1/6/1/turystyka_2015.pdf|website=TURYŚCI ZAGRANICZNI KORZYSTAJĄCY Z BAZY NOCLEGOWEJ TURYSTYKI WEDŁUG WYBRANYCH KRAJÓW STAŁEGO ZAMIESZKANIA|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=23 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823023740/http://opole.stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/opole/pl/defaultaktualnosci/745/1/6/1/turystyka_2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Bar chart
| title      = Overnight international tourists in Opole Voivodeship (2015)
| label_type = Country
| data_type  = International tourists (change from 2010)
| data_max   = 20000
| label3  = Austria | data3  = 600 | comment3  = +33.3%
| label4  = Belgium | data4  = 450 | comment4  = +6.6%
| label5  = Czech Republic | data5  = 2200 | comment5  =  +41.9%
| label6  = Denmark | data6  = 370 | comment6  =  +2.7%
| label7  = France | data7  = 1400 | comment7  =  +33.3%
| label8  = Germany | data8  = 18100 | comment8  = +8.5%
| label9  = Hungary | data9  = 375 | comment9  =  +7.1%
| label10  = Italy | data10  = 910 | comment10  = +13.7%
| label11  = Netherlands | data11 = 1220  | comment11 = -43.4%
| label12 = Norway | data12 = 450  | comment12 = +33.3%
| label13 = Romania | data13 = 450  | comment13 = +44.4%
| label14 = Russia | data14 = 320  | comment14 = -46.0%
| label15 = Slovakia | data15 = 1000  | comment15 = +40.0%
| label16 = Spain | data16 = 520  | comment16 = +28.9% 
| label17 = Sweden | data17 = 320  | comment17 = -12.5%
| label18 = Ukraine | data18  = 5200 | comment18  = +26.9%
| label19 = United Kingdom | data19 = 950  | comment19 = -24.2%
| label20 = United States of America | data20 = 600  | comment20 = +25.0%
}}

In 2015, a total of c. 90,800 overnight stays were hosted for international tourists, a figure making up 12.4% of the total amount of overnight stays for Opole Voivodeship. The majority (44.7%) of international overnight stays were hosted in the city of [[Opole]], followed by [[Kędzierzyn-Koźle County]] (9.9%) and [[Nysa County]] at (9.4%).<ref name="auto"/>

==Transportation==
[[Image:Opole - Gmach Dworca Głównego 01.jpg|right|thumb|[[Opole Główne railway station]] is a major transportation hub through which much of the region's trade is channelled]]
The transport route from Germany to [[Ukraine]], the [[A4 autostrada (Poland)|A4]], runs through Opole. The region has four border crossings, and direct rail connections to all important Polish cities, as well as to [[Frankfurt]], [[Munich]], [[Budapest]], [[Kyiv]], and the [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]] ports.

==Universities==
There are three state-run universities in the region: the [[Opole University]], the [[Opole University of Technology]], and the [[Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole]]. All of them are based in the voivodeship's capital. Among the region's private schools, the Opole School of Management and Administration has been certified as a degree-granting institution by the Ministry of National Education.
* Opole University of Technology
* Opole University
* State Medical College
* Opole School of Management and Administration
* Bogdan Jański College
* The State Higher Vocational School in Nysa, PWSZ in NYSA

==Surnames==
Most popular surnames in Opole Voivodeship:
# [[Nowak]]: 5,538
# [[Wieczorek]]: 2,654
# [[Mazur (surname)|Mazur]]: 2,512

==Sports==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
|+ Professional sports teams
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Trophies
|-
|[[ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle]]
|[[Volleyball]] (men's)
|[[PlusLiga]]
|9 Polish Championships<br>10 [[Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cups]]<br>3 [[CEV Champions League]] ([[2020–21 CEV Champions League|2021]], [[2021–22 CEV Champions League|2022]], [[2022–23 CEV Champions League|2023]])
|-
|[[Stal Nysa]]
|[[Volleyball]] (men's)
|I liga
|1 [[Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cup]] (1996)
|-
|[[UNI Opole]]
|[[Volleyball]] (women's)
|[[Polish Women's Volleyball League]]
|0
|-
|[[Odra Opole]]
|[[Association football|Football]] (men's)
|[[I liga]]
|0
|-
|[[Gwardia Opole]]
|[[Handball]] (men's)
|[[Polish Superliga]]
|0
|-
|[[Kolejarz Opole]]
|[[Motorcycle speedway|Speedway]]
|[[Polish National Speedway League]]
|0
|-
|[[AZS Politechnika Opolska]]
|[[Basketball]] (men's)
|1 Liga
|0
|-
|[[Dreman Futsal Opole-Komprachcice]]
|[[Futsal]] (men's)
|[[Ekstraklasa (futsal)|Ekstraklasa]]
|0
|}

==Former Opole Voivodeships==
===Opole Voivodeship (1975–1999)===
[[File:Opole Voivodship 1975.png|thumb|Opole Voivodeship 1975–1999.]]

Opole Voivodeship was also a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland between 1975 and 1998.

Major cities and towns (population in 1995):
* [[Opole]], capital city (130,600)
* [[Kedzierzyn-Kozle|Kędzierzyn-Koźle]] (70,700)
* [[Nysa, Poland|Nysa]] (49,000)
* [[Brzeg]] (39,900)
* [[Kluczbork]] (26,900)
* [[Prudnik]] (24,300)
* [[Strzelce Opolskie]] (21,900)
* [[Krapkowice]] (20,100)

===Opole Voivodeship (1950–1975)===
This administrative region of the [[People's Republic of Poland]] (1950–1975) was created as a result of the partition of [[Katowice Voivodeship]] in 1950.

==See also==
*[[Opole cuisine]]
*[[Śląsk Opolski]]
*[[Upper Silesia]]
*[[Silesia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.opolweb.pl/ Opolskie - photogallery]
* [http://www.opolskie.pl/ Self-Government of the Opolskie Voivodeship]
* [http://www.opole.uw.gov.pl/ Opolski Urząd Wojewódzki] Official website

{{Opole Voivodeship}}
{{Voivodeships of Poland}}
{{Voivodeships of Poland 1975-1998}}
{{Silesia topics}}

{{Coord|50|38|54|N|17|54|02|E|region:PL-OP_type:adm1st|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Countries and territories where German is an official language]]
[[Category:Opole Voivodeship| ]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Poland]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1999]]