Opole is the capital of the Polish Wojewodschaft Opolskie, its administrative, scientific, and cultural center. It is the sister city with which the Brandenburg state capital has the longest standing relations. Initial contacts between Opole and Potsdam were made in the beginning of the 1960s, and an official agreement was signed in 1973.
Opole's history dates back to the 8th century. Trade routes crossed over the territory of the city, such as the famous 'Amber Way,' which lead from Italy via Moravia to the Baltic Sea. The old buildings speak tersely of the city's history, for example the Piasten tower and the tower of the town hall.
Today, Opole has about 130,000 inhabitants and is the center of trade, banking, administration, and industry for the whole region. The city covers an area of 96 square kilometers. The cement industry, which is closely connected with the production of local mineral resources, the processing industry, mechanical engineering, the building industry, and energy production, is well-developed. More than 30,000 students are enrolled at the university, the technical college, and the college for management and administration. The scientific institutions of the Silesian Institute and the Institute for Mineral Building Materials are of great importance in Poland. There is also plenty offered from the world of culture: theater, cinemas, philharmonic orchestras, museums, and galleries ensure a varied choice for leisure activities.
Opole is also considered to be the capital of Polish song. Each year the national festival of the Polish song takes place here. The city along the banks of the Oder river recommends itself as an attractive destination for tourists. The town hall on the market square is reminiscent of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence and is surrounded by beautiful half-timbered houses. An interesting curiosity is the open-air museum, which clearly portrays the history of the Opole village. Bolko Island in the middle of the Oder river and the Zoo, which has its facilities for many interesting animal species on the island, is worth a trip. Opole is famous for the specialities of the Silesian cuisine, which is offered in many hotels and restaurants in the city.
For those Polish-speakers desiring information in greater detail regarding Potsdam's sister city in Poland, along with many other interesting facts, please visit: www.opole.pl.
The German-Polish circle of the Berlin-Brandenburgischen Auslandsgesellschaft e. V. looks after the sister-city relations between Potsdam and Opole. You may contact the circle by telephone at: +49 (0)331 - 270 02 40 or by Email. The Johann Sebastian Bach Music School, the Theodor Fontane primary school, and the Potsdam University also maintain contacts to the beautiful city upon the Oder river. The Helmholtz grammar school is also just in the process of establishing a school partnership with a grammar school in Opole.
