Rzeszów (pronounce: Rzeszow.ogg) is a city in south-eastern Poland with a population of 159,649 (2003), granted a town charter in 1354, the capital of the Subcarpathian Voivodship (since 1999), previously of Rzeszow Voivodship (1945-1998). In 2004, Rzeszów hosted the Central European Olympiad in Informatics (CEOI).

Location

Rzeszow is located on both sides of the Wislok river. It is located in the heartland of the Sandomierska valley . Rzeszow is also the capital of the Subcarpathian Voivodship, and site of the Rzeszow County.

History

Rzeszów was founded in 1354 by king Kaziemierz Wielki . For a long time it was just a domain of noble family of Lubomirski , one of most important in Poland. Beside famous yearly market Rzeszow remained only another city on trade route to Hungary. In 1658 Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski established Piarist school, the second secondary school in Poland. During XIX century Rzeszów began to loose significance in favour of Przemysl.

Development of Rzeszów started when in year 1937 military industry was located in the city: Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze, producing plane engines, and factory of cannons by Hipolit Cegielski.

In 1944 Rzeszów became capital of voivodship and most important city in south-eastern Poland. Many factories were built in next 30 years. Nowaday, Rzeszów is continiously growing in population, new villiges join the city and a lot of work is made to modernise it.

Education

Rzeszów is the largest academic centre in south-eastern Poland. Several high schools and universities can be found there:

• University of Rzeszów (established in 2001)
• Technical University of Rzeszów (established in 1963)
• Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki i Zarządzania
  • Branches in Dębica, Krosno and Nisko
• Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania
• Wyższa Szkoła Administracji i Zarządzania in Przemyśl, branch in Rzeszów

Transport

Transit

Rzeszów is located on international route number 4, connecting Germany and Ukraine. Traffic is therefore high, but as city has south distict, transit does not go through the city centre.

Airport

Rzeszów Airport is located in the village of Jasionka north of the city. Domestic flights to Warsaw (WAW) are the only scheduled passenger service.

Buses

Rzeszów is a gateway to Bieszczady mountains, many buses head to Sanok.

Railway

Rzeszów is a step of main railway from Silesia to Polish eastern border and further to the Ukraine. Big railway station was established in XIX century. There is also a unique, not electrified railway to Jaslo.

Culture

Theaters

• Theatre of Wanda Siemaszkowa (est. 1944)
• Theatre Maska

Museums

• Etnographic Museum
• Museum of City Rzeszów
• Diocesan Museum

Economy

Industry

• ICN Polfa Rzeszów (formerly Polfa Rzeszów) - pharmacy
• Polskie Zakłady Lotnicze - plane engines
• Zelmer - household equipment

Tourist attractions

• palace of Lubomirski family from XVIII cent.
• main square
• town hall, established in 1591
• synagogues: "Small" (XVII cent.), "Big" (XVIII cent., restored 1954-63)

Sports

• Stal Rzeszów - men's football team (Polish Cup winner 1975)
• Resovia Rzeszów - men's volleyball team playing in Polish Volleyball League (Polska Liga Siatkówki, PLS: Seria B in 2003/2004, Seria A in 2004/2005 season).

Media

Radio

• Radio Rzeszów
• Fan FM
• Akademickie Radio Centrum
• Katolickie Radio Via
• Radio RES

Press

• Dzień Rzeszowa
• Gazeta Codzienna NOWINY
• Super Nowości

Television

• Polish Television (TVP) branch in Rzeszow
• Rzeszow's cable television
• Local television DAMI
• Municipal television Rzeszow

External link

• Rzeszow City Department