Oława

Hello everyone! I would like to write a post about my hometown Oława.

fot. marzejkomedia

Oława is a city with a population of 32 thousand, located in the eastern part of the Lower Silesian, 27 km south-east of the Wrocław agglomeration, the seat of the Oława powiat, an important economic, social and cultural centre for the region. Located between two rivers - Odra and Oława. It has an interesting, nearly 800-year history. It has several valuable monuments of medieval and later architecture, especially from the period of the greatest glory of Oława, the beginning of the 18th century, when it was ruled by the son of Jan III Sobieski - Jakub Sobieski. Undoubtedly, the representative building is a nineteenth-century town hall with an active figural-astronomical clock, a unique monument of technology on a European scale. The most impressive monument of Oława is definitely the local castle, known as the Palace of Luisa. The name comes from the name of Luisa von Anhalt, who was one of the most famous owners of the castle in Oława. However, the most remarkable figure who lived in this residence was undoubtedly the son of King Jan III Sobieski - Jakub. The preserved part of the richly decorated Baroque castle is in very good condition today and houses the town hall. For tourists, a beautiful knights' hall is open, where you can admire a permanent exhibition of artworks.

fot. zamki.pl

fot. S. Milejski

The most important sacral building in Oława is the medieval church of Our Lady of Consolation. The most intense and the most difficult period for the temple came during the Reformation and the Thirty Years War. It was when she had passed from hand to hand in disputes between Catholics and Protestants. In 1643 Colonel von Rostock occupied Oława and ordered to burn the city - the fire consumed the belfry and the roof of the temple. The church, which was rebuilt for 8 years, was plundered by the Swedes eight years later. The inhabitants of Oława are particularly proud of the Sanctuary. For centuries, the church served the residents of the city as a watchtower from which enemy troops were looked for or sheltered from the enemy. The parish of Our Lady of Consolation also includes the eighteenth-century church of Saint Roch.

fot. dolny-slask.org.pl & szlakikulturowe.dolnyslask.pl

To the east and southeast of the city, there are extensive forest areas of the riparian type with high recreational and tourist values. In these areas, valuable nature reserves "Zwierzyniec" and "Kanigóra" were distinguished, as well as nature and archaeological reserve Grodzisko Ryczyńskie, where at the beginning of the twelfth century there was a huge castellan stronghold. A particular advantage of the city is the Odra River, which has been an important communication and transport route since the beginning of history and has had a huge impact on the city's development. There were important trade and military routes from Wroclaw to Cracow for centuries, there was also a crossing through Odra. The river still connects the city with the water route with Wrocław, and the existing Oławski water junction offers many opportunities not only for transport but also for the development of tourism and recreation. In the spring and summer season, residents, visiting guests and tourists can use Marina Oława, located at the entrance to the Oława Canal, at 213 km of the Oder. As part of cooperation with a private entity, tourist cruises to the neighbouring Brzeg and even to Wrocław take place. There is also the possibility of an unusual experience, which is the passage through the Oława historic chamber lock, built in 1782-83 on the important Odra Waterway, constituting the European transit waterway, once used for mass transport of raw materials and products. Every year, at the end of May, the Odra Bosman's Foam Festival is organized, which attracts a lot of people in various contests and competitions by the water and on the water, such as competitions on dragon boats or the "Swimming on anything" contest.

fot. przyrodniczo.pl

fot. Malwina Gadawa

Curiosities: 

• From 1842, between Wrocław and Oława, there is the oldest railway line in Poland.
• From the military airport, Oława-Stanowice on September 1, 1939, Nazi planes took off, which first attacked Poland.
• On September 2, 1939, one Polish plane, Karaś, bombed the factory in Oława by making the first bomb attack on German territory in World War II.
• In Oława, part of the action of the Hussite Trilogy by Andrzej Sapkowski takes place.

Sources:

https://www.um.olawa.pl/

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%C5%82awa

http://podroze.onet.pl/zapomniane-historie-olawy/58v2e