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Chorzow at the threshold of the 3rd millennium - the city and its residents
Chorzow, located in the very heart of the Katowice agglomeration, was only a few years back a typical Upper Silesian centre of huge industry. Transformations, taking place in the country along with a decade of the restored self-government caused the change of the city image.
The city has become more beautiful. It has been developing and utilising its capacities: central location in the region, convenient railway connections, already existing and constructed road arteries (Cross-Town Route and A-4 Motorway), close proximity to an airport in Pyrzowice, Katowice - the capital of the Voivodeship of Silesia in the immediate vicinity, traditions of the powerful craftsmanship environment, prospering trade and services, as well as the unique in Europe Voivodeship Culture and Leisure Park located within the city limits.
This one and only nature-recreation complex with a funfair, zoological garden, ethnographic park, cable railway, as well as the modernised, and regarded as the national Silesian Stadium, is more and more attractive. Chorzow didn't waste its opportunities, and this is not only an emotional look or appraisal of its residents, which once again can discover enchanting nooks, parks and architectonic details of old tenement houses.
The exclusive Wolnosci Street, restored several years ago, origins of which date from the mid-19th century, is a pride of the residents of Chorzoww. A modern shopping precinct on the historical street is on one side finished with
a 19th-century neogothic Post Office building with an illuminated tower and
a square with a fountain, however on the other side one can find the monumental Church of St Jadwiga dating also from the 19th century with
a quiet square located next to it. Wolnosci Street with the restored tenement houses has become a hallmark of the city, and as it once was - a meeting place for the residents. It took over the centre-creative and integral role, which in the past was fulfilled by the Market Square, which due to construction of the flyover lost its function.
Elegant shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, and galleries blended into a beautiful architecture, create a unique climate of this street and attract also residents of Chorzow's neighbouring towns. Every day in the noon one can hear the sound of bugle-call coming from the nearby City Hall.
Wolnosci Street plays also an important role in the cultural life. Every year one can admire a colourful parade of artists of the International Students' Folk Festivals. In the summer one can listen to the sound of brass bands, deep-
-rooted in the Silesian tradition. In the winter, events related to St Nicholas Feast and Christmas are organised.
Within only several years, the city became an important academic centre of the region. The schools of Chorzow educate future businessmen, bankers and managers.
The Entertainment Theatre, one of Poland's best music stages, offers a wide variety of artistic events.
Attractive recreation sites, latest sports facilities are another aspects of expansion of this present-day city.
Despite the fact that Chorzow is generally associated with the 19th-century tradition of huge industry, its origins date back to the medieval history of the Knights' Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Several settlements and communities form the present identity of the city. The largest of them was Krolewska Huta (Royal Steelworks), which in 1868 gained its civic rights.
Source: http://www.chorzow.um.gov.pl
Population
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Population in 2005:
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116,268
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Estimated population in 2012:
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116,100
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Average population growth between 1995 and 2000:
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- 1%
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Stadium
Silesian Stadium
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Planned matches:
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group matches and quarter-final
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Total number of seats:
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60,000
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number of spectators:
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54,000
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Status:
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under development
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Date of putting into use:
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2008
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Accommodation
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Existing hotels
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Number of hotels
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Number of rooms
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|
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*****
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****
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***
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**
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*
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*****
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****
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***
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**
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*
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10 km from the stadium
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3
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7
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6
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469
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484
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501
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11 - 75 km from the stadium
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1
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5
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8
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1
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63
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343
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403
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30
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Planned hotels
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Number of hotels
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Number of rooms
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|
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*****
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****
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***
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**
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*
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*****
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****
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***
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**
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*
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10 km from the stadium
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|
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1
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|
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100
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11 - 75 km from the stadium
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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In Chorzow and its immediate surrounding there is a vast accommodation capacity offering lodgings of various standards. Approximate number of hotels, pensions and hostels is as follows:
- Hotels: sleeping capacity: 8,000,
- Motels: sleeping capacity: 200,
- Pensions: sleeping capacity: 400,
- Youth hostels: sleeping capacity: 1,300,
- Inns: sleeping capacity: 500,
- Agrotourism farms: sleeping capacity: 700,
- Private lodgings: sleeping capacity: 20,000,
- Camping fields: sleeping capacity: 500.
Many pensions and hotels are located in mountainous areas, which makes them even more attractive. The number of those facilities is constantly growing.
Infrastructure
Plans for the modernization of the infrastructure
The road system in Silesia is under refurbishment (a larger part of the project has been already completed), the following investments are planned before opening of the European Championships:
Ring Road
- by IV quarter of 2006 refurbishment will be completed for Chorzowska street and Rozdzienskiego avenue from the building of Bank Slaski to the Roundabout on the city outskirts;
- by 2007 construction will be completed for the route section Ruda Slaska - Zabrze - Gliwice;
- by 2010 the western section of the ring road will be completed.
Road refurbishments will be financed with structural funds of the European Union and co-financing form the national budget.
The Ring Road is one of the major elements in the modernization plans for the entire traffic system for the Silesian agglomeration. Its full opening will allow for efficient organization and monitoring of street traffic in this urban complex. This will lessen traffic in residential districts, on district roads and in the center. This will be the main route for intercity connections.
Additional transport capacities
Guests of EURO can additionally use: tramways, trains, buses and minibuses. Transport capacities of those means of transport per hour are as follows:
- tramways - 4000 passengers
- trains - 5000 passengers
- buses - 6000 passengers
- minibuses - 3000 passengers
Traffic arrangements
The authorities of Chorzow do not expect any major problems with traffic. Current traffic infrastructure and experience in the organization of large events in Silesia will allow for effective organization of street traffic.
Source: Poland-Ukraine bid to host UEFA EURO 2012 (Phase I).
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