Bełchatów

Bełchatów - a city in the Łódź Voivodeship, the seat of the Bełchatów poviat. Located on the South Mazowieckie Hills, in the Bełchatów Upland mesoregion on the Rakówka River, approx. 50 km south of Łódź and approx. 25 km west of Piotrków Trybunalski.

Bełchatów is located in the historical Sieradz region. It was granted a city location in 1737, demoted in 1870, re-granted with city rights in 1925. A private city of the Congress Kingdom, it was located in 1827 in the Piotrków district, the Piotrków district of the Kalisz province. Bełchatów is one of the 312 cities belonging to the Association of Polish Cities. In the years 1975–1998, the city administratively belonged to the Piotrków Voivodeship.

According to Central Statistical Office data from December 31, 2019, the city had 56,973 inhabitants. The fifth most populous city in the Łódź Voivodeship.

 

Toponymy

Bełchatów is a possessive name created from the Old Polish name Bełchat (bełch - whirlpool), the founder and owner of the settlement. The name Belchatow was first mentioned in historical sources in 1391

 

Sights

Marketplace
Baroque Olszewski Palace
late baroque Marienkirche
neo-Gothic Church of All Saints
old jewish cemetery
new Jewish cemetery
town houses and villas
Quarry ponds, created in the course of the recultivation of the opencast mine
Góra Kamieńska dredging dump, the highest hill in the voivodeship with a ski lift

 

Getting here

By plane
The nearest international airport is near Łódź on the Autostrada A2. Other nearby international airports are Kraków Airport and Warsaw Airport.

By train
The place has a train station that can be reached via Łódź.

By bus
Intercity buses to Łódź and long-distance buses to other cities in the region run regularly.

In the street
The road network is very well developed.

From Germany, the A4, which is also called Autostrada A4 in Poland, leads to the border. Leave the A4 motorway at Gliwice and take the Autostrada A1 in the direction of Gdańsk. The place is on the A1.

Alternatively, from northern Germany you can take the Autostrada A2 and then the A1.

Alternatively, you can drive via Prague from southern Germany and Switzerland.

From Austria you drive via Brno and then from the Polish-Czech border the Autostrada A1.

 

History

The place was first mentioned in 1391. Bełchatów received its town charter in 1737. Prussia received the place in 1793 under his rule. 14 years later the place belonged to the Duchy of Warsaw and in 1815 to the Kingdom of Poland, which was linked in personal union with the Russian Empire and thus actually belonged to Russia. In the course of the 19th century, the textile industry grew into an important branch of the economy, not least due to its proximity to Łódź.

After the re-establishment of the Polish state, the place became Polish again in 1919 and in 1925 received its city charter, which had been lost in the meantime.

The city was occupied by the Wehrmacht during the German invasion of Poland on September 6, 1939. A ghetto was established in which about 5,000 Jews had to live. This was "liquidated" in August 1942; Most of the residents were taken to the Kulmhof extermination camp and murdered there.

In 1943 the city was renamed Belchental (according to the order of the Reich Governor in Warthegau from May 18, 1943). On January 19, 1945, the Red Army marched into the town. At the end of the war, Bełchatów was 50% destroyed. In 1965 the place became the seat of its own powiat. He lost this status again in 1975 during a regional reform. Due to the territorial reform in Poland in 1999, Bełchatow became a district town again. The place developed well due to the newly discovered brown coal deposits. Measured by its 5,420 megawatts of output, the Bełchatów power plant is the largest lignite and second largest coal-fired power plant in the world.

Population development
In 1860, 1,899 people lived in the city, including 1,139 Jews, 352 Polish Christians and 35 German Christians. In 1931 a different picture emerged. Here the Christians were most strongly represented with 4,160 people, but closely followed by the Jews with 3,970. 800 people were represented among German Christians.

 

Geography

Bełchatów is located in central Poland, south of Łódź, in the Bełchatów Upland, on the Rakówka river (the right tributary of the Widawka river).

 

Urban greenery and recreation facilities

In the area of Bełchatów, many parks, green areas and places of everyday rest and recreation have been created. There are 7 parks, including one historic park, 5 squares, 3 recreational facilities and 27 playgrounds.

 

Hydrology

The Rakówka River (the right tributary of the Widawka River) and four watercourses flow through the town. Two rivers flow into Rakówka, one stream and one stream:
stream A – small river; the course starts between Myszaki and Dobrzelów, then towards Józefa Piłsudskiego Street, crosses Pabianicka Street, and just after the bridge, turning left before the Aleja Włókniarzy bridge, you will reach Rakówka,
stream B - a small river flowing into Rakówka between the Okrzei housing estate and the Słoneczne housing estate, right next to the Z.O.S.I.A square and Tęczowa street. It heads from the village of Dobiecin through the Politanice estate just off Stanisława Staszica Street. Two watercourses join the B watercourse, then it leads along the square to Rakówka,
watercourse C - a small stream flowing from Zdzieszulice flows into the river near the industrial zone located at Przemysłowa Street,
watercourse D - a small stream that starts its course right under the railway tracks at the Przytorze housing estate, then heads towards Wojska Polskiego Street, where along the fences it reaches Rakówka.

There are ponds, ponds and small water reservoirs in the city. These include a small pond in the Budowlanych estate at Dworek Olszewskich, and on the other side of the park, behind Mielczarskiego Street, there is a square with a natural pond. In the Lipy estate there is Uroczysko Ługi with two ponds; There are also small water reservoirs in the city.

The city is exposed to local flooding. Bełchatów has experienced severe flooding several times, such as in 2010. There are several zones of local flooding in the city, divided into sixteen flooding zones.

 

Surface structure

According to data from January 1, 2010, the area of the city was 34.64 km². The city constitutes 3.58% of the area of the Bełchatów poviat.

According to data from 2007, Bełchatów has an area of 34.64 km², including: agricultural land: 51%, forest land: 15%.

 

Local government

President: Mariola Czechowska
Vice Presidents: Dariusz Matyśkiewicz, Łukasz Politanski
Secretary of the City: Artur Kurzeja
Chairman of the City Council: Piotr Wysocki
Deputy Chairman of the City Council: Grzegorz Muskała, Ewa Skorupa

 

Transport

Important communication routes run through Bełchatów: Kielce-Wrocław, Wrocław-Lublin, national road and provincial roads. The planned motorways will also be close to the city. 37.8 km of national and provincial roads and 85 km of municipal and housing estate roads run through Bełchatów.

Roads leading through Bełchatów:
national road no. 74: S8–Wieluń–Bełchatów–A1–Piotrków Trybunalski–Kielce–Zamość–state border (UA)
provincial road No. 476: DK74 - Bełchatów - DK74
provincial road No. 484: Buczek-Bełchatów-Kamieńsk
provincial road No. 485: Bełchatów-Wadlew-Pabianice route

Bełchatów is crossed by a railway line from Rogowiec ("Bełchatów" coal mine and power plant) to Piotrków Trybunalski (currently only freight traffic). From January 1987 to April 2000 Bełchatów had a passenger railway connection with Piotrków Trybunalski. In the near future - 30 km from the city - the military airport in Łask, where there is a modern air base and F-16 stations, will be transformed into a cargo airport.

Transport services are provided by MZK, which has 25 passenger buses, including one sightseeing bus (data from 1995). From July 1, 2015, public transport in Bełchatów is free of charge. There are bus connections from the station, thanks to which you can get from Bełchatów directly, e.g. to Warsaw, Lublin, Wrocław, Kudowa-Zdrój, Kłodzko, Częstochowa, Łódź, Sieradz, Radom, Kalisz, Kielce, Kraków and Szklarska Poręba.

June 4, 2007 at the Wojewódzki Szpital im. John Paul II, a sanitary landing pad was opened.

 

Economy

Not far from the city (10 km) there is the largest fuel and energy hub in Poland, which includes the Bełchatów Brown Coal Mine and the Bełchatów Power Plant. Bełchatów is one of the two most important cities of PBOP.

On May 8, 2013, in Bełchatów, the new headquarters of the PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Conventional S.A. concern was commissioned. The facility was built at the cost of approx. PLN 50 million, in the Binków estate at ul. Węglowa 5. Its architecture refers to the appearance of a cross-section of a power cable. It is the largest and most modern office building in Bełchatów.

 

Tourism

About 10 km south of the center of Bełchatów, by an artificial water reservoir, there are two sports and recreation centers popular in the summer: Ośrodek "Słok" (owner of Elektrownia Bełchatów) and Ośrodek "Wawrzkowizna" (owner of Kopalnia Węgla Brunatnego "Bełchatów"). Each of the centers has its own accommodation base (hotels, cottages, lodgings), as well as a number of attractions, including: a horse farm, pedal boats, sailboats, kayaks, sports fields, a swimming pool with a water slide and a beach, go-cart bicycles, indoor swimming pool, saunas, solarium, jacuzzi, tartan tennis courts, gym and much more. In addition, during the holiday season, various types of concerts with the participation of stars of the Polish stage are often organized.

hotel base
The hotel base in Bełchatów is mainly related to the city's location on important communication routes: national road No. 74 and provincial roads 484 and 485, as well as the "Słok" and "Wawrzkowizna" sports and recreation centers located in the vicinity of Bełchatów.

3-star hotels (***):
Hotel Sport located at the KWB Bełchatów sports and entertainment hall,
Santin Hotel,
Hotel Wodnik Bełchatów (at the Training and Recreation Center "Słok" near Bełchatów). Located 15 km from the city center, 40 km from the main railway station and 15 km from the main bus station. The nearest airport is 50 km away. In 2006, Hotel Wodnik received the SKKP certificate and became a supporting member of the Association "Conferences and Congresses in Poland"

 

Sport

The following clubs operate in Bełchatów:
Skra Bełchatów – volleyball and swimming
EKS Skra Bełchatów – volleyball
GKS Bełchatów – football, wrestling and sports bridge
KSSP - baseball
GLKS United Bełchatów – football
KS Grocholice Bełchatów – football and rugby
LSKK Lityński Fazbud World Bełchatów – cycling
LKS Stomil Bełchatów – cycling and table tennis
BKL Bełchatów – athletics
LZS Belchatow
KS "EBE" Bełchatów Football Section - football
BKC Bełchatów – curling
Aquarius - underwater hockey
BTS AS Feniks Bełchatów – basketball

Bełchatów is best known for the men's volleyball club Skra Bełchatów. The Bełchatów sports base consists of e.g. from the GKS Bełchatów football stadium at ul. Sportowa 3, hall "Energy" them. Edward Najgebauer at ul. Dąbrowskiego, sports and entertainment hall at ul. 1 Maja (near the stadium), Squash Club Bełchatów located at ul.Transportowa 3, several training pitches, 4 swimming pools, tennis courts, gymnasiums and school pitches at almost every educational institution , athletic fields, gym, ice rink. The local sports clubs offer a variety of sports not only for adults, but also run schools training future athletes. In June 1995, the Municipal Sports Olympics was organized for the first time, in which over 6,000 students competed for medals in several Olympic disciplines.

 

Culture

Municipal and District Public Library named after Józef Ignacy Kraszewski
The oldest cultural institution in the city, existing since 1935, is the Municipal and District Public Library (MiPBP). Apart from the main office in Bełchatów, there are 4 branches of MiPBP:
Branch No. 1 in Grocholice. Branch profile: historical
Branch No. 2 in Osiedle Dolnośląskie. Branch profile: literary.
Branch No. 3 in the Okrzei Estate. Branch profile: tourist.
Branch No. 4 in the Binków Estate. Branch profile: ecological

The main institution also supervises 15 libraries in the Bełchatów poviat in: Drużbice, Kleszczów (and branches in Łękińsk and Żłobnica), Kluki, Kurnos, Łękawa, Rusiec (and a branch in Wola Wiązowa), Commune of Szczerców, Zelów (and branches in Kociszewo and Wygiełzów).

On January 15, 2002, a modern MiPBP building built in the city center was commissioned, fully adapted to the needs of the disabled, along with a parking lot in front of the building. The building also housed a branch of the children's library, moved from the given building of the Shooting Association "Strzelec" (built in 1938, located at 1 Maja 45 Street).

In addition to typical library activities, MiPBP conducts a number of cultural projects:
National Poetry Competition named after Wacław Olszewski (since 1994),
Cheap Book Fairs (since 1994),
Competition about the region "Between paradise and coal" (since 1996),
County Competition "Books for a medal" (since 1999),
District Competition "Book - Art Object" (since 2002),

The library is involved in the promotion of reading by organizing local campaigns (Holidays with the Library, Holidays with the Library, Mom - sign me up to the library, Bełchatów Reading Week, Meeting with the Book), as well as participates in nationwide campaigns (All of Poland reads to children) and promoting the broadly understood culture in the region. He cooperates with local media as well as with educational and educational institutions in the Bełchatów region. Representatives of MiPBP from Bełchatów, as representatives of the only library in Poland, were (apart from the National Library) invited to the Presidential Palace for the annual meeting of Creators of Culture. Thanks to the collection of "regionalia" (works and materials about Bełchatów and the surrounding area), as well as by publishing collections of literary works, the library is an important center influencing the promotion of knowledge about the history and cultural life of the region. The Association of Polish Librarians operates at the library.

The Regional Museum in Bełchatów
The idea of creating a museum was born in the early 1990s, and on July 16, 1993, the first meeting of the Founding Committee of the Regional Museum took place. Members of the Committee appealed to the city authorities to create a museum in Bełchatów. The museum formally began its activity in 1995, and its seat was a historic, late-baroque manor house in the city center (ul. Hellwigów 11), which was the seat of the city's families. Until 1987, he was looked after by the Olszewski family. After the death of Wacław Olszewski - junior, the building was bought by the City Hall, its very bad condition did not allow to locate the seat of the museum in it. In 1998, the Regional Museum was moved to the renovated building from its former, temporary seat, which was the building of the Shooting Association "Strzelec" (ul. 1 Maja 45). On October 7-8, 2005, the Regional Museum hosted an attempt to break the record for the Guinness Book of Records by Eugeniusz Geno Małkowski, who painted pictures (80 cm x 100 cm) for 24 hours, based on sketches previously made by the artist.

There are two gospel choirs in Bełchatów, Schola Cantorum Gospel Choir and Gospel Singers, which are very successful at gospel music festivals in Poland and abroad.

Artistic events on a nationwide scale
Festival of Non-serious Films "NAKRĘCENI" (first edition October 2007)
Autumn Theater Meetings with BAT
National Sailing Song Review in Bełchatów (organized since 1998)
Festival of Young(j) Art (organized since 2006)
Alternative culture is also developed in Bełchatów. One of its most active centers is the Association of Alternative Culture "Zgrzyt", together with its member Bicycle Crew 'Zgrzyt' Bełchatów.

 

Education

Bełchatów has a well-developed network of educational institutions, from nursery schools to university branches.
city nursery
8 kindergartens
9 primary schools
special primary school
6 general high schools
2 high schools for adults
social high school for adults
extramural general secondary school for adults
a branch of the University of Lodz, which offers the following faculties: economics, sociology
branch of the Lodz University of Technology, which offers the following faculties: electrical engineering, electronics and telecommunications, management, environmental engineering, construction, computer science, mechanics and mechanical engineering
AHE branch in Łódź, which offers the following faculties: Polish philology, computer science, pedagogy, political science, transport, management
university of the 3rd century (in the building of one of the gymnasiums)

 

Religious communities

The following churches and religious associations conduct religious activities in the city:
Roman Catholic Church (Bełchatów deanery):
Divine Mercy Parish
parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Saint Barbara
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish
parish of st. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr
parish of All Saints in Bełchatów-Grocholice
Holy Spirit Parish
Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland:
parish in Zelów-Bełchatów
Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland
parish in Bełchatów
Church of God in Christ
Seventh-day Adventist Church (congregation in Bełchatów)
Jehovah's Witnesses:
Belchatow-Centrum
Belchatow-South
Bełchatów North (Kingdom Hall, Ludwikowska 100)
Until 1942, there was also a Jewish community in Bełchatów.