We're happy that you stopped by our Olsztyn.com city guide. Olsztyn is a large city situated in the northeast part of Poland (referred to by Poles as the Thousands Lakes Area). It lies in the middle of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (one of 16 Polish administrative provinces) and is currently its most populated city. By car Olsztyn is 170 kilometers or 105 miles southeast of the port city of Gdańsk and 212 kilometers or 131 miles north of the Polish capital, Warsaw (its Polish name is Warszawa).
The most recent 2010 official Polish census reports list Olsztyn as having a total population just shy of 176,500 residents. The city is currently ranked within the 25 most populated cities in Poland (behind the city of Rzeszów as of 2011). The city's population is currently peaked at a record high, having steadily grown since the early part of the 19th century. This continual population growth is likely driven by economics, with Olsztyn's historic and current unemployment rate falling well below the national average.
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Olsztyn has a tremendous domestic and international tourism appeal due to both its urban and natural scenic attractions. Hiking, kayaking, and sailing are very popular as the city has many pristine lakes, forests, and rivers. One such natural city attraction is kayaking down the Łyna River, with a designated route starting at the city castle. Prominent urban tourist attractions within the city include the Warmia Chapter Castle, St. James Cathedral, the Olsztyn Main Market Square, and the Olsztyn Planetarium.
The city of Olsztyn has what is classified as a temperate climate, as does most of Poland. The city's close proximity to the Baltic Sea and its numerous lakes and rivers also greatly affect the local weather patterns. The average temperature for Olsztyn in July is 17.3 °C or 63.1 °F, with daily highs reaching up to 32 °C or 90 °F. The average January temperature is -3 °C or 26.6 °F. With regard to precipitation Olsztyn averages 600 mm or 23.6 inches of annual rainfall, putting it above the Polish national average.
The local economy in Olsztyn is very strong, with the city having one of the lowest historic and current unemployment rates in Poland. Michelin has a giant tire manufacturing center in Olsztyn which is the largest employer in both the city and the greater Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Wood processing and furniture manufacturing are also huge local economic contributors, with the companies Mazur Comfort and Mebelplast operating out of the city. Other prominent city industries include food processing and beer brewing.
Like other large Polish cities, Olsztyn has a thriving sports culture. The city is host to 5 municipal stadiums, 2 sports halls, and many other modern sports facilities. The most popular sport in the city by far is football (called soccer in the US), with the second league OKS Stomil Olsztyn being the city's premier club. Other noteworthy city sports clubs include AZS UWM Olsztyn (volleyball club) and OKPR Traveland-Społem Olsztyn (handball club). The city also hosts the Marian Tadeusz Rapacki sports museum.
Olsztyn stretches across just over 88 square kilometers or 34 square miles. The highest point of elevation within the city is 154 meters or 505 feet above sea level, while the lowest point of elevation is 88 meters or 289 feet above sea level. What makes Olsztyn unique from other Polish cities is that 21.2% of its surface area is covered with forests, while another 8.25% is occupied by numerous pristine lakes. The largest of these lakes is Lake Ukiel, spanning 4.12 square kilometers or 1.59 square miles.
The city of Olsztyn sits on 3 Polish National Highways (highway 16, 51, and 53), offering quick automobile or bus access to and from a variety of large neighboring Polish cities (such as Warsaw, Gdańsk, or Białystok). Olsztyn also sits on a major Polish railway line, having direct access by train to anywhere within Poland or greater Europe. The city even has a small airport (called Lotnisko Olsztyn-Dajtki in Polish). Traveling around Olsztyn locally can be done by bus (there are 32 municipal bus routes).
Olsztyn is home to a very modern and robust education system, making it the largest academic center in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. The city has dozens of preschools, kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, all of which serve both the local urban and surrounding rural residents. The most notable academic institute in Olsztyn is the renowned University of Warmia and Mazury, having 16 seperate faculties which span veterinary medicine through computer sciences.
On the cultural front Olsztyn has a wide assortment of theaters, cinemas, museums, art galleries, and historic architecture to offer residents and visitors alike. Some noteworthy examples include the Stefan Jaracz Theater, Helios cinema, Museum of Warmia and Mazury (the city's biggest museum), and the Artistic Exhibitions Center (the largest art gallery in Olsztyn). The city is also rich in architectural heritage, housing attractions such as the St. James Cathedral and the ancient Warmia Chapter Castle.
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OLSZTYN, POLAND
PLANETARIUM IN OLSZTYN
The Planetarium in Olsztyn is currently Poland's second largest, seating up to 200 guests. The structure opened to the general public on February 19, 1973, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Polish Renaissance astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus. The planetarium was designed by Ludomir Gosławski and has 205 separate dome tiles spanning a diameter of 15 meters or 49 feet. The planetarium complex also houses a large astronomy related library with tens of thousands of books and journals.
In addition to serving its primary purpose, the Planetarium in Olsztyn also serves as the headquarters and seat of the Federation of Copernicus Cities (called Federacja Miast Kopernikowskich in Polish). The Federation was created on February 19, 1983, and links together cities which played a role in the work and life of Nicolaus Copernicus. The Polish cities include Olsztyn (federation seat), Frombork, Kraków, Toruń, Grudziądz, Lidzbark Warmiński, and Włocławek. The only non-Polish member is the city of Bologna, Italy.
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