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Częstochowa (pronounce: [ʧε̃stɔ:xɔva]) is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 248,894 inhabitants (2004). Situated in the Silesian Voivodship (since 1999), previously capital of Częstochowa Voivodship (1975-1998).

This town is known for the famous Paulite monastery of Jasna Góra that is the home of the Black Madonna painting, a shrine of the Virgin Mary. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to Częstochowa to see it. There is also a Lusatian culture excavation site and museum in the city and ruins of a medieval castle in Olsztyn, approximately 15 kilometres (ca. 10 mi.) from the city centre.

Template:Infobox Poland

City name

The name of Częstochowa means Częstoch's place and comes from a personal name of Częstoch mentioned in the mediaeval documents also as Częstobor and Częstomir. The original name was mentioned as Częstochowa, spelled Czanstochowa in 1220, or Częstochow in 1382 and 1558. A part of today's city called Częstochówka was a separate municipality mentioned in 14th century as the Old Częstochowa (Antiquo Czanstochowa, 1382) and Częstochówka in 1470-80.

History

The village of Częstochowa was founded in 13th century. Before 1377 it received a town charter, which was later changed to the Magdeburg Law in 1502. In the 17th century the local monastery was turned into a fortress, which was one of the pockets of Polish resistance against the Swedish armies during The Deluge in 1655. After the Third Partition of Poland it was annexed by Prussia and incorporated into the Neue Schlesien province. During the Napoleonic Wars, in 1807 it became part of the Duchy of Warsaw and since 1815 the Kingdom of Poland. This started a period of fast growth of the city. In 1819 renowned military architect Jan Bernhard planned and started the construction of Aleja Panny Marii - the Lady Mary Avenue, which currently is the main axis of the modern city. The two existing towns of Częstochowa and Częstochówka (the latter received the city rights in 1717 as Nowa Częstochowa) were finally merged in 1826. In 1846 the Warsaw-Vienna railway line was opened, linking the city with the rest of Europe. After 1870 iron ore started to be developed in the area, which gave a boost to the local industry. Among the most notable investments of the epoch was the Huta Częstochowa steel mill built by Bernard Hantke, as well as several weaveries and paper factories.

During World War I the town got under German occupation, and in 1918 it became a part of the newly-reborn Republic of Poland. The new state acquired large deposits of good iron ore in Silesia and the mines in Częstochowa became inefficient and soon were closed. This brought the period of prosperity to an end. At the same time a bishopry was relocated to the city in 1925. After the Polish Defence War of 1939 the town was annexed by Nazi Germany, renamed to Tschenstochau and incorporated into the General Government. During World War II approximately 40,000 of Częstochowa's Jews were murdered by the Germans, almost the entire Jewish community living there.

After the war Częstochowa was returned to Poland. Due to the communist idea of fast industrialisation, the inefficient steel mill was significantly expanded and named after Bolesław Bierut. This, combined with the growing tourist movement, led to yet another period of fast city growth, concluded in 1975 with the creation of a separate Częstochowa Voivodship. Currently the city is one of the main tourist attractions of the area and is sometimes called the little Nuremberg because of the number of souvenir shops and the historical monuments. It also attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year.

Education

Politechnika Częstochowska
Akademia Jana Długosza (previously Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna)
Akademia Polonijna (previously Wyższa Szkoła Języków Obcych i Ekonomii)
Wyższa Szkoła Hotelarstwa i Turystyki
Wyższa Szkoła Lingwistyczna
Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania

Sports

Pamapol AZS Czestochowa - men's volleyball team playing in Polish Volleyball League (Polska Liga Siatkówki, PLS), 3rd place in season 2003/2004.

CKM Włókniarz Czestochowa - Speedway team from Częstochowa , 3rd place in season 2004, first pleace in season 2003

Politics

Częstochowa constituency

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected Częstochowa constituency

Giżyński Szymon, PiS
Grzesik Andrzej, Samoobrona
Janik Ewa Maria, SLD-UP
Kasprzyk Jacek, SLD-UP
Maniura Edward, PO
Polak Danuta, SLD-UP
Ratman Zygmunt, SLD-UP

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 == History ==
-The village of Cz&#281;stochowa was founded in [[13th century]]. Before [[1377]] it received a [[town charter]], which was later changed to the [[Magdeburg Law]] in [[1502]]. In the [[17th century]] the local monastery was turned into a fortress, which was one of the pockets of Polish resistance against the Swedish armies during [[The Deluge]] in [[1655]]. After the [[Partitions of Poland|Third Partition of Poland]] it was annexed by [[Prussia]] and incorporated into the [[Neue Schlesien]] province. During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], in [[1807]] it became part of the [[Duchy of Warsaw]] and since [[1815]] the [[Congress Poland|Kingdom of Poland]]. This started a period of fast growth of the city. In [[1819]] renown military architect [[Jan Bernhard]] planned and started the construction of Aleja Panny Marii - the Lady Mary Avenue, which currently is the main axis of the modern city. The two existing towns of Cz&#281;stochowa and Cz&#281;stochówka (the latter received the city rights in [[1717]] as ''Nowa Cz&#281;stochowa'') were finally merged in [[1826]]. In [[1846]] the [[Warsaw]]-[[Vienna]] [[railway]] line was opened, linking the city with the rest of Europe. After [[1870]] [[iron ore]] started to be developed in the area, which gave a boost to the local industry. Among the most notable investments of the epoch was the [[Huta Czestochowa|Huta Cz&#281;stochowa]] steel mill built by [[Bernard Hantke]], as well as several weaveries and paper factories.
+The village of Cz&#281;stochowa was founded in [[13th century]]. Before [[1377]] it received a [[town charter]], which was later changed to the [[Magdeburg Law]] in [[1502]]. In the [[17th century]] the local monastery was turned into a fortress, which was one of the pockets of Polish resistance against the Swedish armies during [[The Deluge]] in [[1655]]. After the [[Partitions of Poland|Third Partition of Poland]] it was annexed by [[Prussia]] and incorporated into the [[Neue Schlesien]] province. During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], in [[1807]] it became part of the [[Duchy of Warsaw]] and since [[1815]] the [[Congress Poland|Kingdom of Poland]]. This started a period of fast growth of the city. In [[1819]] renowned military architect [[Jan Bernhard]] planned and started the construction of Aleja Panny Marii - the Lady Mary Avenue, which currently is the main axis of the modern city. The two existing towns of Cz&#281;stochowa and Cz&#281;stochówka (the latter received the city rights in [[1717]] as ''Nowa Cz&#281;stochowa'') were finally merged in [[1826]]. In [[1846]] the [[Warsaw]]-[[Vienna]] [[railway]] line was opened, linking the city with the rest of Europe. After [[1870]] [[iron ore]] started to be developed in the area, which gave a boost to the local industry. Among the most notable investments of the epoch was the [[Huta Czestochowa|Huta Cz&#281;stochowa]] steel mill built by [[Bernard Hantke]], as well as several weaveries and paper factories.
-During the [[World War I]] the town got under [[Germany|German]] occupation, and in [[1918]] it became a part of the newly-reborn [[Poland|Republic of Poland]]. The new state acquired large deposits of good [[iron ore]] in [[Silesia]] and the mines in Cz&#281;stochowa became inefficient and soon were closed. This brought the period of prosperity to an end. At the same time a [[bishop]]ry was relocated to the city in [[1925]]. After the [[Polish Defence War]] of [[1939]] the town was annexed by [[Germany|Nazi Germany]], renamed to Tschenstochau and incorporated into the [[General Government]]. During the [[World War II]] approximately 40,000 of Cz&#281;stochowa's Jews were murdered by the Germans, almost the entire Jewish community living there.
+During [[World War I]] the town got under [[Germany|German]] occupation, and in [[1918]] it became a part of the newly-reborn [[Poland|Republic of Poland]]. The new state acquired large deposits of good [[iron ore]] in [[Silesia]] and the mines in Cz&#281;stochowa became inefficient and soon were closed. This brought the period of prosperity to an end. At the same time a [[bishop]]ry was relocated to the city in [[1925]]. After the [[Polish Defence War]] of [[1939]] the town was annexed by [[Germany|Nazi Germany]], renamed to Tschenstochau and incorporated into the [[General Government]]. During [[World War II]] approximately 40,000 of Cz&#281;stochowa's Jews were murdered by the Germans, almost the entire Jewish community living there.
-After the war Cz&#281;stochowa was returned to Poland. Due to communist idea of fast industrialisation, the inefficient steel mill was significantly expanded and named after [[Boleslaw Bierut|Boles&#322;aw Bierut]]. This, combined with the growing tourist movement, led to yet another period of fast city growth, concluded in [[1975]] with the creation of a separate [[Czestochowa Voivodship|Cz&#281;stochowa Voivodship]]. Currently the city is one of the main tourist attractions of the area and is sometimes called the ''little [[Nuremberg]]'' because of the number of souvenir shops and the historical monuments. It also attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and [[pilgrim]]s every year.
+After the war Cz&#281;stochowa was returned to Poland. Due to the communist idea of fast industrialisation, the inefficient steel mill was significantly expanded and named after [[Boleslaw Bierut|Boles&#322;aw Bierut]]. This, combined with the growing tourist movement, led to yet another period of fast city growth, concluded in [[1975]] with the creation of a separate [[Czestochowa Voivodship|Cz&#281;stochowa Voivodship]]. Currently the city is one of the main tourist attractions of the area and is sometimes called the ''little [[Nuremberg]]'' because of the number of souvenir shops and the historical monuments. It also attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and [[pilgrim]]s every year.
 == Education ==