Opole

Opole (Polish: [ɔˈpɔlɛ] ; German: Oppeln [ˈɔpl̩n] ; Silesian: Ôpole; Silesian German: Uppeln) is a city located in southern Poland on the Oder River and the historical capital of Upper Silesia. With a population of approximately 127,387 as of the 2021 census, it is the capital of Opole Voivodeship (province) and the seat of Opole County. Its metropolitan area was home to 146,522 inhabitants. It is the largest city in its province. Opole's history dates to the 8th century. One of the oldest urban centres in Upper Silesia, it originated as an early medieval Slavic stronghold of the Opolans tribe and later became the seat of the Piast Duchy of Opole. The present-day town developed in the early 13th century under German town law during the medieval eastward colonisation. Over the following centuries, it formed part of the Bohemian Crown, the Habsburg monarchy, Prussia, and the German Reich. After World War II, the city was incorporated into Poland. Many German Upper Silesians and Poles of ethnic German ancestry still reside in the Opole region; but, following the 1945–46 expulsions, ethnic Germans now make up less than 3% of the city's population. There are four higher education establishments in the city: the Opole University, Opole University of Technology, a Medical College and the private Higher College of Management and Administration. The National Festival of Polish Song has been held here annually since 1963. Each year new regular events, fairs, shows and competitions take place. Opole is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of Poland", because of its picturesque Old Town and several canals and bridges connecting parts of the city.