Poland

Coordinates: 52°N 20°E / 52°N 20°E / 52; 20

Poland (Polish: Polska [ˈpɔlska]), officially the Republic of Poland (Polish: Rzeczpospolita Polska, listen ), is a country in Central Europe,bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine and Belarus to the east; and the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad Oblast (a Russian exclave) and Lithuania to the north. The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometres (120,726 sq mi), making it the 71st largest country in the world and the 9th largest in Europe. With a population of over 38.5 million people, Poland is the 34th most populous country in the world, the 8th most populous country in Europe and the sixth most populous member of the European Union, as well as the most populous post-communist member of the European Union. Poland is a unitary state divided into 16 administrative subdivisions.

The establishment of a Polish state can be traced back to 966, when Mieszko I, ruler of a territory roughly coextensive with that of present-day Poland, converted to Christianity. The Kingdom of Poland was founded in 1025, and in 1569 it cemented a longstanding political association with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by signing the Union of Lublin. This union formed the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest and most populous countries of 16th and 17th-century Europe. The Commonwealth ceased to exist in the years 1772–1795, when its territory was partitioned among Prussia, the Russian Empire, and Austria. Poland regained its independence (as the Second Polish Republic) at the end of World War I, in 1918.

City centre

A city centre (or city center) is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart of a city.

Overview and related concepts

The city centre is the (often historical) area of a city where commerce, entertainment, shopping and political power are concentrated. The term is commonly used in many English-speaking countries and has direct equivalents in many other languages. However, notably, in the United States, the term "downtown" is commonly used to denote a city centre, and in Canada the terms "city centre" and "downtown" are used interchangeably. In Australia, the term "Central Business District" is widely used to refer to the city centre, but usage of the term "City Centre" is increasing, especially in Melbourne.

In many cities, the Central Business District (CBD) is within the city centre, but the concept "city centre" differs from the CBD. The concept of the "CBD" revolves solely around economic and financial power, but the "city centre" also includes historical, political and cultural factors. A clear example is Paris: La Défense is the central business district of Paris, but it is not the city centre. In most larger and/or older cities, the CBD and the city centre will only partially overlap, if at all.

Korona Kielce

Korona Kielce, Polish pronunciation: [kɔˈrɔna ˈkʲɛltsɛ], (Korona – Crown – symbol of club and city, Kielce – name of city where club is based) is a Polish football club, currently playing in the Ekstraklasa. In the years 2002–08 Club belonged to Polish holding company Kolporter Holding and achieved its greatest success – in 2005, winning promotion to the first division (Ekstraklasa). Since then Korona spent 5 seasons in polish soccer top level. In 2006–07 season Korona played in the final of the Polish Cup. As a result of alleged corruption after 2007–08 season Club was relegated to I liga. After a one-year banishment Korona returned to the Ekstraklasa.

Biggest achievements

Silesia City Center

Silesia City Center is a shopping mall in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. It was opened in 2005 and it is one of the biggest malls in Europe.

Its total area covers a few thousand square metres, of which 650 000 sq metres is a trade zone, 100 000 sq metres is a housing estate and 600 000 sq metres is an office site. It is situated in Katowice along 107 Chorzowska Road (the land previously belonged to the coal mine KWK Gottwald). The edifice was opened 18 November 2005. An investor is Hungarian company - TriGranit Development Corporation.

Inside

In total, in Silesia City Center there are almost 850 shops, 40 cinema chambers (Cinema City), the centre of entertainment Fun City (with amusement arcade, club, billiards and bowling alley), banks and restaurants. On a rooftop there is a garden. There are partly underground car parks for 3000 cars as well (a red and a blue one), two guarded car parks and a free one for bicycles. Inside, in Tropical Square, there is a fountain, whose water is flipped approximately 13 metres up. The centre is divided into 43 avenues, named after main cities in Śląsk and Zagłębie Region, and 145 squares, acting as places facilitating meetings and leisure. Shops are situated round these squares and avenues, whose total length amounts over 10 kilometre.