Kamień Śląski - a town located in the central-eastern part of the Opole region (Krapkowicki poviat, community GogolinIt is sometimes called the "Pearl of the Opole Region". The location among lush forests with rich flora and fauna, make this place a convenient place to rest and relax in nature. In 2005, in the area of meadows adjacent to Kamień, the reintroduction program of the European ground squirrel was started, the population of which was extinct in Poland in the 1970s and 1980s, and which was very numerous in these areas.
There is an airport near Kamień Śląski, which is currently privately owned by the company Lotnisko Kamień Śląski Sp. z o.o. Equipped with modern infrastructure, it is adapted to accept passenger flights, although the current status of the airport is “another place adapted to take off and landings of aircraft.
History
The town was first mentioned in the chronicle of Gallus Anonymus in connection with the stay in 1104 of prince Bolesław the Wrymouth. In the Middle Ages, Kamień Śląski belonged to the famous Odrowąż family. Around 1183, St. Jacek Odrowąż. In 1957, the 700th anniversary of the death of St. Jacek, and in 1966 great ceremonies were held here with the participation of Primate Stefan Wyszyński and Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, who later chose St. Jacek as the patron of the Eucharistic Congress during the pilgrimage in 1987.
Currently, Kamień Śląski is considered the most beautiful commune of Gogolin. What can be confirmed by the distinction in the competition for the European Rural Renewal Award A.D. 2000 and victory in the competition Piękna Wieś Opolska 2005.
Local saints
Saint Jacek
He was born around 1183. Already at a young age, he held the honorable dignity of a canon of the Wawel chapter. He had theological and legal education obtained during his studies in Paris and Bologna. Sent by his uncle, Bishop of Krakow Iwo Odrowąż to Rome, he entered the Dominican Order there. After returning to Krakow in 1222, Jacek founded the first Dominican monastery in Poland. It also extended its activities to neighboring countries. Therefore, St. Jacek is called an apostle of these lands. He built churches everywhere and founded monasteries and schools. St. Jacek died on August 15, 1257 in Krakow. On April 17, 1594, Pope Clement VIII named him a saint. St. Jacek is in the church of St. Trinity in Krakow.
St. Jacek is the patron of the Dominicans, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Prussia, Pomerania, Kraków, Kiev, Wrocław, protects against drowning and infertility; helps with childbirth.
Blessed Czesław
He was born around 1180 in Kamień Śląski. As a priest he joined the Dominicans. He received the habit from the very founder of the Order, St. Dominica. In 1226 he became prior of the Wrocław monastery. According to legend, Bl. Czesław saved Wrocław from destruction during one of the Tatar invasions. He prayed for the city to be saved, often stepping onto its ramparts and encouraging brave defenders to resist. On the role of Bl. Czesław during the siege of Wrocław by the Tatars was mentioned by the chronicler Jan Długosz, describing the miracle prayed by the Dominican and which scared the Tatars.
Czesław died on July 15, 1242 in Wrocław. In Poland, his memory falls on July 20.
The Polish prior, Abraham Bzowski, wrote a biography of Czesław at the beginning of the 17th century. On October 18, 1713, Pope Clement XI approved the cult of the Blessed for the Dominican Order and the Archdiocese of Wrocław, in 1753 Clement XIII extended it to all Polish dioceses.
In 1963, Pope Paul VI officially recognized Bl. Czesław for another patron of Wrocław. In the iconography of Bl. Czesław is depicted with a fireball or a fiery pillar above his head.
Blessed Bronisława
She was born in Kamień Śląski around 1203, as the daughter of Stanisław Odrowąż Prandota and Anna née Gryffit-Jaks. At the age of sixteen, she entered the Norbertine Sisters' convent in Zwierzyniec near Krakow. At a young age, she became the head of the monastery. During the plague in 1224. showed great commitment to helping those in need. For 40 years she has served God faithfully, shining with virtues and spiritual union with God. She died on August 29, 1259. In 1839, the Congregation of Rites in Rome approved the veneration of Bl. Bronisław for six centuries. The Holy Father Gregory XVI included her among the blessed Polish patrons. She is also the patron of Zwierzyniec and Kraków.
Worth seeing
The Odrowąż Palace
The palace was built at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries on the site of an earlier castle. For centuries, it was the seat of great noble families. The fame of this place was especially influenced by the birth of St. Jack. The reconstruction of the saint's birth chamber in 1715 increased the importance of the Stone as a place of worship. Until the outbreak of World War II, the castle was in its prime. Military operations partially devastated it. In the last years of the Second World War, a State Children's Home was established in the castle. On January 22, 1945, the Soviet army entered Kamień Śląski, causing significant damage. The chapel of St. Jack, which was ransacked. A sad chapter in the history of the castle was a fire in 1971, which completed the destruction. Without a roof, the castle fell into disrepair. The matter of the future of the facility began to appear in a new light after the socio-political changes in 1989. It was then that the new provincial authorities in Opole came up with the initiative to take over the destroyed complex by the Diocese of Opole. Intensive renovation works took four years.
Currently, the castle is a place where people from all over Poland and from abroad make pilgrimages. The restored building is not only a place of worship of St. Jacek, but also a recreation and leisure complex as well as the Center of Culture and Science at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Opole. In the jubilee year 2000, the chapel of St. Jacek was proclaimed the diocesan Sanctuary of the Holy Year next to the Opole Cathedral and the Sanctuary on St. Anna.
The parish church of St. Jack
The first mention of the parish church comes from 1271. Probably its patron was originally St. Urban, and only from the end of the 16th century, St. Jack. Initially, the church was wooden. However, it burned down during the Thirty Years' War. A baroque parish church was built on its ruins in the years 1603-1632 under the patronage of Mikołaj Rokowski.
In the years 1909-1910, when the parish priest was Fr. Franciszek Bittzer, the church was extended with two side aisles.
Inside the temple there are altars: the main one with a painting of St. Jacek and side: of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary, St. Family and Heart of Jesus. Those praying are illuminated by the light passing through the intricate stained glass windows depicting the blessed Czesław and Bronisława on both sides of the main altar, as well as the saints: Urban, Alojzy, Jadwiga, Franciszek, Anna, Antoni.
Recreation
Sebastianeum Silesiacum
Sebastianeum Silesiacum is a rehabilitation, leisure and tourist center. The natural location of this place and the use of Oligocene waters enable the patients to achieve psychological comfort and complete relaxation.
The latest therapeutic and rehabilitation methods are used here: heat therapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, magnetotherapy and magnetostumulation, kinesiotherapy, cryotherapy, inhalations, light therapy, therapeutic massage and hippotherapy.
There is also a horse stud at the center, where you can develop your riding abilities on these wonderful animals. It is also possible to take advantage of hippotherapy.
Motovacations
Organized by Automobilklub Wrocławski in the area adjacent to the airport, they provide the opportunity to commune with nature combined with the development and improvement of your rally skills. Accommodation is carried out in camp conditions. Cottages for 6 people with bunk beds (participants must have their own sleeping bags). The center includes full sanitary facilities (bathrooms with showers and hot water, toilet, canteen, lounge). In program:
- Youth automotive camp (from 12 to 17 years old) - learning to drive a moped, quad bike, go-kart and car. Everyday contact with the automotive industry. Preparation for the moped license exam. After successfully passing the exam, I obtain a moped license.
- Summer rally school (from 16 to 18 years old) - the opportunity to improve your rally skills under the supervision of professionals. Learning how to drive a car safely as well as how to build it and how it works. A driving license is not required to attend the camp.
Accommodation
Aviator Hotel
A modern hotel complex with 36 beds (5 single rooms, 13 double rooms and 2 apartments). Rooms equipped with TV, separate bathroom with shower, unlimited internet access, air conditioning. The hotel has its own parking lot.
Contact:
Aviator Hotel
ul. Aviation 5-7
47-325 Kamień Śląski
Telephone: 48 77 408 81 30
Fax: 48 77 408 81 39
Mobile phone: 48 606 584 262
E-mail adress: [email protected]
More information and the current price list here >>>
The Odrowąż Palace
Organizing conferences (from 15 to 100 people), special events, beautiful location, the possibility of trying traditional Silesian cuisine, high standard rooms.
Contact:
St. Jacek - Conference Center
ul. Parkowa 1a
47-325 Kamień Śląski
Telephone: 48 (77) 46-71-120
Fax: 48 (77) 46-71-123
e-mail: [email protected]
More information and the current price list here >>>
Sebastianeum Silesiacum
Organization of conferences A hotel stay includes accommodation with breakfast. The rooms are equipped with a bathroom, TV, telephone and the vast majority of them with internet connection. There is a curfew in the center from 22.00 to 6.00.
Contact:
Tourist, Recreation and Rehabilitation Complex
Caritas of the Opole Diocese "SEBASTIANEUM SILESIACUM"
ul. Parkowa 1B
47-325 Kamień Śląski
Telephone: 48 77-467-11-04
Fax: 48 77-467-11-17
e-mail: [email protected]
More information and the current price list here >>>
Hotel "u Ewy"
Rooms of a high standard are available. Each room has its own bathroom and TV. The hotel is situated in a quiet place near the park by the Sanctuary of St. Jack.
Contact:
Restaurant and hotel U EWY
Fighter Square 15
47-325 Kamień Śląski
Telephone: 48 77 4671 161
e-mail: [email protected]
More information and the current price list here >>>
Drive
By car
- 25 km from Opole (along the Opole-Strzelce Opolskie road, right exit for Tarnów Opolski, then through Kosorowice)
the route in Google maps here >>> - 8 km from the A4 motorway (exit Krapkowice, Gogolin, then head towards Kamień Śląski)
the route in Google maps here >>>
By rail
- Main Opole - Kamień Śląski (direct connection without intermediate stations, travel time 18 minutes. Distance: 19 km. Price of a normal ticket, class 2: 4.50 PLN, class 1: 6.75 PLN)
- Main Wrocław - Kamień Śląski (access to Opole, change there and then directly to Kamień Śląski, travel time approx. 1 hour 49 minutes. Distance: 101 km. Normal ticket price class 2: PLN 17, class 1: PLN 25.50)
By plane
A private airport for small passenger traffic enables the landing of small passenger planes.
More information here >>>
Links and bibliography
- official website of Kamień Śląski
- website dedicated to the sanctuary of St. Jack
- website of the sanatorium Sebastianeum Silesiacum
- side of the Opole - Kamień Śląski airport
- portal dedicated to Saint Jacek
- portal dedicated to saints
- Kamień Śląski on the commune website
- Gogolin Land
- article about the sanatorium Sebastianeum Silesiacum
- the story of blessed Bronisława
- more information about Blessed Czesław
- Motowakacje Automobilklub Wroclawskiego
- "Kamień Śląski - the history of the Sanctuary of St. Jacka ", publishing house: ZET Wrocław, text edited by Fr. Dr. Erwin Matej
- "Kamień Śląski - Emerald of Opole Land", Fr. Zygmunt Glaeser, publishing house: Holy Cross Publishing House 2004
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