Czestochowa is one of the biggest
cities in Poland.
Until 1999 it had been the capital of Czestochowa Province. Since then it has been the second largest city in Silesian Province but also has been gradually loosing significance. Considering political influence or importance, Czestochowa, as a "parochial" city has been continuously ignored as if Czestochowa's problems were less important than others. The conclusion is that someone has to pay for others expends. It's sad but real.
Czestochowa isn't regarded as a part of Silesia Province. Czestochowa is a large and buoyant city. It is well known throughout the country as a pilgrimage destination - a place for Virgin Mary cult.
I write about it because these are the most important matters, which directly affect our (Czestochowa's citizens) life and determine our opinion of this city.
First issue is political and economical importance.
After 1989 (the moment of great changes in Poland and in all communist countries) Czestochowa went on the way of economic growth and as a big city and provincial capital (with low level of unemployment) was important city in Poland. In 1999 "my city" was forced to be the part of Silesia Province and since then things have changed for the worse. Now we can't decide on the province budget and so we are at the mercy of Katowice (capital of Silesia Province). We can't get enough money to solve our problems, which seem to be much more difficult than they were two or three years ago. We have to restructure steelworks, which means dismissals and unemployment. What is more, the authorities can't attract investors, which means that youths have no prospects.
"Large city with parochial problems' is my opinion about my city. Lack of prospects is the strongest feeling when I'm thinking about its political future.
Second issue is Jasna Góra - Virgin Mary Sanctuary, a place of Mary's cult. Czestochowa is very often regarded as a holy place. It's as if the monastery was the only thing that really matters in Czestochowa. Certainly there are some pilgrims who are interested in city's history, monuments and present life. I have great respect for them. But there are still some who don't care about the city at all. They usually arrive, prey, leave and do nothing more. And this is the real problem because citizens and the city don't make much profit from pilgrimage. When I'm thinking of pilgrimage the strongest things I have in my mind are: litters, noise and crowd.
However tourism is a future of the city. Five millions pilgrims visit annually Jasna Góra. The point is how o make a profit from them. The question hasn't been answered yet. I hope it will be soon.
It might seem strange that I chose this sort of problems neglecting such things as environment and unemployment but I am interested in politics and public life and I felt it was essential to write about e.g. city's political significance since You won't find it in any guidebooks.
When it comes to city's day-to-day life, I mean my life in this city I can't complain. There are some beautiful places I can go to, there is quite nice nightlife especially at weekends, streets are quite clean, and there isn't much pollution in the air.
Until 1999 it had been the capital of Czestochowa Province. Since then it has been the second largest city in Silesian Province but also has been gradually loosing significance. Considering political influence or importance, Czestochowa, as a "parochial" city has been continuously ignored as if Czestochowa's problems were less important than others. The conclusion is that someone has to pay for others expends. It's sad but real.
Czestochowa isn't regarded as a part of Silesia Province. Czestochowa is a large and buoyant city. It is well known throughout the country as a pilgrimage destination - a place for Virgin Mary cult.
I write about it because these are the most important matters, which directly affect our (Czestochowa's citizens) life and determine our opinion of this city.
First issue is political and economical importance.
After 1989 (the moment of great changes in Poland and in all communist countries) Czestochowa went on the way of economic growth and as a big city and provincial capital (with low level of unemployment) was important city in Poland. In 1999 "my city" was forced to be the part of Silesia Province and since then things have changed for the worse. Now we can't decide on the province budget and so we are at the mercy of Katowice (capital of Silesia Province). We can't get enough money to solve our problems, which seem to be much more difficult than they were two or three years ago. We have to restructure steelworks, which means dismissals and unemployment. What is more, the authorities can't attract investors, which means that youths have no prospects.
"Large city with parochial problems' is my opinion about my city. Lack of prospects is the strongest feeling when I'm thinking about its political future.
Second issue is Jasna Góra - Virgin Mary Sanctuary, a place of Mary's cult. Czestochowa is very often regarded as a holy place. It's as if the monastery was the only thing that really matters in Czestochowa. Certainly there are some pilgrims who are interested in city's history, monuments and present life. I have great respect for them. But there are still some who don't care about the city at all. They usually arrive, prey, leave and do nothing more. And this is the real problem because citizens and the city don't make much profit from pilgrimage. When I'm thinking of pilgrimage the strongest things I have in my mind are: litters, noise and crowd.
However tourism is a future of the city. Five millions pilgrims visit annually Jasna Góra. The point is how o make a profit from them. The question hasn't been answered yet. I hope it will be soon.
It might seem strange that I chose this sort of problems neglecting such things as environment and unemployment but I am interested in politics and public life and I felt it was essential to write about e.g. city's political significance since You won't find it in any guidebooks.
When it comes to city's day-to-day life, I mean my life in this city I can't complain. There are some beautiful places I can go to, there is quite nice nightlife especially at weekends, streets are quite clean, and there isn't much pollution in the air.
