Kielce

Kielce (pronounce: ) is a city in central Poland with 210,311 inhabitants (2004). It is also the capital city of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodship (Holy Cross Voivodship) since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodship (1919-1939, 1945-1998). The city is located in the middle of the Holy Cross Mountains, at the banks of Silnica river. Once an important centre of limestone mining, Kielce is nowadays a centre of trade and commerce.

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The area of Kielce has been inhabitated at least since 5th century BC. Until 6th or 7th century the banks of the Silnica were inhabitated by Kelts who most probably were the name-sake for the location. They were driven out by a Slavic tribe of Vistulans who started hunting in the nearby huge forests and had settled most of the area now known as Malopolska and present-day ?wi?tokrzyskie Voivodship. The lands of Wi?lanie were at first subdued by Bohemia, however they soon came under the power of the Piast dynasty and became a part of Poland. According to a local legend, Mieszko, son of Boleslaus II of Poland was attacked by a band of brigands in a forest. He was saved by a vision of Saint Adalbert. In the place of his vision he erected a wooden church.

Swietokrzyskie Voivodship: REDIRECT ?wi?tokrzyskie Voivodeship...

Holy Cross Mountains: REDIRECT ?wi?tokrzyskie Mountains...

Silnica: REDIRECT Silnica, ?ód? Voivodeship...