Częstochowa, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland

🇵🇱 Częstochow is a city in southern Poland on the Warta River. It is the thirteenth-largest city in Poland. It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship (administrative division). However, Częstochowa is historically part of the Lesser Poland region, not of Silesia. Częstochowa is located in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. It is the largest economic, cultural and administrative hub in the northern part of the Silesian Voivodeship.

The city is known for the famous Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra, which is the home of the Black Madonna painting, a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Every year, millions of pilgrims from all over the world come to Częstochowa to see it. The city also was home to the Jewish Frankist movement in the late 18th and the 19th century.

The city has undertaken excavation of an ancient site of Lusatian culture, and has a museum devoted to this. The ruins of a medieval castle stand in Olsztyn, approximately 25 km (16 miles) from the city centre.

Economy There are about 26,000 companies registered in Częstochowa. They are represented by the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Częstochowa. The investment areas form part of the Katowice Special Economic Zone. The main initiator of activities pertaining to the economic development and investments is the Agency of Regional Development. In 2007, in areas surrounding the ISD Częstochowa Steelworks, the Częstochowa Industry Park was established. In 2011, three industry clusters were established – The Cluster of Polymers Manufacturing "Plastosfera", Częstochowa Communal Cluster "Aglomeracja" and the Regional Cluster of Building Industry and Infrastructure "Budosfera".

Economy: Industry Częstochowa is the main city in the Częstochowa Industrial District, which is the third biggest in the Silesian Voivodship. Since the medieval times, the metal industry has been developing, thanks to the iron ore deposits.

The main factories in the city include: • The ISD Częstochowa Steelworks – one of the biggest steelworks in Poland, initially established in 1896. The Steelworks produces over 65% of steel sheets manufactured in Poland and has an approximate 35% share in the entire national consumption of this product. • TRW Automotive Częstochowa – a manufacturer of car safety systems. • CSF Poland – producer of wires, anti-vibration systems and gaskets • Brembo Poland – manufacturer of elements of braking systems • CGR Poland – manufacturer of automotive components • The Częstochowa Cokery Plant - one of the leading coke producers in Poland • Guardian Industries Poland – glassworks • Stolzle Częstochowa – the glassworks specialising in packaging glass for luxury products and perfumes. • Iron Cast Foundry "Volcano" – the oldest operating factory in the city, established in 1894 • Dospel – producer of ventilation systems • Metalplast – producer of locks and construction hardware fittings • ViperPrint – one of the biggest printing houses in Poland