KĘDZIERZYN-KOŹLE

A city of opportunities, featuring the famous Kozielskie Goats in its coat of arms, Kędzierzyn-Koźle was formed in its present shape in 1975 through the merger of the towns of Koźle, Kędzierzyn, Kłodnica, Sławięcice, and the area of the Sławięcice commune. Its history is closely linked to the fortunes of Koźle, which was first mentioned in historical records in 1108 and was granted town rights in the XIIIth century. From that period come the remains of the Castle of the Koźle Piast dynasty, preserved to this day and constituting the oldest monument in Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Today, the Museum of the Koźle Region is located on this site. Among the interesting reminders of the city’s past are also fragments of the former fortifications of the XVIIIth-century Koźle Fortress, numerous churches - including the Gothic church dedicated to St. Sigismund and St. Hedwig of Silesia in Koźle - as well as the palace and park complex in Sławięcice. A truly unique attraction is the historic Kłodnica Canal, which connects Koźle with Gliwice (Kłodnica). It was built between 1792 and 1812 and is one of the oldest European navigable canals equipped with chamber locks. The section running through Kędzierzyn-Koźle is among the best preserved. Another place in the city well worth visiting

is the Museum of the Silesian Battle for Fuel Blechhammer-1944 - a museum institution created by enthusiasts in the basements of the “Lech” Cultural Centre.

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest tourist attractions of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and the surrounding area is a cruise along the Oder River and the Kłodnica Canal, including passage through locks. During the cruise, visitors can

see the Kłodnica Siphon in Lenartowice. It is a siphon culvert for the Kłodnica River, built from concrete pipes beneath the Gliwice Canal. There are only a few such places in Europe where a river flows underneath a canal.