Zielona Góra

Zielona Góra, situated on a hillside of the Oder River valley, is the biggest city in Lubusz Province, and together with Nowa Sól and Sulechów forms the so-called Lubuskie Tri-City. The city was based on the Magdeburg Law in 1320 and it has been connected with the region of Lower Silesia virtually throughout its entire history, resulting from its location on the northern border of the region.

In 1335, Zielona Góra and Duchy of Głogów were formally incorporated under the rule of the Kingdom of Bohemia, although the Piast dynasty ruled in this area nearly until the end of the 15^th Century. After that, the city was governed by future Polish kings John I Albert and Sigismund I the Old. Finally, in 1508, Zielona Góra found itself completely under the Bohemian rule. In the 16^th and 17^th Centuries, Zielona Góra became a significant centre of Calvinism. From 1740 onwards, it was controlled by Prussia.

Following the end of the Second World War, on 6^th June 1945, the city was officially incorporated into the administrative territory of Poland and became part of Poznań Voivodeship. It started the process of displacement of the German population and their replacing with the returned expatriates from the so-called Eastern Borderlands, who were sent to settle in Zielona Góra. In 1950, the city became the capital of Zielona Góra Voivodeship. Nowadays, it operates as the seat of the local government, Marshal of the province, and the authorities of a regional parliament (‘Sejmik’).

The city is known as the capital of the Polish winemaking industry, which most likely started in the 12^th Century, when settlers from Franconia arrived in the area. During the inter-war period, there was around 300ha of vineyards scattered around the area of Zielona Góra. Today, we can still pay a visit to the well-preserved wine cellars that still exist in the city. There is also the so-called Lubusz Trail of the Wine and Honey that Zielona Góra is part of. Every September, Zielona Góra becomes host of the greatest cultural event in the region – the so-called ‘Winobranie’ (Wine Festival). In the years 1965-1989, Zielona Góra was home to the Soviet Song Festival.

Zielona Góra was chosen as a location for many films, for example ‘Baśń o ludziach stąd’ or ‘Dzień w którym umrę’, but also the television series ‘Rodzinka.pl’ and the sitcom ‘Kocham Klarę’.

Zielona Góra is a birthplace of great many actors and actresses, such as: Anna Prus, Ewa Sudakiewicz Maria Gładkowska, Sandra Staniszewska-Herbich, Marta Honzatko, Marcel Borowiec, Ireneusz Kozioł, or Tomasz Burka.

Marzena Więcek, film director and screenwriter, and Doman Nowakowski, director and screenwriter (known for the TV series ‘39 i pół’ and others), were both born in the capital of Lubusz Province.