Gra Kalwaria is a town on the Vistula River in the Mazovian Voivodship, Poland, about 25 km southeast of Warsaw. It has a population of about 11,000 (1992). It is a holy place for both Catholic Christians and Hasidic Jews. Originally, its name was simply Gra (literally: “Mountain”), changed in 1670 to Nowa Jerozolima (“New Jerusalem”), and in the 18th century to Gra Kalwaria (“Calvary Mountain”). The Yiddish name of the town is ??? (Ger).
Major industries include: food processing (Hortex), sports equipment (Polsport), and chemical industry.
History
The village of Gra existed already in the 13th century. Completely destroyed during a Swedish occupation known as the Deluge, it became in 1666 the property of Stefan Wierzbowski, Bishop of Pozna?, who decided to found a new town on the ruins. His plan was to build a so-called calvary, or religious center dedicated to passion plays and services, which was quite popular in the early modern Poland. He was encouraged by the fact that the local landscape closely resembled that of the Holy Land.
Related Travel Information
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a town in southern Poland with 4,400 inhabitants (as of 1998). Situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodship (since 1999), previously in Bielsko-Biala Voivodship (1975-1998).
It is the best known sanctuary in Poland, after Jasna Gora in Czestochowa. The Mannerist architectural and park landscape complex and pilgrimage park in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska were entered in 1999 onto the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Góra is a town in western Poland with 13,000 inhabitants (2003).
Situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodship (since 1999), formerly in Leszno Voivodship (1975-1998); capital of Góra County (since 1999).
Famous people from Góra
Ludwik Mateusz Dembowski, general
Zielona Góra (pronounced: [?e'l?na,gura], German Grünberg) is a city in western Poland with 118,730 inhabitants (2004), situated in the Lubusz Voivodship (since 1999), previously capital of Zielona Góra Voivodship (1975-1998).
Zielona Góra is one of two places in Poland with wine growing (mainly white wines; there is another wine growing region near the town of Warka in Masovia). The first wineries around Zielona Góra were built in 1314. At Paradyz Abbey near Zielona Góra, monks have been making wine since 1250. The number of wineyards at peak production is estimated at 4,000 in the region, and 2,500 in Zielona
Kamienna Góra is a town in south-western Poland with 23,043 inhabitants (2001).
Situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodship (since 1999), previously in Jelenia Gora Voivodship (1975-1998).
It is located roughly near lattitude 50N, longitude 16E.
Jelenia Góra (German Hirschberg) is a town in south-western Poland. The name means Deer mountain in Polish and German.
Market Square
Jelenia Góra is situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodship (since 1999), previously capital of Jelenia Gora Voivodship (1975-1998).
Population: 93,500 inhabitants (1995)
Area: 108,4 km2
Geographic location: 50°91? N 15°73? E
City rights: 1288
Sports
Vitaral Jelfa Jelenia Góra - women's handball team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League: 3rd place in 2003/2004 season.
Jelenia Gora-Legnica constituency
Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Jelenia Gora-Legnica constituency
Bonda Ryszard, Samoobrona
Kowalska Bronis?awa, SLD-UP
Lipi?ski Adam, PiS
Ma?ka?a Tadeusz, PO
Maraszek Ryszard, SLD-UP
Poni?nik Olgierd, SLD-UP
Rak W?adys?aw, SLD-UP
Samborski Tadeusz, PSL
Szmajdzi?ski Jerzy, SLD-UP
Szustak Halina, LPR
Turkiewicz
