The Land of the Upper Oder (Odra) River is a picturesque area of agricultural lands, forests and waters, located in Poland in the south-western part of the Province of Silesia, on the border with the Czech Republic and the Province of Opole. The Land includes the following poviats (districts): Rybnicki, Raciborski, Wodzisławski and towns with poviat rights: Rybnik, Żory and Jastrzębie Zdrój. In this area, the Oder and its tributaries --Olza, Szotkówka, Psina, Ruda and Bierawka-- which on the map resemble a hand’s network of veins-- mark its territorial boundaries and comprise its individual components.

From the geographical point of view, it is a catchment area of the Upper Oder River with the Kędzierzyn-Koźle Basin, Rybnik Plateau and Głubczyce Plateau. The Upper Oder springs start from the springs at Fidluv Kopec in the Oderské vrchy in the Czech Republic, and reach Kedzierzyn-Koźle (with further sections of the Central and Lower Oder).

From the historical point of view, the Land covers an area of the former Duchy of Racibórz and the State Countries of Rybnik and Wodzisław, which were separated from the Duchy in the later period.

Nature

Nearly one-third of the Land of the Upper Oder River is covered by forests, hence --not without reason-- it is called the ‘green lungs of Silesia’. A significant part of the area includes the Landscape Park named ‘Cistercian Compositions of Rudy Wielkie’ and the adjacent green buffer zone, while beyond it one can also find nature reserves and the habitat protection area Natura 2000 --the Border Meanders of the Oder river. Here, bird lovers may enjoy a real paradise in the form of the Łężczok Nature Reserve and the Wielikąt Landscape-Nature Protected Complex. Almost 60% of all bird species dwelling in Poland are found in these areas. Another extremely attractive place is the Arboretum of the Moravian Gate in Racibórz (educational path, mini-ZOO) with its latest attraction called Enchanted Garden. The garden can be admired from above thanks to one of the five towers belonging the Silesianka Trail of Towers and Lookout Platforms. From similar lookout towers in Pogrzebień and Grabówka one can enjoy the views of the picturesque areas of the Land of the Upper Oder River and the magnitude of ponds lying in it.

It needs to be highlighted here that the nature of the Land of the Upper Oder River is not merely its natural areas, but also man-made park complexes, such as the vast park in the vicinity of the former monastery in Rudy or the scenic Spa Park in Jastrzębie-Zdrój.

Heritage

The Land of the Upper Oder River epitomises almost the entire history of the Upper Silesia and its cultural heritage. There is a medieval town of Racibórz, once a prominent emblem of the ducal authority; it is a heritage of the Cistercians residing in the abbey in Rudy; it is a tradition of old crafts that are already vanishing. It has numerous palaces (e.g. Wodzisław Śląski, Wojnowice, Krzyżanowice, Krowiarki, Chałupki or the ruin in Tworków) and finally, it is also a part of the industrial heritage of the Upper Silesia. Thus, one is encouraged to admire the former hard coal mine 'Ignacy' in Rybnik and the exhibition of operational mining machinery and equipment in Wodzisław Śląski, workers' settlements and housing estates with characteristic Silesian houses (familoki in Silesian) or finally the open-air museum of --once popular in Silesia-- the narrow-gauge railroad in Rudy.

The Land of the Upper Oder River can also boast of its rich religious heritage, e.g. sanctuaries in Rudy, Pszów and Turza Śląska, to name just a few. The Land is also associated with the work and death of Laura Meozzi, whose beatification process is underway. There are also wooden sacral buildings of the Wooden Architecture Route of the Śląskie Province; among others, churches in Rybnik-Wielopole, Rybnik-Ligocka Kuźnia, Łaziska, Jankowice, Gołkowice or Pietrowice Wielkie, not to mention wooden chapels (e.g. in Bukowo or Lubomia).

Another prominent feature of the Land of the Upper Oder River is its Silesian dialect (‘godka’ in Silesian) that can be heard in everyday conversations. One can also visit the village of Łubowice --the birthplace of Joseph von Eichendorff, an outstanding poet of the fall of German Romanticism-- a place dear to the heart of many Silesians.

Events

The Land of the Upper Oder River abounds in cultural attractions and periodic events. Some of them embody centuries-old traditions, such as the Horseback Processions on Easter Monday in Pietrowice Wielkie, Sudole or Bieńkowice; or laying on the streets--in the areas around Racibórz on Corpus Christi-- colourful carpets made of dyed sawdust; or the annual torch procession in Żory; and
the Saint Mass on a boat deck on the Rybnicki Reservoir on the last Sunday of June. Although some of the events are only a few or a dozen years old, they have already become a permanent feature of the area's event calendar: the Festival of Independent Films ReFeNe, RYJEK --or Rybnik’s Cabaret Autumn, numerous music festivals (National Art Song Festival, the Pokłady Rocka Rock Festival, Silesian Jazz Meeting) and sports events: running, cycling rallies, sailing regatta, canoeing and unique 'Pływadło' rafting trip on 'virtually anything' --leading from Racibórz to Kędzierzyn.

Staying active

The Land of the Upper Oder River is an ideal place for recreation and active relaxation, especially for families with children. The Land of the Upper Oder River--as its name suggests--offers water-related attractions (sailing, canoeing, fishing and recreation in general). Apart from the mentioned Oder River with its tributaries, the region may be 'promoted' by the following still water areas: the artificial reservoir in Rybnik, the already mentioned pond complexes 'Łężczok' and 'Wielikąt', the so-called ‘Palowickie Lake District’ near Żory and the recreation centres 'Balaton' in Wodzisław Śląski and 'Olza' in Olza. But the Land (KGO in short) is also an ideal place for both short and long bike trips on well-maintained trails, such as the Iron Bicycle Trail and the R4 route, as well as routes along the Meanders of the Oder River, in the Forests around Rudy and the Palowickie Lake District. Finally, it's an excellent destination for trips with the little ones to the theme parks ‘Trzy Wzgórza’ in Wodzisław Śląski, ‘Słoneczna Wyspa’ in Marklowice, ‘RAFA’ in Rydułtowy, the ‘Nad Nacyną’ Theme Park in Rybnik, and the TWINPIGS Western Theme Park in Żory.