Chęciny

Chęciny is an urban-rural municipality located in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, within the Kielce County, with the town of Chęciny serving as its administrative seat. Between 1975 and 1998, the municipality belonged to the Kielce Voivodeship, and before 1954, the area was known as the Korzecko Commune. The municipality is part of the Kielce Agglomeration and, as of the end of 2022, had a population of 14,651 residents. It is renowned for the European Centre for Geological Education, opened in 2015 as a scientific and research facility of the Faculty of Geology at the University of Warsaw. The total area of the municipality is 127.39 km², of which the town covers 14.13 km², while the remaining area consists of rural lands dominated by agriculture and forests. Historically, Chęciny is known for its castle, which is one of the region's symbols, and the surrounding area features numerous architectural monuments that attract tourists. The municipality comprises several villages, such as Bolmin, Korzecko, and Tokarnia, and borders the municipalities of Małogoszcz, Morawica, Nowiny, Piekoszów, and Sobków. Chęciny maintains partnership relations with Schöneck/Vogtl. in Germany, Yavoriv in Ukraine, and Rønde in Denmark, fostering cultural exchange and cooperation. An interesting aspect of the region is its diversity of ecosystems, rich natural resources, and archaeological heritage, which attract not only scientists but also tourists.