Ostrowiec County

Ostrowiec County, located in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, was established in 1999. Its capital is the city of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, and the county includes urban, urban-rural, and rural municipalities, such as Ćmielów, Kunów, Bałtów, Bodzechów, and Waśniów. By the end of 2019, the population was 108,964, which decreased to 108,436 by 2020. The county borders three other counties within the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship and one in the Masovian Voivodeship. The region boasts a wealth of historical monuments, including the ruins of the Szydłowiecki Castle in Ćmielów and the classicist Drucki-Lubecki Palace in Bałtów. Among its religious sites, the Baroque Church of St. Nicholas in Szewna and the Collegiate Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski stand out. The county is also rich in tourist attractions, such as the Neolithic striped flint mine in Krzemionki and the Bałtów Jurassic Park, famous for its unique dinosaur exhibits and diverse family-friendly activities. Other notable sites include a Gothic chapel dating back to 1430 and industrial heritage monuments like the ruins of a 19th-century rolling mill in Nietulisko Duże and a Dutch-style windmill in Szwarszowice. This region offers not only fascinating places to explore but also a rich historical context that spans centuries, blending elements of culture, architecture, and history.