Thank you for taking the time to check out our city guide, Kalisz.com. If you're not yet fully up to speed, Kalisz is a large city in the central-southwestern region of Poland. The city also sits in the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, a giant administrative province (one of 16 Polish provinces). By automobile Kalisz is 143 kilometers or 88 miles southeast from the city of Poznań, 120 kilometers or 74 miles northeast from the city of Wrocław, and 112 kilometers or 69 miles west from the city of Łódź.
Official 2010 Polish census reports list the city of Kalisz as having a total population of just over 106,000 registered residents. Kalisz is quite populated and is currently ranked (as of 2010) within the top 40 largest cities in Poland. The city is also the second largest in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, falling behind the much larger city of Poznań (population 551,000). The population density for Kalisz is average for a Polish city of its size, having 1,500 residents per square kilometer or 4,000 residents per square mile.
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CITY OVERVIEW
When it comes to tourism Kalisz is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. The city is also one of the oldest, thus it has numerous centuries old architectural attractions to offer its visitors. Some of the most noteworthy attractions include the Kalisz Main Market Square, Dorotka Tower, Wojciech Bogusławski Theater, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Trybunalski Palace, Calisia Villa, and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (home to the renowned miraculous Shrine of St. Joseph).
Kalisz has what is referred to as a temperate climate, as does the greater country of Poland. The city's average annual temperature is 7.8 °C or 46 °F. August is usually the warmest month of the year in the city with an average high of 23 °C or 73 °F. Kalisz's coldest months are January and February, with average lows reaching -2 °C or 28 °F. Precipitation in the city is near the national average, with it receiving 517 mm or 20 inches of annual rainfall. The average annual relative humidity for the city is about 81%.
The city of Kalisz is the main economic center for the Kalisko-Ostrowski industrial district (located in the eastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship). Major commercial industries within Kalisz include aviation manufacturing (the production of aircraft engines and aircraft related parts), general textile production (lace, curtains, and clothing), winemaking, and food processing (including ice cream production). These manufacturing operations are located on the city's outskirts away from the scenic historic district.
Recreational and organized sports are extremely popular in Kalisz, with local favorites including football (called soccer in the US), handball, volleyball, basketball, cycling, and martial arts. The city is host to numerous sports teams and clubs, such as SSK Calisia Kalisz (women's volleyball), Calisia Kalisz (football), KKS Włókniarz 1925 Kalisz (football), MKS PWSZ Szczypiorno Kalisz (handball), and the Kalisz Cycling Association. The city is also home to 4 stadiums, 4 indoor arenas, and many other sports facilities.
Kalisz is located within a geographical region known as the Plateau of Kalisz (called Wysoczyzna Kaliska in Polish), all of which resides within the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship (its Polish name is Województwo wielkopolskie). The city rests on the portion of the Plateau of Kalisz that is split by the deep Prosna River valley. With regard to the size of Kalisz it spans exactly 69.42 square kilometers or 26.8 square miles. The average elevation for the city rests at 144 meters or 472 feet above sea level.
Traveling to and from Kalisz by automobile is easy, as three major Polish provincial highways run through the city (highway 442, 450, and 470). The highways and local roads in and around the city are all in great condition. Kalisz also has a newly built bus station and a railway station, both of which service direct travel from all across Poland and greater Europe. Once you're in Kalisz, local travel can be done by car, bus (the city has 25 public municipal bus lines), or by using one of the city's many taxi services.
The education system in Kalisz is well regarded. The city is host to 28 kindergartens, 28 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and 6 high schools. Kalisz also has religious and vocational institutes, as well as academic centers for handicap students. At the higher education level Kalisz is host to local faculty branches of universities based out of the cities of Poznań and Łódź. These college and university facilities offer degrees in fields such as teaching, economics, computer sciences, and technology.
Kalisz is regarded as one of Poland's cultural jewels. Some of the predominant cultural facets of the city include the Wojciech Bogusławski Theater, a regional museum, three cinemas, several art galleries, and an assortment of annual festivals (such as the International Jazz Piano Festival). Christianity has also had a long cultural role within Kalisz, offering visitors a showcase of beautiful churches such as the Church of St. Gotthard, St. Joseph's Church, and the Church of God's Mercy (there are 25 churches in Kalisz).
KALISZ.COM - CITY GUIDE
KALISZ, POLAND
CALISIA PIANO FACTORY
The city of Kalisz is very well known throughout the world for being home to the prestigious Calisia piano brand and fabrication center. The factory and brand itself were created in 1878 by Arnold Fibiger, the son of a Kalisz woodworker and carpenter. Using some of the skills he learned from his father, Arnold began creating grand and upright concert pianos in his local studio. By the mid-1950s the Kalisz based Calisia piano brand would be sought after by some of the world's most skilled and prominent pianists.
Today the Calisia piano brand is still well known, however, by the late-1990s the company fell into severe debt and began to financially spiral downward. Vigorous efforts to save the factory and brand began in early 2000, however, these efforts were unfortunately unsuccessful. By 2007 the company was forced to cease production of its pianos, at which point its Kalisz factory was closed down. In 2010 the Chinese company Vershold purchased the Calisia brand rights and is currently working on ways to revive it.
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