Monika Ewa Adamska

First public parks of Opole Silesia were established in the 1st half of the 19th century on the grounds of dismantled city fortifications gradually transformed into public green areas. Liquidation of early modern fortifications in Brzeg, the town founded in the 2nd half of 13th century on the left bank of the Oder, started at the beginning of the 19th century. At the initiative of municipal authorities promenades were realized and in the 2nd half of 19th century three parks, which constitute planty park, were founded. Park Nadodrzański, park Chrobrego and park Centralny has a total area of 15 hectares. Planty park of a landscape character surrounds the old town from the north, west and south and its layout reflects partially the former star--shaped fortifications. In the paper individual parks are characterized, their values which make them attractive and individual indicated along with contemporary threats.

In this paper the architectural competition for the seat of the authorities of the Regency of Opole of 1929 is presented, its formula, participants, the jury are indicated on the background of examples of German competitions of the interwar period. Analysis of the competition entries enabled definition of their style inspired by the ideas of interwar modernism and also architectural tradition. The jury declared decisively on the side of modern architecture, guaranteeing the new edifice the required representativeness and monumentalism.

The first public parks in Opole Silesia were established in the 1st half of the 19th c. after the demolition of the city walls and the transformation of these grounds into public green areas. Other public parks were established in the 2nd half of the 19th c. along with the development of the bigger towns in the region, including planning public green areas for inhabitants’ to be able to relax. Parks in Nysa and Prudnik are among those founded in the 19th c., and at the beginning of the 20th c. parks in Brzeg, Kluczbork and Opole were established. Their landscape layouts are characterised by allées, trees and bushes, glades, ponds, and gazebos, pavilions and monuments preserved to a greater or lesser extent. In this paper selected monumental public parks in Opole Silesia are presented with an analysis of their state, historic values, contemporary functions, and the revitalization carried out.