Bielany
Bielany is one of 11 districts in Warsaw, Poland's
capital. It is located in the Northwest part of Warsaw and
its population is approximately 150,000. Bielany is the second
largest populated area of Warsaw and represents 9% of the capital's
population.
Civic links with Bielany were set up in April 1999 and a
declaration confirming the town twinning link was formalised in
November 2001. During that time there have been various civic
visits and cultural and educational links between the two
communities.
Location
The Bielany district is situated on the left bank of the
Vistula River and on the post-glacial upland in the northwest part
of Warsaw. Its central part is located within 14 km distance from
the centre of Warsaw. There are two transportation routes running
through the district: the northern escape route leading to Gdazsk
and Armii Krajowej Avenue connecting the eastern and western parts
of the city.
Bielany today
Bielany is one of Warsaw's most attractive tourist
destinations owing to its woods and parks, such as the Bielany
Kampinos National Park - the second largest national park in
Europe. Over 28% of Bielany is occupied by green spaces.
There are approximately 16 000 businesses operating in
Bielany. Most of them are in retail, manufacturing, engineering,
printing and publishing.
Bielany boasts flourishing scientific centres and schools for
higher education – over 20% of Bielany's residents possess a
university degree.
The district is also very well equipped in sports facilities,
ranging from a school of Higher Education – the Jozef Pilsudski
Academy of Physical Education (AWF), HUTNIK Steel Works Sports
Club, to sports clubs such as the academic Sport Association AWF
and Club Rugby Folk Sport. Every secondary and primary school has
sports facilities.
History
The district name Bielany is probably derived from
white monk's frocks of Cameldolite (a contemplative Catholic order
with strict rules of conduct, was established as a reformed faction
of the Benedictine Order in Italy). The king Wladyslaw IV endowed
the Cameldolites in 1639 with forest-covered land known as Polkowa
Mountain, located near Warsaw. On this area monks built the church
of the Immaculate Mary and poor hermitages formerly used by
individual monks. To the present day the Cameldolite Monastery
Complex is one of the most valuable monuments of Beilany. In 1915
the church and areas of the monks were taken over by the Marian
priests who opened a famous gymnasium in 1928. In September 1939
Polish soldiers of the 30
th Kaniowski Rifles Regiment resisted the German Attack
on Bielany.
For more information please visit:
http://www.bielany.waw.pl/
http://www2.warsawvoice.pl/old/v505/travel.html
Bielany steering group
The Bielany steering group is Ealing's Polish Town Twinning
group. It is jointly led by elected members and leading
members of the long-established local Polish community. The
steering group is chaired by Cllr Michael Elliot and supported by
Cllr Julie Clements-Elliot, Cllr Ranjit Dheer, Cllr Barbara
Yerolemou and Cllr Karazinski.
For more information please contact Valerie Borne, bornev@ealing.gov.uk