Kielce

Kielce
From top, left to right: Market Square Kielce Cathedral Bishops' Palace Galeria Korona Jan Kochanowski University
Flag Coat of arms
Kielce
Coordinates: 50°52′27″N 20°38′00″E / 50.87417°N 20.63333°E / 50.87417; 20.63333
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Świętokrzyskie
County	city county
Established	11th century
Town rights	before 1259
Government
• Mayor	Agata Wojda (PO)
Area
• Total	109.65 km2 (42.34 sq mi)
Highest elevation	408 m (1,339 ft)
Lowest elevation	260 m (850 ft)
Population  (31 December 2021)
• Total	192,468 (18th)[1]
• Density	1,780/km2 (4,600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	25-001 to 25-900
Area code	+48 41
ISO 3166 code	PL-KI
Car plates	TK
Highways
Website	http://www.kielce.eu

Kielce (Polish: [ˈkʲɛlt͡sɛ] ^ⓘ; Yiddish: קעלץ, romanized: Keltz) is a city in southern Poland and the capital of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. In 2021, it had 192,468 inhabitants.^[1] The city is in the middle of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains), on the banks of the Silnica River, in the northern part of the historical Polish province of Lesser Poland.

Kielce has a history back over 900 years, and the exact date that it was founded remains unknown.^[2] Kielce was once an important centre of limestone mining, and the vicinity is famous for its natural resources like copper, lead, uranium, and iron, which, over the centuries, were exploited on a large scale.

There are several fairs and exhibitions held in Kielce throughout the year. One of the city's most famous food products is Kielecki Mayonnaise, a type of mayonnaise.^[3]

The city and its surroundings are also known for their historic architecture, green spaces, and recreational areas like the Świętokrzyski National Park.^[4] In sports, the city is known as the home of the top-tier handball club, multiple Polish Champion, and one-time EHF Champions League winner Vive Kielce.