Częstochowa

2017-05-03 00:45:25

About Częstochowa

Considered Poland's spiritual heartland, Częstochowa is located in the southern region of the country and is home to the large baroque Jasna Góra Monastery. This monastery is the most famous Polish shrine to the Virgin Mary and attracts millions of pilgrims each year.

A statue of Pope John Paul II is also present in Częstochowa, who is a Polish native who prayed before the Black Madonna icon during his tenure on numerous occasions. Other attractions in the city include its old townhouses, such as Kohn's House and Zapalkiewicz's House, as well as the urban city center, which contains the Avenues of the Holy Virgin Mary (Polish: Aleje Najświętszej Maryi Panny).

 

The Twinning

When signed in the city of Bethlehem in 2004 between the Mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Nasser and the Mayor of Częstochowa, Tadeusz Wrona, both parties accepted their common aims of partnership and cooperation, which were to maintain constant contacts between their cities, exchange experience between their communities and contribute to a better understanding of each other. In particular, Bethlehem and Częstochowa agreed to cooperate within the areas of pilgrimage tourism, local economy, student exchange and cultural presentation.

Since the agreement, both cities have been in contact to realize projects beneficial for their respective citizens, including Częstochowa hosting students from the Bethlehem Academy of Music.

In January 2014, a delegation from Bethlehem Municipality headed by the deputy Mayor of Bethlehem, Eng. Issam Juha, visited Częstochowa and other Polish cities. 

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