Commune of Gogolin

Location: in the north-east part of the Poviat of Krapkowice, 15 km south of Opole, 175 m above sea level; just at direct exit from the highway A-4 and a voivodeship way No. 409 Strzelce Opolskie - Prudnik. Through Gogolin runs also the railway arterial road Krakow - Wroclaw - Stettin. In the nearest future, the public airfield in Kamień Śląski will be opened.
It borders communes of: Krapkowice, Tarnów Opolski, Strzelce Opolskie and Zdzieszowice.
Administrative composition – town of Gogolin (with administratively included former villages of Strzebniów and Karłubiec) and 9 villages of: Chorula, Dąbrówka, Górażdże, Kamień Śląski, Kamionek, Malnia, Obrowiec, Odrowąż and Zakrzów.
Area: 101 km2
Number of inhabitants: 12 653 inhabitants, whereof 6 494 live in the town. An average density of population amounts 125 persons per 1 km2

It is worth seeing and visiting…

   «•»  Village of Zakrzów
A way from Jasiona will lead us to the nearby Zakrzow which belongs along with the neighboring Dąbrówka to the parish of Jasiona (commune of. Zdzieszowice), while administratively to the commune of Gogolin. For the first time it was mentioned in 1398 r as Zackraw that is to say a place behind krzem (kierz = bush, Zakrz-ów).
A long time it was a knight seat. On a crossing in the village it is proper to turn left and come up to a country- pond, where ruins of a palace from the half of the XVIII century could be found. Until 1945, the farm along with lime kilns were owned by the family Madelung whose tomb is found in a forest behind the village. You can also stop at the XIX-century little chapel of St. Jacek.

   «•»  Village of Dąbrówka
With a poviat- way, we move to the smallest village in the commune of Gogolin - to the nearby Dąbrówka. You can also get there with a way from Strzelce Opolskie or Gogolin. Most likely, it was once not very large place grown with oaks, because a name of that village descends from a word dąbrówka that is to say from small oak wood, oak brushwood. For the first time its existence was noted into 1361 as Dambrowcam.
A curiosity is a fact that through long years that village belonged to the parish of Wysoka under the Mount St. Anna. A patron of the village was always Saint Jan Nepomucen. To his honor, in the 30s of the XX century a little chapel was built which we pass by the left hand, going with a way from Jasiona. Anyway, on the right side, just before a crossing with the voivodeship way Strzelce Opolskie - Prudnik, in a niche little chapel of private estate you can also see a0 figure of that Czech Saint.
At the cross-roads we turn left towards Gogolin. Before a bus stop on the right side of a way the quadrilateral column little chapel of the Swedish type from times of the thirty-year war greets us, with four pictures of saints, including St. Anna With-Two-Others. Just behind the bus stop we turn right and we move with a field- way, leading to Kamionek. We come up at the forest, we leave on the forest- glade our vehicle, because we must pass the further rout on foot with a forest- way. Going with the narrow, steep path we reach the highest rise in the commune of Gogolin, called Zakrzowska Szpica (Picket) in a form of 5-metre stone- tower. It lies at 256 m above sea level. and it is an excellent vantage point onto the whole region, and at good weather conditions even onto Opawskie Mountains.
One of legends tells that the stone- tower remains of a castle, an owner of which was the rich, but very stingy and greedy ruler, leading very debauched lifestyle. One day a feast was hold in the castle. Singing and music sounded around. Just then, a wanderer- beggar passed that way, and perhaps a pilgrim who went to the birthplace of St. Jacek in Kamień Wielki. Tired out of heat of the day, he knocked to the castle gate, asking for a piece of bread and a refuge in for approaching storm. Not enough he received nothing, still one set dogs at him. The embittered beggar cursed the owner and all his fortune. Soon justice was satisfied. The same day, fiery thunderbolt struck straightly into the castle, which at once went to earth. Around, only strewn stones remained and the stone- tower- picket. Nobody was saved.
Some time later, in its vicinity mysterious phantoms began to appear every moment – a „white lady” and a black dog, keeping in its muffle two burning keys of the castle. (Some versions of the legend tell that that was „a black lady”). Local people avoided that place. Every now and again the dog appeared to the hunter Jaroszy in the forest, but when he wanted to kill it, the weapon, although it fired off, did not harm the dog. In turn „a white lady” met at the high noon an inhabitant of Kamień Śląski - Mrs. Juraszek during picking up berries in the forest. The phantom cut out escapes to the terrified woman, asking her for the daily prayer in her intention which she would celebrate on ruins of the damned castle. She promised to the old woman that she would reward her troubles of night expeditions on the Picket. The religious woman very eagerly filled the request of “the white lady”. In spite of the ripe old age she entered every day at midnight onto Zakrzowska Picket and asked God for forgiving harms caused to people by the owner of castle. So it was - the wife of the greedy man was absolved from excommunication. Then as a prize „the white lady” predicted to the old woman the date of her death. This godly and kindly woman accepted that message with great humility. Exactly in one year Mrs. Juraszek felt weak and went to bed. Then, the black dog appeared to her, with an open gaping fire mouth and humming keys. The dog spoke with the human voice and wanted, so that Mrs. Juraszek saved him of excommunication. The old woman was so frightened that she died soon.
And what with the squire turned into the dog? Seemingly he roams still around the forest. According to a legend, once a hundred years he can ask somebody for rescue. Lately, soldiers guarding he airfield in Kamień Śląski saw him, during the martial law. One of the seemingly died of hurt attack, and several others in the nervous shock were transported to a hospital. Until today the Mount Picket is mystified. A legend tells, in the cellars of the sunken castle there is an underground passage toward Dąbrówka which ends at the way from Gogolin to Strzelce Opolskie. Probably robbers engaged by the owner of castle used it when attacking on a road junction, moving that way buyers and disappeared with the trophy in underground cellars leading to the former castle.

   «•»  Village of Kamionek
Bewitched with the mysterious and charming place of the Mount Picket, we return to our vehicle and we go straight c.a. 2 km. Soon we enter the village of Kamionek, for the first time mentioned in 1571 as Kamenekh in a document of the Opolskie prince Jan Dobry, the village tithing to the collegiate church of St. Crux in Opole ( today’s cathedra). Later, in 1845 the name Mały Kamien oder Kamionek was registered. Probably it was created in contrast comparing it to the neighboring village, a lot greater than it – Kamień Wielki. You can also get to Kamionek with a Poviat way, joining Gogolin with Tarnow Opolski. Then, on a crossing you should turn right from the main road and go directly to the village.
Going with the Zakrzowska street, on the second crossing we turn right and we go with the pavement way. We leave the built-up area. Soon we get to the road junctions. Here we turn left and we get to a marble- cross with a little passion. Erstwhile, a wooden cross stood there with an image of crucified Jesus painted on a sheet metal. When wood of the cross rotted, farmers from Kamionek founded the new, marble- cross. From there we move left to the centre of the village. There is a pond with a legendary well in the middle, and near a chapel of Mother of God of Incessant Help from 1937, serving local people as a belfry. It was built on a place of the old, baroque- little chapel to the honor of God’s Mother. Curiosities of that chapel are the following: a picture of God’s Mother of Baker, a baroque- folk wooden sculpture of Saint Jan Nepomucen, a plaster- figure of the Heart of Lord Jesus and – made in the 50s - a feretrum (portable two-side altar) with a picture of St. Jacek on a background of burning Kiev, while at the back with a picture of God’s Mother of Fatima. In 2003 inhabitants of the village changed completely the look of the chapel and the interior decorations.
However, the oldest monument in Kamionek is a little well, being situated on the peninsula in the centre of a pond of the village. Inhabitants through hundred of years drew the drinking water from there. A legend is also connected with the well.
And so, during the incursion of Tartars in the XIII century the population of Kamionek did not want enemies stopping longer in their village. Because of that they covered the well with the great lime stone, and said to Tatars that they drew water from the Odra River far situated from the village. It brought invaders to fury, which sorely revenged on the local population, burning their houses and slaughtering them. When new settlers moved to the village, they did not know about the existence of the old well. Some hot summer it lacked water in a local pond. People had to bring it from Kamień, while for animals from the Odra River. Desperate inhabitants went for advice to Franciscan Fathers on the Mount St. Anna. They advised them to go with imploring procession for water to wonderful, with famous for mercies well and the pilgrimage church of God’s Mother in Ujazd. On that day, when some went on the pilgrimage, the others took away dried up mud from the pond. They asked for help a chimney-sweep passing that way. When he struck for the first time with an axe, a thud was heard. All they began to rummage there. Soon, they found the gigantic lime stone. When they removed it, a timbered well appeared before their eyes with life-giving water. Their joy was great. Thenceforward, every year on 02 July inhabitants of Kamionek go to the thankful pilgrimage to Studzionka near Ujazd.
In the middle of the village at Szkolna Street, in a niche of the wall of a private estate there is a little chapel, once with a figure of God’s Mother, today a cross with a figure of Jesus. You can also admire a building of the old school, rebuilt after it was closed onto The Rest House Saint Barbara. At the way turning from Kamionek and Gogolin to Kamień, on a little square before a forest you can meet picture of St. Joseph, peaked on a wooden pedestal. Earlier, it stood at a field- way to Górażdże. There in 1945 , when Soviet- armies liberated Gogolin and neighboring villages, an inhabitant of Kamionek Joseph Mertas in the bestial manner was murdered by Russians (one gouged him eyes). After the war, due to exploitation of quarries in Górażdże and disforestation, St. Joseph was moved into the present place. The short stone- thankful cross from l970 could be interesting, put in a garden, on a private estate, at Polna Street, near the turn from Gogolińska Street-

   «•»  Village of Kamień Śląski
From the village of Kamionek it is already not far to Kamień Śląski. You can get therewith a forest way- which changes itself, after we leave forest) into charming chestnut avenue along the castle wall , or come back to the Gogolin - Tarnów Opolski way and turn right.. We can also get to the village by train Opole - Strzelce Opolskie. Because a railway station is situated near Otmice (commune of Izbicko), it is necessary to pass c.a. 3 km through a forest, to reach the centre of Kamień Śląski.
There is no doubt that is the oldest locality on the area of the commune of Gogolin. For the first time noted in the Polish Chronicle of Gall Anonym, in relationship to the stay of the prince Bolesław Krzywousty in Kamień in 1104. Kamień was then a property of the powerful and respectable family Odrowąż who descended from the local Silesian knight hood. They housed the prince.
The local name is connected with the form or groundcover of the land. Because of that it descends from kamień (stone), i.e. stony place. Indeed, the basic natural raw material is lime stone. The first official documentary recording originates from 1335 as Camen. However, some premises indicate that the settlement existed already earlier. The XIX century German sources indicate that locality was named Wielki Kamień (Gross-Stein) and Kamień. The oldest inhabitants confirm it, who until today call their own village Kamion, to Kamion. After the World War II, to the name Kamień the adjectival qualification Śląski was added, showing the region, wherein that locality is situated. It was made so, to differentiate apart several localities of the same name.


When we enter the village, we propose to begin sightseeing from palace-park complex, so from the castle – the birthplace of St. Jacek from the family Odrowąż - the patron of that village. Before an entrance gate, on the right side, there is a monument sacred to victims of the World War I and II with names of inhabitants of Kamień and Kamionek killed during both world wars. It was put in 1989 on a place of removed after the war monument, commemorating inhabitants of Kamień killed in the World War I.
On the castle yard it’s difficult to resist the charm of the palace the present, restored block of which proceeds from the XVII and XVIII centuries, times of the rule of the families von Larisch and von Strachwitz. Beginnings of the castle reach the XII century, when it was a property of the family Odrowąż. Just there, St. Jacek (1183-1257) and blessed: Czesław (1175-1240) and Bronisława (1200-1259) were born and spent their own childhood. Since 1361 the castle changed owners: first, it was a property of the knight Thomas from Kamień, afterwards noble family of Nicholas Strzała (since 1591), an owner of Strzelce Opolskie and his heirs: Jan Bessa, Nicholas and Peter von Rokowsky, Wenceslaus von Kaldenborn. In 1660, the noble family von Larisch originating probably from Ireland, bought it. The castle was rebuilt into the palace, a castle chapel of St. Jacek was added with return stairs from outside. Then, the period of splendor for Kamień came. Last owners of Kamień were von Strachwitz, related to Larisch. Since 1808 the count Hiacyntus von Strachwitz and his descendants ruled absolutely until the World War II over Kamień properties, beaming around the region.
In 1944 the palace was changed into a hospital, and in 1945 - he was plundered, while the chapel was burnt up. An orphanage was organized in the saved from conflagration palace. When in the 50s of the last century the nearby, left by the Germans airfield was developed, the orphanage was closed, and the palace was changed into the military building, wherein Soviet army resided. Further devastation of the castle followed which ended the fire in May 1970. Most likely it was burning up, because to the extinction of the object the army did not allow the local voluntary fire brigades. The fire destroyed everything. It seemed that the palace nevermore would get the former splendor. However, it was otherwise. Thanks to the Opolskie archbishop Priest Alphonse Nossol, in 1990 Diocesan Curia in Opole purchased the object along with a park. Thanks to the support of the Foundation of the Polish-German Cooperation and numerous sponsors within 4 years the palace was completely restored. The Information-Scientific Center Of Divinity of the Opolskie University was created in, Recollection center for believers and priests, the conference-training center with rich hotel-gastronomic base . An outbuilding and service buildings were renovated which started to serve as a tourist-hostel base. The former splendor was given to the extensive park surrounding the palace with numerous examples of the old trees. Also the nearby pond was brought into use. Thenceforward
Kamień blooms again, and to the sanctuary of St. Jacek, so as once, go to a pilgrimage people from the whole region (especially to the church fair, taking place on Sunday, 17 August).
It is proper so to look into the palace interior and to stop in the chapel of St. Jacek to which return stairs run. Its present shape refers to the style of the whole palace-park complex. The rococo altar with the statue of St. Jacek, brought from Siestrzychowic near Nysa creates its interior decorations. Saint Jacek keeps in one hand the monstrance, while in the second the statuette of God’s Mother. A legend tells St. Jacek had to escape from Kiev from Tartars. He took Eucharist with him, not to allow insulting it. Then, he heard the mysterious voice: Jacek, the Son you take, and Mother you leave… So, e decided to take the figure of God’s Mother which though made of stone was not at all such heavy. On sides, there were situated sculptured figures of blessed: Czesław (the patron of Wroclaw) and Bronisława (Norbertan sisters from Krakow). All three characters are linked by their origin from the noble, mediaeval family Odrowąż.
In 2001, the Diocesan Curia bought also some grange buildings (coach-house, stable, and barn) and rebuilt them and adapted onto the Tourist Complex - Rest--Rehabilitation Sebastianeum Silesiacum, starting its usage in 2005. A speciality of that modern, multifunction centre with rehabilitation pools is hydrotherapy with a method of priest Sebastian Kneipp, that is to say hydrotherapeutic connected with the wide range of physiotherapy methods. In the nearest future, an arboretum, that is to say the botanical garden will be created. A huge advantage is a conference room and the new chapel of St. Sebastian for patients and tourists, able to contain c.a. 100 persons. A mission of that balneological sanatorium centre is not only body treatment, but also the spirit.
An airfield left by the Germans, neighbors with palace-park complex which could be in future „a window on the world”. Optimistically sounds the fact that a private investor announces its opening, at first for gliders and air taxis, and in the not distant perspective for permanent national and foreign air connections. On the area around the airfield, rich into the xerothermal vegetation, the Polish Society for Nature Protection Salamander and Opolskie Association of Protection of Nature of Stobrawski Landscape Park BIOS wish to reproduce the population of the brindled spermophile which died out after the World War II.
When we leave palace – park complex and we leave its fence, we come upon a monument commemorating nomination in 2000 the village of Kamień Śląski in the European Competition of Renovation of Village. An inscription with the logo of that competition on the wall of one of buildings on the right side informs also about it. When we pass by a renewed pond in the village - once a fire-fighting reservoir , we get to figure of Saint John Nepomucen, raised into 1784 by Balthazar von Larisch, on a basement with the heraldic cartouche of that noble family. That figure is put next to an antique parish church of St. Jacek and blessed Czesław and Bronisława from the 1st half of the XVII century. First mentions about it proceed from 1335. Most likely in times of the thirty-year war wooden little church burnt down. The contemporary owner of Kamień - Nicholas von Rokowsky built the brick- temple in the 1st half of the sixties of the XVII century. Reliable sources indicate that patrons of the church were saints: Urbanus and Jadwiga, immortalized on stained-glass windows in the Kamień’s temple. It was totally reconstructed in 1908-1909. Only the presbytery remained from the old church. Special attention deserve: the baroque- sculpture of St. Barbara from the half of the XVIII century and rococo-one of Saint John Nepomucen. It is proper also to see marble- epitaphs of Louise Hiacynt von Larisch and his wife Sophia, situated on the wall next to the left side- altar. There are heraldic cartouches and portraits of deceased placed on each of them made on metal sheets. The other epitaphs inform about the burial of members of the family von Strachwitz, last owners of Kamień, in the church crypt under the presbytery. The church surrounds the round old wall of lime stone with niches of the Cross-way stations. Attention deserves also the stone- cross on the churchside square, not far from the main gate. It was raised in 1889 by inhabitants of Kamień, to celebrate the golden jubilee of the priesthood of priest Joseph Scholtyssek, an author of the German language Chronicle of Kamień Śląski, extremely respected parish-priest. The commemorative, bilingual thankful plate was attached to the cross which after 1945 inhabitants took off and hid, being afraid of destruction because of German inscription placed on it. Today, you can admire it at church on the left hand; the priest. Rufin Grzesiek fixed it there, so that people to the end of their time could remember the many years- and unusually wise parish-priest.
On the left hand of the temple there is an old parsonage, raised on the place of old-one in 1912. A stable from 1854 is situated opposite, which was repaired and adapted onto church- rooms, bodybuilding gym and environmental club room. The rectangular yard is closed by a barn from 1806. In summer season- you can use free of charge the sport-recreational complex (tennis court, netball &football grounds, straight running path , children’s playground, bandstand…) raised in years 1997-1998 on the ground of the parish orchard, and also from an open-air swimming pool at the local school.
In the center of the village on the Myśliwca Square it is proper to stop at the huge niggerhead blown with the mysterious legend, according to which Devil dragged it up into regions of the hamlet. In reality, it was thanks to powers of nature from before 400 thousand years, whenas the huge continental glacier from Scandinavia dragged that most beautiful specimen to the nearby forest. From there, it was transferred to the village in 1980. For its powerful size it was acknowledged as a monument of inanimate nature. Opposite the stone over the information board there is an inscription reminding that Kamień Śląski conquered also the laurel of the most beautiful Opolskie Village in 2004.
Going with the main road towards Izbicko, we come up at the road junction of St. Jacek and blessed Czesław at the antique little chapel from times „of the Swedish flood”. Most likely, the family Konieczny raised it, to celebrate the memory of a soldier murdered there. From the main road we turn into Wapienna Street. On its beginning we pass by an old, almost one hundred- year- old wayside- cross. Originally it was made of wood. During prayers for harvests on Rogation Days, imploring services to St. Mark for heavy crops were celebrated. It was renewed in 1971. At present, it has a brick- form, and traveler could be struck by an inscription: Jesu of Charity, save my soul. Going still with Wapienna Street, and next with field-ways, we get to an active excavation of lime stone. So-called layers of Karchowicki limestone, cream or yellow-grey, are bailing from that quarry.
From there, we move along the quarry onto the former way to Tarnow Opolski. From afar, an old cemetery is visible - the place of burial of inhabitants of Kamień, deceased due to raging in 1874 cholera epidemic. For safety reasons, it was situated in the great distance from the village.
Returning with the old, Tarnów’s way toward Klasztorna Street we get to the crossing, we turn right into Polna Street, and then left in Ligonia Street. After traveling c.a. 200 m, we turn right. There soon starts a field way which leads us to the old, closed lime kilns situated at the way, leading to Gogolin and Opole. On the way, we pass by a little chapel of the Sacred Heart of Lord Jesus - vote of thankfulness of local farmers for heavy crops. At last, we get to an old closed kiln, called Cigar. Similarly to the other kilns, that one served in the XVIII and XIX centuries for calcining of lime commercially.
Being there, it is proper also to look into the sanctuary Kamień Śląski (formed for scientific aims after the world war II), that is to say the mixed forest stretching on the area of 13, 7 has, between Kamień and Górażdże. Its curiosity is protected sorbus terminalis and two extensive petiole oaks. Also some sorts of the undergrowth are totally protected, such as: lily-of-the-valley, Cephalanthera Alba, sweet woodruff, and English ivy or Neottia nidus-avis.

   «•»  Town of Gogolin
From Kamień Śląski we go to the comparatively young town of Gogolin. You can also get there from Krapkowice or Strzelce Opolskie, from Obrowiec or by train Opole-Gogolin-Kędzierzyn. Historically this is the very old settlement. Archaeological research confirm that beginnings of colonization on that area began already in the Neolithic age (4000 - 1800 before Christ.) and later on had some relationships with the Lusatian culture and the Roman civilization. Written history of Gogolin begins into 1223, whenas for the first time that locality was mentioned as Gogolin in a document of the Wroclavian bishop Wawrzyniec. There exist several hypotheses on of the origin of the name of that locality. One descends it from the personal name Gogola (well-known already in 1136, being descended from of an old Polish and dialectal word gogol, meaning. sort of the mallard), while - according to the local tradition - that name is connected with shrubs of hawthorn which thick grew that area.
Through many centuries Gogolin was a not large settlement, mostly of agricultural character. Because of that, St. Urbanus became its patron. In the latter part of the XIII century Gogolin belonged to the prince endow of the Cistercian cloister in Jemielnica. During the thirty-year war, in 1634 Gogolin and Strzebniów purchased the count’s family Gaszyn which included it to bought earlier Żyrowa’s properties. New owners were recognized as good hosts - they built mills, founded farms, among other the colony of Wygoda and the grange Leopoldowiec at the way to Obrowiec. Both villages were their properties until 1852. Afterwards they passed in turn to hands of count’s families: von Nostitz, von Hatzfeld-Schönstein, and at the beginning of the XX century were the property of the family von Francken-Sierstorpff - owners of the palace in Żyrowa.
At the beginning of the XIX century the economic development of Gogolin began. Two important events decided about it, connected with the industrial revolution in Europe: the exploitation of the local raw material - deposits of lime stone and the construction of two railway lines, in 1845 of the line Wroclaw - Kędzierzyn – Królewska Huta (today Chorzów) and in 1896: Gogolin - Prudnik (in the latter part of the XX century that line became unprofitable and it was closed). Because of that, the center of the town is created at the square of the railway station opposite the railway station with proceeding from those times building of a railway station of red brick. The locality became an important railway junction.
An old locomotive shed reminds about it, being placed on the lefts side of Strzelecka Street, at present restored and designed of the market hall.
Then also followed the quick development of calcareous industry, the first ring lime kilns were built (in 1845 there were 46 of them, and in 1864 - it stayed 29), so-called wopienniki in which lime stone was calcined in the XIX century. On the right side of the Strzelecka Street you could easily see their remains. These type relicts we can meet also at the streets: Krótka, Ligonia, Powstańców Śląskich and Podleśna. Leaving Gogolin towards Górażdże, at Ligonia Street it is also proper to see ruins of a windmill of the Dutch type from the half of the XIX century. In 1899 a local hospital was opened, built by the order of Boromeus sisters which was closed out in the latter part of the 90s of the last century.
Because of the economic development of Gogolin, number of its inhabitants considerably grown up and a spiritual need to build a church appeared. Because of that in years 1899-1901 Catholics raised at Strzelecka- Street the church of Sacred Heart of Lord Jesus. That over hundred year old sacral object was built of red brick in the Neo-Gothic style thanks to the parish-priest of Otmęt, Schöbel and a doctor of Gogolin Brunon Hampel (earlier Gogolin belonged to the parish Otmęt). Only in 1925 an altar was put in - the polyptych made by craftsmen from Nysa in the Neo-Gothic style. The Church bells were taken twice for war- needs. Their sound resounded again in 1958, whenas the priest Stanislaus Schulz bought them for the third time. Our attention deserves also being situated close by the temple the parsonage in the Westphalian style from 1907.
Because builders of lime kilns were mostly German Protestants, in years 1908-1909 a small Protestant church of lime stone was built, also at Strzelecka Street. Today it is an architectural pearl of Gogolin. Simplicity and modesty of the bright interior is characteristic for it in comparison to the catholic temples. An evangelic school was also built nearby, but there are no traces of it. Today, there is a nursery school on its place.
At the turn of the XIX and XX centuries also Jews lived in Gogolin. A kirkut at Wyzwolenia Street proves it, that is to say the Jewish cemetery - symbol of multi- cultural character of the land, established close by the Christian cemetery in the latter part of the XIX century. To get there, you should turn right behind the Protestant church. There are c.a. 100 graves with c.a. 50 macewas, i.e. tombstones with inscriptions in Hebrew and German. The oldest sepulchral monument proceeds from 1852 and the last burial took place in 1932. Going still with the Wyzwolenia Street, we get to the school-house, wherein a regional room is situated rich in exhibits, arranged in accordance with Silesian tradition. It is proper to look also at Kamienna Street and to come up to a chapel-belfry from the end of the XIX century which played the significant role in times, when Karłubiec was a village and did not have a church.
No doubts that the negative influence on the development of calcareous industry in Gogolin and the region had the World War I (1914-1918). Then several year economic stagnation period followed. Also political troubles were the reason, culmination of which was the 3rd Silesian Uprising. The machine of the World War II did not avoid also Gogolin. It absorbed quite a lot of victims both during war- activities on fronts, as and in January 1945, when Soviet- armies entered Gogolin. A stone- board informs about the dramatic events of those times, being found on a wall of a building at Strzelecka Street, commemorating inhabitants (among them two priests: Joseph Bieniossek and Eryk Schewior), who died tragically on 29 January 1945, and also a wooden cross.
Until 1955 the locality belonged to the Poviat of Strzelce, and afterwards to the Poviat of Krapkowice. In 1958, after two villages were included - Strzebniow and Karłubiec, Gogolin became a housing estate, while in 1967 obtained municipal rights. The only in Poland, and perhaps in Europe a monument of Karolinka and Karlik reminds about it - heroes of the Silesian folk song , exposed on 28 May that year which we can admire at the square of the railway station. His creator was the Opolskie artist - sculptor Tadeusz Wencel. That monument has got the symbolic dimension; because of that it is one of elements of the coat of arms of that almost 40-year- town.
In years 1985-1987 of an initiative of the parish-priest of Otmęt Frances Dusza, believers built in the district Karłubiec a church of St. Anna and St. Joachim.
In turn, after the constitutional transformation, in years 1990-2004 Gogolin was a seat of chief authorities of the German minority organization, that is to say the Culture-Civic Society of the German on Opolskie Silesia.
Moving towards Krapkowice our attention is attracted by the restored fire truck from the last century (lent by firemen from Zakrzów), situated before the building of Voluntary Fire Brigades in the neighborhood of the office of Gogolin.
Next to Gogolin, there is one more charming place worth our attention. On wet meadows behind Wygoda, i.e. between Gogolin and Otmęt, in the neighbourhood of the nearby pinery, a chapel of God’s Mother is raised in the open field, with the wonderful water hole in its interior. You can get there from Gogolin with the Bagienna Street. The 200-year-old monument is perfectly visible from the right side of the way Kędzierzyn - Krapkowice, next to the exit to Krapkowice-Otmęt and to the highway A-4. The little chapel, famous for miracles was built by the family von Gaschin in 1801 ., when in years 1634-1852 Gogolin together with Strzebniow belonged the count’s family from Zyrowa. In that time, at the beginning of the XIX century, the Gaschin founded the colony Wygoda and the grange Leopoldowiec which exist until today. Spoken message tells, a daughter of the Gaschin recovered there vision, though doctors gave her no chances for curing. Two versions of the local legend exist.
One proclaims that one day an old woman came to the mansion who said to the mother of the child that she had to go at night onto swamps and to seek the wonderful water hole. Once she finds it, she must take wonderful water and wash the eyes of the child. After weekly search, the countess found a water hole, preceded according to recommendations of the old woman and the miracle happened - her daughter recovered vision. The second version proclaims that some night the wet meadow with the water hole appeared to the countess in a night dream, whence she took water off and washed eyes of her ill little daughter. Day after, when she awoke, she went with the small count’s daughter to the source. When she washed her eyes, the kid recovered vision.
The merciful impact of spring- water experienced also a priest doctor Karol Nawa from Zakrzow. He was born in the first half of the last age as one of 14 children of the impoverished family Nawa. Karolek was smart and good-looking, but blind. Then his grandma went with the small boy to the little chapel of God's Mother to ask for the gift of vision. On the place, praying aloud with the grandson, she gathered water with her hand and washed his eyes. At the certain moment Karolek asked the grandma to release him and not to hold his hand, because he could see everything. In token of gratitude for recovered vision, the boy, when grew up, joined the seminar and in 1940 became a priest. Until today, he faithfully serves to God and to people.
Thinking of tourists, visiting the chapel in days, when it is closed, a well was dug with the strengthened with round beam boarding, so that everyone is able to lade wonderful, spring- water. Around the chapel, on extensive and moist meadows, you can also meet some peculiar flora specimens: latifolious orchid, Carex davalliana, or Liparis loeselii.

   «•»  Village of Obrowiec
From Gogolin it is proper to go to Obrowiec. On the way you can look into a little chapel with a statuette of God’s Mother, built in 1933 on the ground of the private estate at Wygoda to commemorate the killed persons during the World War I.
From there it is already not far to an old, situated by the Odra River village of Obrowiec, placed at the bustling way Krapkowice-Kędzierzyn and at the old trade route from Opole to Koźle. As a result of archaeological research done before and after the war world II some traces of colonization were found, reaching times of the Neolithic age (from ok. 4000 to 1800 years BC.) and Roman influence. The first mention about the village - according to Joseph Szulc, the monographist on Obrowiec - it proceeds from 1352. In the papal document, given in Avignon the pope Clement VI agrees on the material protection in the Wroclavian diocese for Nicholas from Obrowiec („Nicolao de Oberbicz”). Etymology of the name is bound with the legendary nest of bandits on Tempelberg which attacked buyers and robbed goods. Hence, the place was called Obrabowiec (Robbery) and hence today’s name of the village. Later on, it was indicated as Obrowitz (1454), from Obrowcze (1491), aus Obrowem (1506), Oberwitz (1936). Some people take out its origin from the personal name Obr, connected with an old Polish word obrzyn, that is to say giant.
Starting from the XV century, the many-year owner of Obrowiec was the noble family Strzała. Later on, the village ran into hands of families: von Puckler, the count von Gesler and others. Last owners of the castle, burnt in 1945, were the major Justin von Korn and his wife Vera from Raczek home.
Interesting, worth of seeing place is mentioned Tempelberg (established probably by Templars, similarly as castles in Otmęt, Rogów Opolski and Krapkowice), the old castle upon Odra in a form of the mound of the earth, reaching 4 m, surrounded with a wide moat. Most likely, a watch-tower was situated there protecting convenient for buyers passage through Odra on the old trade route, leading from Strzelce Opolskie to Głogówek. Near, there is Ciecieszonka - the boggy and wet place. According to explorers there is the collective grave of c.a. 3000 Swedes, beaten by emperor’s soldiers during the thirty-year (1618-1648) war. However, some people say that it does not concern Swedes, but the part of squads of the Protestant commander Mansfeld who was then in our region.
An interested architectural object in Obrowiec is the Neo-Gothic church of Saint John the Baptist, erected on the field of the family Kaszura only in years 1869-1884. Earlier, believers from Obrowiec attended the parish church in Jasiona. On the Obrowiec parish area we could also find 2 brick- chapels, 4 wayside crosses or small saint pictures, hung in several places on trees or wayside post, commemorating tragic events which took place there in the past.
An interesting place, showing complicated fates of inhabitants of that earth is a cemetery from 1903, placed behind the village above flood field (nonetheless in 1997 it did not avoid the partial flood). There you can stumble across tombstones of deceased before and after the World War II, and among them: on the cast-iron- board with an inscription Russ. (ische) Soldat Michael Dudkin 1889-1918, a grave of three local insurgents killed during 3rd Silesian Uprising, the large tombstone with an inscription: They were killed during the World War II (with names of 5 men who in 1945 were killed by Soviet soldiers). On the cemetery, there also are ashes of the lawyer Adam Kudrisch, a German citizen who died in the concentration camp in Dachau in 1942. There is also a grave of Jozef Dudek (22 year old) which was killed as a soldier of archibalds in 1944 during the air raid of American armies in Saarbrucken

   «•»  Village of Odrowąż
From Obrowiec we move through Krapkowice - Otmęt, along the housing estate Sady, and then through the forest to the very little village of Odrowąż. Its name was mentioned for the first time in 1292 as Odrvesz or in 1845 as Oderwanz.
Leaving the forest, we take the Wiejska Street to the centre of the village. On the way we pass by a private stone- cross commemorating victims of the World War I, and then a column little chapel with rectangular niches in which there are small pictures of saints. It was built in the half of the XIX century. We get to the centre of the village. There is 2-storeyied little chapel of St. Urban (a patron of Odrowąż) from 1841, put on a place of an old, working since 1776, whenas the count Charles Louis von Larisch brought German colonials and founded the colony called Oderwanz, that is to say Odrowąż. A local tradition is the imploring procession for harvests in honor of St. Urbana. Until 1981 that small village belonged to the parish in Otmęt, and nowadays to Malnia. Opposite the little chapel there is a monument, sacred to inhabitants of Odrowąż who were killed during both world wars. Until 1945 in Odrowąż by the Odra River there was a river shipyard, belonging to the family Gabor. Then, life and existence of many inhabitants were connected with the Odra River. Almost in every family they were, so-called łodziorze (boat-men), that is to say owners of boats, transporting coal, cement or cereal to Wroclaw, Berlin, and even to Hamburg. There were also mataczkorze which carried goods even to Stettin on so-called mataczka, that is to say wooden rafts.

   «•»  Village of Malnia
Leaving Odrowąż, we turn right and we go with a trestle bridge over a highway, and then with the way 409 toward Opole. The village of Malnia welcomes us. The original name Malna was noted c.a. 1300. Archaeological research show that colonization existed there already in times of Roman influence. In a bulla of the pope Boniface VIII (1302), the name of the village is noted as Malne tithing to the cloister of Cistercians in Jemielnica. The present name Malnia appeared already in 1679 and is connected with a vegetable cover. It originates from shrubs of raspberry bushes thick growing that ground in the past.
On the not large acclivity a church of Holy Cross Rising stands. It is a complex of two objects situated one on another. The lower church was built in years 1976-1978, thanks to efforts of the parish-priest of Otmęt. Franciszek Dusza. From the highest acclivity lime stone was excavated and in the hollow the church was built. In turn, the upper church is the wooden post-Protestant little church of St. Frances, raised in Kostowie near Kluczbork in years 1801-1804. When after 1965 it was left by the evangelical commune, in 1977 it was took apart, moved to Malnia and again reconstructed. A grotto of God’s Mother of Fatima is situated at the church square and the brick- belfry with three bells. Hard by the church there are two little chapels: first one – of All Saints, and second one - sacred to the blessed father Józef Cebula originating from Malnia (1902-1941), a martyr of the concentration camp in Mauthausen, raised to the altars by our pope of Jean Paul II in 1999 .
Going with Odrzańska Street, we pass a miniature of the church in Malnia, and behind it a monument sacred to inhabitants of Malnia, killed during both world wars. Soon, we reach a chapel of Assumption of Holy Mary Virgin (1902). In its tower, a little bell was placed which once was placed on a wooden column there and announced somebody’s death or called in to Angelus. Near, there is the family home of blessed Jozef Cebula. Leaving the Odrzańska Street, we turn left. On a street crossing of the Opolska and Kamienna Streets a thankful cross stands with a statuette of God’s Mother from 1902. In the forest, close by a way leading to Górażdże we come up at the estate of the family Kubiczka, to a little chapel of God’s Mother of Snow.

   «•»  Village of Chorula
Moving with a way from Otmęt to Opole, we get to the village of Chorula which only from 1973 belongs to the commune of Gogolin. You can get there also with a way from Górażdże. Rich archaeological findings (remains of sediment and a burial-ground of the Lusatian culture) prove that an approximate time of beginning of that settlement dates back to the X century. Officially, the village of such a name was noted in „the Book of allowances of Wroclavian bishops” in 1300 due to tithing. Some sources indicate its first recording from 1306 as Chorulla villa, rooted from an old Polish female name Chorula// Choruła.
In the central point of the village, until 1945 there was a castle (from 1684) with a landscape park, a grange, windmill and a lime kiln. At present there are no traces of it, only the part of a wall surrounding the farm has remained, also the grange and the palace park from the end of the XIX century. In the center of the village you can meet a little chapel- belfry of Holy Trinity. Close by it, a little cemetery from the XVIII/XIX centuries is situated. Among numerous graves, our attention deserves a grave of Konstantyn Joska - the Silesian insurgent from 1921. It is proper to give new strength to our spirit in newly built before over 20 years the church of Holy Trinity (1983-1985), the corner-stone of which was consecrated on 26 June 1983 by the present pope Benedict XVI (the cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - the contemporary prefect of Congregation Fro the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome). A plate informs about it with ceremony placed on the wall of the church in May 2005.

   «•»  Village of Górażdże
From Chorula it is already quite not far to Górażdże. You can get there also with the Poviat way from Gogolin or by train Opole-Kędzierzyn. For the first time a name of that village was noted in 1297 in a form of Gorazde, in 1531 - Gorazdi. Its etymology descends from an old Polish name Gorazd.
A chapel – belfry deserves attention, from the beginning of the XX century. It was a substitute of the church. Believers gathered there to May services or rosary- in October. Today, believers pray in the church of blessed Czesław, erected in years 1984-1989.
We can also admire the battery of lime kilns, that is to say two shaft kilns for lime calcining from 1823. A bead of the village is multi-function, perfectly equipped with multi-media, The Conference Centre Górażdże Cement S.A., being a part the world consortium Heidelberg Cement. Greeting all the people, made of stone a statue of a dinosaur symbolizes not only the old reptile from excavations in Krasiejów (commune of Ozimek), but also the huge, innumerable resources which hides our Opolskie Earth.