The Administrative District of Gorlice, a unit of local self-government, is located in the Malopolska Voidvodship in the south of Poland. The region of Gorlice covers an area of about 1000 km2 and its 10 communes are home to over 110,000 people. The Council of the Administrative District of Gorlice takes care for the administration of the district, the development of infrastructures and the provision of education, health and social services.

Tasks and activities

• Development and implementation of a Learning Quest for pupils on the World Heritage churches of Sekowa and Binarowa (pilot action 4)
• Identification of local and regional stakeholders;
• Development of regional policy implications and recommendations and future scenarios for regional development;
• Dissemination and transfer of project results (including the presentation of project’s findings at Heritage Alive! Roadshow). 

Local / regional Context

From the perspective of tourism, the region has much to offer for eco-, health and cultural tourists. It has many forests (41% of the area) for walking, bicycling or horse riding (e.g. the horse studs in Gładyszów), the spas of Wysowa Zdrój and Wapienne and the beautiful Klimkówka Lake. However, the region particularly has preserved its specific cultural character with the lived traditions and customs of the two local ethnic groups of the Łemkowie and the Pogórzanie

Among the built cultural heritage, due to their UNESCO World Heritage status, the St Michael Archangel Church in Binarowa and the St Philip and Jacob Church in Sękowa are most noteworthy. However, there are also many other unique place and objects such as Biecz with its original medieval town-planning structure or the small chapels and statuettes of the saints by the sides of many roads.

It must also be noted that over the last years the rural areas have seen considerable socio-economic changes as well as changes in lifestyle. In order to preserve the cultural and natural riches of the region, more efforts need to be invested in strengthening the traditional forms of human life and activity, the identification of rural communities with regional products, and the promotion of environmentally friendly products and services.

Contact

Mirosław Wędrychowicz
(President of the Board of ADG)
Daniel Marcowicz (Administrative Coordinator)
Tel.: +48 18 354 87 83
zr@powiat.gorlicki.pl
www.powiat.gorlicki.pl