Kraków to Dobczyce

- Located on the Wooden Architecture Route of the Małopolskie and Podkarpackie Provinces, Dobczyce fascinates with its landscape. The Beskid Średni and Pogórze Wielickie mountain ranges, the picturesque valleys of the Raba River and the close proximity to Kraków - are these advantages enough for tourism to develop?
- Apart from the town of Dobczyce, the administrative area of the municipality includes 13 villages. Tourists who visit us can choose a holiday destination they like best, ranging from agritourism farms or campsites to recreational and training centers like the MPWiK on the Jałowcowa Mountain.
Apart from the landscape properties, Dobczyce offers other tourist attractions, including picturesque hiking and cycling routes. The ruins of a medieval castle, partly renovated, with the Museum of W. Kowalski and the seat of the Knight Fraternity, constitute another draw. Each year, we inaugurate tourist season with open-air events, including knight fights show for instance. The picnics that culminate with fireworks shows organized during the Dobczyce Festival have been popular for nine years.

Gmina i Miasto Dobczyce/
Town and Municipal Office
ul. Rynek 26, 32-410 Dobczyce
tel. (012) 372-17-00, (012) 271-10-04
fax (012) 271-29-93
www.dobczyce.um.pl, dobczyce@um.pl

- Dobczyce is one of the first municipalities that created an organized area for economic activity - the Industrial Zone. How has it affected the Municipality?
- First of all, the 6 companies that operate in the Zone employ 500 people. Another 400 jobs will be created next year, when Wawel and Lajkonik confectionery factories move here form Kraków. In these circumstances, we need to improve transportation facilities. The car traffic has increased, not only because of the logistic systems of the factories in the Zone but also since the number of tourists visiting Dobczyce has grown. The alternative roads to Zakopane running through Kraków and Mszana as well as the Przemyśl-Tarnów-Chyżne road run across the Municipality. Thus, we are planning to build a beltway connecting Dob-czyce with the Zone and another bridge over the River Raba.
- Do investment opportunities concern only the Industrial Zone?
- We have recently changed the spatial development plan. We have expanded the Industrial Zone area and allowed smaller companies to open their factories outside the Zone. The residential area has also grown. Since the income of the municipality is directly proportional to the income of its residents, we would like people to move to Dobczyce. The residents of our municipality are highly satisfied and appreciate not only the fresh air and beautiful landscape, but also the convenient links with the neighboring towns offered by five private bus lines. We try to enable the residents to settle all the formalities and other necessary things here, so that they do not need to go to the capital of the region. We have a town court here and land register, so contracts can be signed on an instant. There is also a branch of the County Job Center, a notary office, a power unit, gas works and municipal services.
- And what about the communal infrastructure?
- The whole municipal area is supplied with gas and it is almost entirely covered with sewerage and water systems. We have been extending the sewerage system together with the Association of the Upper Raba and Kraków Municipalities. Thanks to the PHARE funds we are modernizing the sewage treatment plant. We are also planning to reclaim a landfill, which is to be closed by the end of August 2004. Moreover, waste selection was introduced in the Municipality a long time ago. It is clearly evident that we meet European standards.
I would like to invite you to visit our picturesquely located municipality.

Interviewer: Anna Zatorska