Metropolitalność a metropolizacja Krakowa

Metropolitality and metropolisation of Cracow

Summary: A notion metropolis and that of metropolisation have changed considerably in the drift of history. Formerly they were related to the state possessing colonial territories, next to the "city-mother" and to the Catholic Church province. Such the province was Cracow diocese in the eve of Christianity in Poland, because this unit was one of the greatest in Europe to 18th c., although an official erigation of Cracow Metropolis was realized in 1925.The metropolitality of the given city depends not only on its size (population number), but rather on its exogenic functions. Such the functions of Cracow are as follows: - the political and administrative function, that of the capital of Poland in the past, and that of the centre of the voivodeship, poviat (district) and other administrative systems, the Church included (the metropolis centre and that of diocese), - the spiritual function - the city is the symbol of the national identity and that of the religion (stressed by the worship of saints) and has a peculiar "genius loci" - the cultural function - in Cracow there are numerous cultural institutions (some of them of universal significance) and a great number of historic objects, the sacral included. It is important to know, that the Cracow historic core, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Nazi concentration camp in Oświęcim, the calvary at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and some wooden old churches were put on the UNESCO World Heritage List, - the educational-scientific function - Cracow has one of the oldest European universities and over 10 schools of the academic level (i.e. the Papal Theological Academy, seminars and institutions spreading religious ideas); there are also numerous scientific institutes,- the tourist function, because of the worship places, among them one of the most important is the Sanctuary of God's Mercy. The metropolitan character of Cracow is also stressed by its function as a transport-logistic node and by its economic-financial function, although they need to be strenghtened in the globalisation perspective. But the economic growth should not menace the city character, which spiritual dimension was shaped for ages.

Izmaiłow B. (red), 2004, Przyroda - człowiek - Bóg, IGiGP UJ, Kraków, ss. 376, s. 219-230.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

ISBN 83-88424-35-1

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