Bełchatów

Bełchatów is a city in Bełchatów County in Łódź Voivodeship, Poland, located about 50 kilometers south of the regional capital. The settlement includes residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and several green spaces distributed throughout the urban zone.

The settlement received city rights in 1743, lost them in 1870 during Russian partition rule, and regained municipal status in 1925. Growth into the present industrial center began in the 1970s with the construction of large energy facilities nearby.

The Regional Museum occupies a baroque manor and collects everyday objects from several centuries of local history. The exhibits show tools, textiles, and household items that offer insight into earlier ways of life.

Several public parks and recreation facilities with swimming pools and sports grounds are spread across the urban area and generally open without advance booking. Walkways and cycle paths connect the main residential zones with the center and green areas.

The nearby Elektrownia Bełchatów power plant produces about one fifth of Poland's total electricity and is considered the largest thermal power station in Europe. The open-pit mine and power facilities shape the landscape around the city and are visible from a distance.