Wadowice County

Wadowice County is an administrative district in Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. The region comprises ten municipalities and contains several larger towns, with Wadowice serving as the county seat alongside Andrychów and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.

Wadowice has medieval roots and formed part of the Kraków diocese established in 1000. The county took its present form following administrative reforms in 1999.

Wadowice, the county seat, holds worldwide recognition as the birthplace of Karol Wojtyła, who became Pope John Paul II in 1978. This connection deeply shapes the local character and draws visitors from around the globe.

The district adjoins six other administrative regions, including Kraków County to the east and Oświęcim County to the northwest, facilitating access to major transportation routes. Proximity to Kraków and other regional centers makes exploring the area straightforward.

Local governance operates through a system of ten gminas, with three urban-rural municipalities centered on Wadowice, Andrychów, and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. This arrangement allows decentralized administration while linking key regional hubs.

Location: Lesser Poland Voivodeship

Capital city: Wadowice

Shares border with: Oświęcim County, Chrzanów County, Kraków County, Myślenice County, Sucha County, Powiat żywiecki, Bielsko County

Website: http://starostwo.wadowice.pl

GPS coordinates: 49.88333,19.50000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:47