Silesia (,
also , ) is a
historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within
Poland, with small parts in the
Czech Republic and
Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split into two main subregions,
Lower Silesia in the west and
Upper Silesia in the east. Silesia has a diverse culture, including
architecture,
costumes,
cuisine
A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
, traditions, and the
Silesian language
Silesian
* Polish: ''etnolekt śląski'', ''język śląski'', ''gwara śląska'', ''śląszczyzna''
* german: link=no, Schlonsakisch, Wasserpolnisch or Upper Silesian is a West Slavic ethnolect of either the Lechitic group or the Czechâ ...
(minority in Upper Silesia).
Silesia is along the
Oder
The Oder ( , ; Czech, Lower Sorbian and ; ) is a river in Central Europe. It is Poland's second-longest river in total length and third-longest within its borders after the Vistula and Warta. The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows thr ...
River, with the
Sudeten Mountains
The Sudetes ( ; pl, Sudety; german: Sudeten; cs, Krkonošsko-jesenická subprovincie), commonly known as the Sudeten Mountains, is a geomorphological subprovince in Central Europe, shared by Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. They consis ...
extending across the southern border. The region contains many historical landmarks and
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. The largest city and Lower Silesia's capital is
Wrocław; the historic capital of Upper Silesia is
Opole
Opole (; german: Oppeln ; szl, Ôpole) ;
* Silesian:
** Silesian PLS alphabet: ''Ôpole''
** Steuer's Silesian alphabet: ''Uopole''
* Silesian German: ''Uppeln''
* Czech: ''OpolÃ''
* Latin: ''Oppelia'', ''Oppolia'', ''Opulia'' is a city loc ...
. The biggest metropolitan area is the