Kielce is a city in south-central Poland with 194,852 inhabitants. It has been the capital of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy Cross Province) since 1999 and used to be the capital of its predecessor, Kielce Voivodeship (19191939, 19451998). The city is in the middle of the Swietokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains), on the banks of the Silnica River, in the northern part of the historical Polish province of Lesser Poland.

Kielce has a history back over 900 years, and the exact date that it was founded remains unknown. Kielce was once an important centre of limestone mining and the vicinity is famous for its natural resources like copper, lead and iron, which, over the centuries, were exploited on a large scale. There are several fairs and exhibitions held in Kielce throughout the year. The city and its surroundings are also known for their historic architecture, green spaces and recreational areas like the Swietokrzyski National Park.