Ostrów Wielkopolski is situated in the southern part of Wielkopolska, one of the largest and the best developed regions of Poland as regards economy. At the moment the town has around 73 thousand inhabitants and this number places it as the fifth agglomeration in Wielkopolska.

Again in 1999 Ostrów Wielkopolski became the capital town of the county of Ostrów. This has established its role as a natural, regional centre for the entire county population of about 160 thousand people. Most of the regional offices and institutions have their seats in Ostrów.

Ostrów is an important economic centre. Numerous firms, companies and banks have their seats in the town. In the latest years the development of new industrial branches has flourished. Predominant economic sectors: trade, electromechanical engineering (production of machines for fodder industry and production of railway wagons), food processing, chemical industry (production of paints and lacquers), wood industry.

Economic development and entrepreneurial support are the priorities of the authorities of Ostrów Wielkopolski. It is evident in the good climate for investments in which entrepreneurs that generate new jobs are tax relieved and in a base of investment sites that is being prepared.

The town offers a variety of educational services. Besides primary and lower secondary schools there is a well developed network of vocational and general education secondary schools. Also, more and more higher education schools come into being here. At the moment five higher schools are operative in Ostrów.

Cultural events that take place here attract many visitors. The International Festival "Chopin in the Colours of Autumn" is our musical showcase. For many years the opening concert of the Festival has taken place in the hall of the “Komeda” Culture Centre. The name of the Centre commemorates the famous composer and musician Krzysztof Komeda-Trzciński, who lived in Ostrów and took his secondary school final examinations here. World famous jazzmen play at the "Jazz at the Museum" concert. The „Everything is poetry” festival has a tradition of more than ten years (the singing poetry band “Stare Dobre Małżeństwo” comes from Ostrów). The town is known for famous artists in other musical branches too. Three of the “BIG CYC” band members and the “Dżem” singer Maciej Balcar are from here. As it is fit for a choir town , choir concert cycles and choir contests take place in Ostrów. Amongst others there are teachers choirs' contests and the, so called, "wandering concerts” – International Friends Chorus Meetings.

Our town has one of the most active fine arts environment. The leading event is the International Small Graphics and Ex Libris Biennial ( hundreds of artists from tens of countries participate in every contest). National artists compete in the “Egeria” Salon and local ones present their works in the “What we are” exhibition. Ostrów citizens gladly participate in all town events. Some of them gather thousands of people – summer parties organized in the Town Park, family meetings at the Christmast Tree “Let there be light above” organized by the “Ostrów Inhabitants for Children Under Special Care” Association, and the annual Summer Family Party at the Michałków airfield in May.

Contemporary Ostrów Wielkopolski is known of its variety and number of sports clubs. The oldest sports organizations are: the ”Venetia” School Sports Club established in 1908 and the “Ostrovia” Sports Club founded on the 27th May 1909. In 1933 the “Ostrovia” Sports Club counted 135 members. In the beginning Ostrów inhabitants were passionate about football. Then other sports sections were organized: boxing, tennis, table tennis, swimming, grass hockey, athletics, women’s and men’s basketball, cycling and speedway.

The biggest success in recent years was achieved by the Ostrów “Stal” basketball team (men), which has since 1998 competed in the Polish Basketball League. The “Ostrovia” basketball team (women) followed their traces and in 2003 got promoted to the Polish Women Basketball League. For many years Ostrów handball teams have sustained a high level of performance. Ostrów athletes from the “Stal Ostrów” Sports Club also have big achievements. Air sports’ fans can feel satisfied too. The Ostrów Aeroclub runs a training in 6 sections: aircrafts, gliding, parachuting, paragliding, model aircrafts and amateurs constructors. On every sunny weekend parachuters can be watched at the Ostrów Aeroclub’s airfield in Michałków (jumps from 4000 meters). There is a possibility of taking scenic flights over the town which are organized by the Aeroclub. The “Hufner” and “Oxer” horse-riding clubs attract more and more interest. They don’t only have very good results in youth training but also organize national competitions. The Ostrów speedway has a long tradition and is very popular. Our town is famous for organizing one of the oldest speedway events in Poland – “The Individual Speedway Tournament for the Trophy Bearing the Coat of Arms of the Town of Ostrów Wielkopolski”.

Cycling has become a very popular form of spending free time. Attractive cycling paths and picturesque countryside encourage people to ride their bikes. One of the bicycle paths leads from Ostrów to the hunting palace of Duke Radziwill's family which is only several scores of kilometers away.

In the northern part of the town lies the “Piaski-Szczygliczka” Leisure Complex, with water recreation facilities, a sand beach, a sports equipment rental, a camping site and the Marta and Edward Pawlak Apiarian Skansen Museum. A narrow – gauge railway is a big attraction in the town. It was constructed in the half of the 1970s and it operates in summer. Nearby lies the Scouts Centre which is a summer base for many groups of youth from all the country. A horse stud is situated in the neighborhood.

Ostrów with its constantly developing hotel base is a convenient location for trips into interesting surroundings areas. Besides an attractive route to Antonin we recommend a tour to the classicistic palace), where the Museum of Interiors can be visited.