Formed in 1997, the Praděd/Pradziad Euroregion with its headquarter in Prudnik has facilitated economic, cultural and tourist exchanges between the border areas of Poland and the Czech Republic.

The territory became part of the emerging Polish state in the 10th century, and later on, Brzeg, Namysłów, Niemodlin, Opole, Prudnik and Strzelce Opolskie were ducal seat of local lines of the Piast dynasty.

The solution came in late 1999, when Olesno was, after 24 years apart, finally reunited with the Opole Voivodeship to form the new legally defined region.

Towns with particularly high concentrations of German speakers include: Strzelce Opolskie; Dobrodzien; Prudnik; Głogówek; and Gogolin.

[6] As a result, many areas are officially bilingual and the German language and culture play a significant role in education in the region.

With respect to mineral resources, of major importance are deposits of raw materials for building: limestone (Strzelce Opolskie), marl (near Opole), marble, and basalt.

The region also includes the castle in Brzeg, built during the reign of the Piast dynasty—pearl of the Silesian Renaissance, the Franciscan monastery on top of Góra Świętej Anny (Saint Anne Mountain), as well as the medieval old town and defence fortifications in Paczków (referred to as the Polish Carcassonne), all designated Historic Monument of Poland.

Other landmark palaces are located in Moszna, Narok, Żyrowa, castles in Namysłów, Niemodlin, Otmuchów, Prószków, and the preserved medieval Piast Tower in Opole.

The village of Popielów hosts a small cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, where two British soldiers are buried, who as prisoners-of-war were killed by a German guard during forced labour.

[12][13] According to the Central Statistical Office of Poland, Opole Voivodeship is most frequently visited by international tourists from countries located in Europe (94.6%).

The region has four border crossings, and direct rail connections to all important Polish cities, as well as to Frankfurt, Munich, Budapest, Kyiv, and the Baltic ports.

Major cities and towns (population in 1995): This administrative region of the People's Republic of Poland (1950–1975) was created as a result of the partition of Katowice Voivodeship in 1950.