the whole region stood still, not only because of the iron curtain. The following government, that of Edward Gierek, brought fresh wind into the region and economy grew again. Since 1990 the Third Polish Republic was founded. All Polish provinces were restructured again and Opatówek became part of Kalisz County in the restructured province Greater Poland. Today Nowadays there are about 800 private firms in the commune of Opatówek. They deal with production, trade or services. The Bank Spółdzielczy Ziemi Kaliskiej and a branch of the PKO Bank deal with financial service of the inhabitants, institutions and firms. In 1998 the Garden and Agriculture Fair "Pamiętajcie o ogrodach" took place in Opatówek for the first time. The local gardeners and fruit-growers, as well as exhibitors from all over the country and abroad participate in it every year. In 2001 the seventh Country-wide Youth Games for Summer Sports "Wielkopolska 2001" was inaugurated at the artificial lake in Szałe. The commune Opatówek was the host of the rowing and mountain cycling competition. The following Games for Water sports took place in summer 2004. The lake can be visited on board of the tourist ship Opatówek. The commune is represented every year by the football team "Sparta" at the regional competition. In 2006 a modern sports hall has been built where the national and international volleyball matches were held. Since 1 January 2017 Opatówek gain back their municipal rights. Cultural offerings Museum The Museum of the History of Industry features a collection showing the development of industry in the Kalisz region since the beginning of the 19th century. It also contains the biggest collection of pianos and fortepianos produced on the Polish territory of Poland (in the historic building of former cloth factory). The museum was put down on the International Committee for Preservation of Industrial Heritage list. Concerts, conferences and different events (among others, the yearly musical event "Opatówecki Salon Muzyczny") take place here. Monuments A little bridge in the park, which is the oldest existing bridge made of cast iron in the former Kingdom of Poland Former Adolf Gottlieb Fiedler cloth mill factory built in the style of classicism (1824), today Industry History Museum of Opatowek There are some monuments from the General Zajączek's times, among them the so-called "cake shop", the palace annexe, and the farm workers’ houses. Churches There are 4 parish churches in the commune. The oldest one