Biecz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Biecz

	(Coat of arms)


Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lesser Poland
Municipal government	Rada Miejska Biecza
Mayor	Kazimierz Grzesiak
Area	17,8 km²
Population - city - urban - density	4,648(2004 est.) 261,1/km²
Founded	10th century
City rights	1257
Latitude Longitude	49°44´ N 21°16´ E
Area code	+48 13
Car plates	KGR
Municipal Website

Biecz - town and municipality in south-eastern Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in powiat gorlicki, in the Carpathian Mountains, on the Ropa River.

1 History
2 Monuments
3 Transport, education and economy
4 Famous people

[edit] History

The first settlement appeared in the Neolithic Age. The first mentions of the town are from 11th century, when the town was about 500 meters away from the present location. In the 12th century the town was a castellany. In about 1257 the settlement was granted town rights. In 1363 Biecz received magdeburg rights from Kazimierz III the Great. Biecz was favourite town of Jadwiga of Poland. Since 14th century Biecz was one of the largest cities in Poland. Town already in 15th century had got grinder, scales and water-supply system. In the middle of 15th century in town had about 3000 inhabitants. Beginning in 17th century, the town started losing its importance in Poland by many floods, fires and plagues. In 1721 was the great plague, which killed almost everyone - only 30 inhabitants survived. The 19th century brought a certain change for the better. In 1903 a great fire destroyed over 50 houses. In World War II the town suffered heavy losses in population. One day in 1942 on the market square the Nazis murdered 200 local Jews. After the war much conservation was done.

[edit] Monuments

There is a beautiful Gothic parish church, built in the 14th century. Not far from the church there is the preserved part of the town with a 15th century bell tower and old rectory. In the center of the town is the town hall. The tower was collapsed in 1569 and it was rebuilt in the years 1569-1580. In the eastern part of Biecz there is a Gothic hospital, the first hospital in this part of Poland. Biecz also has a church of Reformed Franciscans, which was built in 17th century.

There were three casltes in Biecz: