Stary Sącz

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Stary Sącz

Gate with tower

Coat of arms

Stary Sącz

Coordinates: 49°33′45″N 20°38′11″E / 49.5625, 20.63639

Country

Poland

Government

- Mayor

Marian Adam Cycoń

Area

- Total

16.56 km² (6.4 sq mi)

Elevation

320 m (1,050 ft)

Population (2006)

- Total

8,987

- Density

542.7/km² (1,405.6/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

- Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Postal code

33-340

Car plates

KNS

Website: http://www.stary.sacz.pl

Stary Sącz [ˈstarɨ ˈsɔnt͡ʂ] is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, founded in the 13th century. In 1257 Bolesław the Shy gave his Hungarian wife, Princess Kinga, “the Sądecki district” (Ziemia Sądecka) with its centre in Sącz. Here Kinga founded a Poor Clares convent and the Franciscan order. The year of our Lord, 1279 Kinga renounced her princely power and she moved to “her” convent. In 1292 Princess Kinga died. Sisters of Saint Clare prayed for her beatification. The process lasted almost 300 years. Finally, there was the beatification of Kinga in 1690. After so many years an extremely noble event was in 1999. Pope John Paul II canonized Kinga in Stary Sącz.

The town was hit several times by fires. The worst conflagration took place in 1795 when almost the whole town was burnt. Only one building was not completely destroyed. It was the brick-built house from XVII c. Today, there is a museum.

Stary Sącz is a very historic town. It has a lot of monuments which are priceless. Everyone has to see a Poor Clares convent which has many wonderful things to see. Obviously a marvellous thing is also Market Square. In 2007 the town celebrated the 750th foundation anniversary. In order to commemorate it the town was renovated. Plenty of things were made to make the town more attractive and to protect its uniqueness.