Strzyżów

Strzyżów

Strzyżów Palace

Coat of arms
Strzyżów
Coordinates: 49°53′N 21°47′E / 49.883°N 21.783°ECoordinates: 49°53′N 21°47′E / 49.883°N 21.783°E
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Subcarpathian
County Strzyżów County
Gmina Gmina Strzyżów
Established 9th century
Town rights 1373
Government
 • Mayor Marek Śliwiński
Area
 • Total 13.93 km2 (5.38 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 • Total 8,703
 • Density 620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 38-100
Area code(s) +48 17
Car plates RSR
Website http://www.strzyzow.pl

Strzyżów [ˈstʂɨʐuf] is a town in Strzyżów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland with 8,709 inhabitants (02.06.2009).[1] Strzyżów is one of the towns within the Strzyżowsko-Dynowskie Foothill, located 160 kilometres (99 miles) south-east of Kraków. Its building arrangement extends in the river of Wisłok valley, chained together with a low, barely wooded hills. The old section of the town occupies small rise, crossed by a road leading from the towns of Krosno and Jasło to the town of Rzeszów. New districts reach mild, picturesque slopes and terrains situated on the left hand side of the river. The panorama of Strzyżów may be viewed from the north-eastern part, from the hills line going down towards the village of Żarnowa.

A church and a belfry tower, compact arrangement of the marketplace, some part of the river of Wisłok, railway tracks, a park and terrace based detached house estates may be seen from quite a long distance. Old, partly historic architecture of the town centre has not been dominated by modern buildings, hence the urban organization of Strzyżów remains clear, and its provincial nature is characterized by harmony and peculiar beauty.

Low level threat to the natural environment has let preserve numerous, valuable plant communities and rich fauna here. The areas of the greatest scenery and ecology values are law protected. Net of such areas is formed of: Czarnorzecko-Strzyżowski Landscape Park, Strzyżowsko-Sędziszowski Protected Landscape Area. Large cluster of well preserved forests and diverse geomorphologial structure provide opportunities for tourism. Numerous sports and recreation facilities such as stadium, sports halls, tennis court, sports rifle-range, swimming pool, ski lift, ski jump, railway tunnel built by the Germans, set of educational- recreational paths (inclusive of fitness trail and nature-educational path) and numerous historic items serve that purpose.

History

Legendary history of Strzyżów dates back to 9th century, the times of Wiślanie (tribe) when a pagan Wiślicki prince is said to have built a watchtower by Stobnica and Wisłok River called Strzeżno, for the defence of eastern borders of his land. In 1279 in Buda (Hungary) Pope’s legate, bishop Philip confirmed the abbot’s right to take a special tax (a tithe) from Czudec and Strzyżów. Strzyżów obtained city rights between 1373 and 1397. The town was surrounded by a soil defence embankment ( Zawale street still exists and it relates to that embankment). These were the times of town splendour and its development, craft, farming and trade contracts with other towns in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. Since 1373 Strzyżów has come into hands of a knight Wojtko Pakosz and his sons Jan and Mikołaj. With time the town changed its owners. On 15 August 1769 the Bar Confederats made an oath in front of the painting of Immaculate Mary in Strzyżów, in the presence of Kazimierz Pułaski and Franciszek Trzecielski. After this event, that image appeared on the Confedersats’ Banner. Throughout its history Strzyżów suffered from as many as nine fires, the last one in 1895 caused the beginning of brick town. In 1796 the foundation of secular school strengthened town development as well as royal permission for organisation of four fairs a year. In 1880 Strzyżów was inhabited mostly by Polish people but there were also some minorities such as Jews and Germans. 1960s and 1970s gave beginning to industrialisation of town when many factories, companies, schools and culture centres were found.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Strzyżów is twinned with:

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ "Population. Size and structure by territorial division". © 1995-2009 Central Statistical Office 00-925 Warsaw, Al. Niepodległości 208. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2009-06-22.