Sandomierz

Infobox Settlement
name = Sandomierz

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Town Hall

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image_shield = POL Sandomierz COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Świętokrzyskie
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sandomierz County
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Sandomierz (urban gmina)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jerzy Borowski
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = before 1227
elevation_m = 200
area_total_km2 = 28.8
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 25088
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 50
latm = 41
lats =
latNS = N
longd = 21
longm = 45
longs =
longEW = E
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 27-600
area_code = +48 15
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = TSA
website = http://www.sandomierz.pl Sandomierz Audio-IPA-pl|pl-Sandomierz.ogg|s|a|n|'|d|o|m|j|e|sz ( _de. Sandomir; _la. Sandomiria) is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants (2006).

Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is the capital of Sandomierz County (since 1999).

Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction.

History

Sandomierz is one of the oldest and historically most significant cities in Poland.Archeological finds around the city indicate that humans inhabited the area since neolithic times.The city came into existence in the early Middle Ages, taking advantage of an excellent location at the junctionof Vistula and San rivers, and on the path of important trade routes.The first known historical mention of the city comes from the early 12th century, when the chronicler
Gallus Anonymus ranked it together with Kraków and Wrocław as one of the main cities ofPoland. In the testament of Bolesław Krzywousty, in which he divided Poland among his sons, Sandomierz was designated as a capital of one of the resulting principalities.

In the course of the 13th century the city suffered grievous damage during raids by Mongols in 1241, 1259 and 1287. The old wooden buildings of the town were completely destroyed. As a result, in 1286 the city was effectively refounded by Leszek Czarny, under Magdeburg Law. The founding document is still preserved in the city archives.

After Polish lands were reunified in the 14th century, the former principality became the Sandomierz Voivodeship, incorporating large areas of southeastern Poland. At this time Sandomierz had about 3000 inhabitants and was one of the larger Polish cities. In the middle of the 14th century the city was burned again during a raid by the
Lithuanians. It was rebuilt during the rule of king Casimir III of Poland. The layout of the city has survived practically unchanged since that time until the present day.

The following three hundred years, running until the middle of the 17th century, were quite prosperous for the city. The most important historical buildings were built during this period. This golden age came to an end in 1655 when Swedish forces captured the city in the course of the Deluge. After briefly holding out in the city, the withdrawing Swedes blew up the castle and caused heavy damage to other buildings. In the next 100 years the economy of Poland suffered a decline, which also affected the city. A great fire in 1757 and the First Partition of Poland in 1772, which placed Sandomierz in Austria, further reduced its status. As a result Sandomierz lost its role as an administrative capital.

In 1809 the city was damaged during fighting between the forces of Austria and the Duchy of Warsaw during the Napoleonic Wars.After 1815 it found itself in the Russian Empire (Congress Poland). At this point it had just 2640 inhabitants.

The city again suffered damage during World War I. In 1918 it again became part of independent Poland. In September 1939, following the German invasion of Poland, the city was occupied by Germany and made part of the General Government. The Jewish population of the city, consisting of about 2,500 people, perished during the Holocaust, mostly in the death camps of Bełżec and Treblinka. The city was captured by the Soviet army in August, 1944.

No major industrial development took place in Sandomierz, thus preserving it as a charming, small city full of historical monuments among unspoiled landscape.

Tourist attractions

Principal tourist attraction in Sandomierz:
*Church of Holy Spirit
*Church of St. Jacob
*Church of St. Joseph
*Church of St. Michael
*Church of St. Paul
*Collegium Gostomianum
*Jan Długosz House
*Kamienica Oleśnickich
*Pepper Mountains nature reserve
*Opatowska Gate
*Sandomierz Castle
*Sandomierz Cathedral
*Sandomierz Market Square
*Sandomierz Palace / Palace of Bishops in Sandomierz
*Sandomierz Synagogue
*Sandomierz Town Hall

Education

* Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczno-Przyrodnicza Studium Generale Sandomiriense
* Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Sandomierzu
* 1 Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace Collegium Gostomianum

External links

* [http://www.sandomierz.pl/index.php/en/ Sandomierz city council]
* [http://www.isandomierz.pl/ Sandomierz Forum - City life]
* collegium gostomianum [http://lo1.sandomierz.pl/main.php]
* Secondary School in Sandomierz no 2 [http://www.2lo.sandomierz.pl]