Sucha Beskidzka

Sucha Beskidzka
Panoramic view
Castle
Wooden inn
Wooden villa
Parish church
Market Square Fountain
Court
Flag of Sucha Beskidzka
Flag
Coat of arms of Sucha Beskidzka
Coat of arms
Country Poland
VoivodeshipLesser Poland
CountySucha
Founded1405
Town rights1896
Government
 • MayorStanisław Lichosyt
Area
 • Total27.46 km2 (10.60 sq mi)
Population
 • Total9,726
Website(http://www.sucha-beskidzka.pl)

Sucha Beskidzka is a town in southern Poland on the Skawa river. It is the main town of Sucha County. It is located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Before 1961, the town was simply named Sucha. The word "Beskidzka" was added because the town is located in the Beskids mountain range.

Location

The town sits in a valley between the hills of the Beskids. It covers about 27 square kilometers, and almost half of that land is covered by forests. Sucha Beskidzka is an important place for trains. It has a large railway station built in the 1880s that connects major cities like Kraków and Zakopane.

History

The settlement began in 1405. For many centuries, it was a private village owned by powerful noble families. In the 1500s, an Italian man named Kasper Suski began building the town's famous castle. Over time, the village became a center for trade and early industry, including glass making and iron works. In 1772, the area became part of the Austrian Empire. The town grew quickly after the railway was built, and it officially received its town rights in 1896.

During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied the town. Many Polish people were forced out of their homes. The town had a Jewish population of about 500 people. During the Holocaust, these people were forced into a ghetto or used as slave labor before being sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. After the war, the town was rebuilt under the Polish government. New factories, schools, and a large hospital were built to help the town grow into what it is today.

Famous Sights

Sucha Beskidzka is known for its beautiful historical buildings. The most famous is the Sucha Castle, which people call "Little Wawel" because it looks like the royal castle in Kraków. Another famous spot is the Rome Tavern (Karczma Rzym). This is a very old wooden building from the 1700s. It is famous because of a legend about a man who met the Devil there. The town also has a large parish church that was finished in 1907.

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