Rzeszów (Poland) – everything about the city, main sights and attractions with photos and descriptions, the most interesting tourist routes on the map.
City of Rzeszow (Rzeszów)
Rzeszów is a city in Poland, the administrative center of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The city is located on the banks of the Vistula River. Rzeszów is an ancient city, which was founded in the 14th century. It was then that the Kingdom of Poland captured the ancient Russian city of Ryashiv, which at that time was located on the left bank of the river. According to archaeologists’ estimates and excavations, the ancient Russian city has existed on this site since about the 12th century.
The architecture of the historic city center is a building of the XIX-early XX centuries in the style of classicism, modernism, neo-Gothic, modernism, and art deco. The oldest surviving building is the Gothic parish church of St. Wojciech and Stanisław (1430).
The main boulevard of the city is 3 May Street. It is the oldest and at the same time the most representative street of the city. It runs from the church to the castle. It is now a pedestrian street.
The history of Rzeszow began in 1354, when Casimir the Great (Polish king) granted the settlement city rights. Even then, the first church and schools were built in the city. The city began to grow and develop rapidly. In the 16th century, a town hall, a castle, and a monastery were built here. In 1638, Rzeszow became the property of the Lubomirski family, and it became an important trading center of southeastern Poland.
In the 18th century, Rzeszow became part of the Habsburg Empire, turning into the capital of the entire region. In 1845, it became a free city, which gave a great impetus to its further development. Already in 1858, a railroad was laid in Rzeszow, and in 1888 the first telephone lines appeared. A little later, the construction of plants and factories began.
The end of the Austrian monarchy contributed to the growing movement towards Polish independence. After Poland gained its independence, Rzeszow continued to grow in importance. The city developed dynamically until World War II. During the war, the Nazis created a ghetto in Rzeszow, which functioned until July 1942. The city was liberated from German occupation by the Red Army in August 1944.
In August 1944, Rzeszów became the administrative center of the region. After the war, factories, an airport, and educational institutions were built and modernized here. Rzeszow became a major transportation center in southeastern Poland.
At the time, it was also a major industrial and economic center of the region.
Shopping in Rzeszow
Large shopping centers in Rzeszow for shopping and shopping:
- Centrum Handlowe Europa – al. Piłsudskiego 34 35-001 Rzeszów
- Centrum Kulturalno-Handlowe Millenium Hall – 35-315 Rzeszów Al. Kopisto 1
- GALERIA RZESZÓW – Al. Piłsudskiego 44 35-001 Rzeszów
Attractions in Rzeszow
The main sights of Rzeszow are the eponymous castle, the old town hall on the market square, St. Wojciech Church, and the Lubomirski Palace. There are also two theaters and a large museum.
Market Square is the city’s central square. It is home to many shops and cafes and hosts numerous cultural events. The current appearance of the Market Square dates back to the mid-nineteenth century after a fire. The dominant building of the market is the town hall. In the XVII century, there was a bell on its tower, which was used to announce the beginning of trading and its end.
The Rzeszów Castle is one of the city’s main attractions, built in 1902-1906 on the site of the ancient Lubomirski Castle. Now it houses a court, and until 1981 it was a prison. The first defensive fortress was built on this site in the 16th century. The Old Castle was demolished in the early 20th century due to its very poor condition.
The Church of St. Wojtek and St. Stanisław is a Farnian church located in the center of the Old Town at the intersection of 3 May and Kosciuszko streets. It is the oldest building in Rzeszow, whose history dates back to the city’s foundation in 1663. The church has three naves, a Gothic presbytery and a main nave in the Baroque style. Next to the church is a 30.5-meter-high Baroque bell tower covered with a dome and crowned with a spire with an angel. The interior of the church dates back to the eighteenth century.
The Old Synagogue is a synagogue located at 4 Bożniczej Street. It is now one of the oldest surviving synagogues in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. It was built in 1610. The synagogue building is made in the form of a square in the Renaissance style. In the northeastern corner there is a small tower topped with a cornice, which is now the only trace of the city’s defenses.
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A 2-story extension dating from the mid-nineteenth century, originally crowned with an attic and ceilings, has been preserved on the west side. Its interior had a rectangular vestibule on the ground floor and a Babinets above it on the second floor.
The Lubomirski Summer Palace is an old, late Baroque residence with Rococo elements located on Lubomirski Avenue in Rzeszów, in the immediate vicinity of the castle. It was built in the 90s of the 17th century on the territory of a former vineyard.
The Old Cemetery is the oldest surviving necropolis in the city. The cemetery covers an area of 3.65 hectares and is located between Rynok Street and the Wisłok River. It is estimated that about 40,000 people are buried here.
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