POLAND - Strzyżów

Strzyżów is a small place in the province Podkarpackie. It has 8600 inhabitants. It is the largest place in the municipality and since 1999 also the capital of the region. The municipality has, besides Strzyżów, 14 other small villages and a total surface of 140km 2 with 21,320 inhabitants. The region of Strzyżów has a rural character, typical for southeast Poland.

The patron of the city -St. Michael- is described as a soldier with a shield in his left hand and a sword in his right hand. St Michael stands on the head of a dragon, which he has just killed. The first written reference to Strzyżów is from 1297. Since then the town was several times burned, robbered, destroyed and rebuild, so a large number of historical attractions form different centuries are located in the area of Strzyżów, such as the Roman Catholic church, a wooden Greek Catholic church, a Jewish synagogue, palaces and two underground forts from the Second World War.

Strzyżów has a splendid landscape. It lies in the valley of the river Wislok. New houses are built on the hills around the old core. The municipality has many facilities for recreation. The guests and inhabitants can relax in two stadiums, two sport halls, a tennis court and a riding school. There is a ski area for the winter and a swimming pool and a campsite for the summer. Every year more and more agro-farm with rooms for rent are opening. Except accommodation, you can find here homemade dishes, honey, milk products, fruits and vegetables.

Furthermore, there is an educational, recreational green route. Strzyżów has a cultural centre, a library, a regional museum and local artist associations. Moreover, Strzyżów has three restaurants, four bars, and train- and bus stations. The inhabitants can be characterised by their typical Polish hospitality, their mutual solidarity, and their respect for national traditions and pastimes.