Biecz
Encyclopedia
Biecz AUD is a town
and municipality
in southeastern Poland
, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
, Gorlice County
. It is in the Carpathian Mountains
, in the Doły Jasielsko Sanockie, by the Ropa River. Due to its rich history, it is often referred to as "little Kraków
" or the "pearl of the Carpathians." The many preserved medieval city walls and buildings have also given rise to the nickname "Polish Carcassonne
."
By the mid-16th century, the city was one of the largest in Poland. As a designated royal town, Biecz enjoyed an economic and social Renaissance during the 14th and 15th centuries which tapered off into a gradual decline starting during the 17th century. Today, it is a small, picturesque tourist town with numerous historical monuments.
Early sources, such as Ptolemaeus, mention a tribe of unknown origin called Biessi (singular Biessus). The tribe resided in the Carpathian mountains
.
Some scholars believe this Biessi tribe to be the Thracian
tribe of Bessi
. Other scholars believe that the name Biessi refers to Beskidy Mountains
due to the influence of the Romanian
("Wallachian") shepherds who spread their culture throughout the northern Carpathian Mountains (see Gorals
).
One final theory revolves around the west Slavic/Croatian
dialectal word meaning "town" or "borough." The same root word is used in a variety of languages: Beč - Беч in Serbo-Croatian; Bech or Vidnya in Romani; Bécs in Hungarian; and so forth.
and Paul on a field of red. St. Paul, on the right, holds a sword
, while St. Peter holds the Keys of Heaven
. Between them is the capital letter B, a reference to the city name.
The coat of arms dates back to the 16th century, when official seal
s depicting the images of Saints Peter and Paul and the letter B first appeared. The seals were used with more regularity during the 17th and 18th centuries. On 12 July 1990, the Municipal Council officially adopted the use of the coat of arms in Resolution No. III/15/90.
Biecz lies on the Ropa River, on a pass
through the Carpathian mountains
. Up until the 19th century, the River ran through the heart of the city. With the construction of the railroad, however, the river's course was altered so that it ran alongside the city instead.
Despite the relatively small size of the city, there is a significant grade in elevation. The highest point lies at 368.7 metres (1,209.6 ft) above sea level
, while the lowest lies at 243 metres (797.2 ft). Biecz borders Binarowa
, Głęboka, Grudna Kępska
, Korczyna
, Libusza
, and Strzeszyn
.
In the Biecz and the surrounding area there are a number of oil
deposits.
Biecz lies in the Western part of Poland, approximately 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) from the Slovakia
n border and 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) from the Ukrainian
border. The distance from Biecz to the most important Polish cities is:
The city lies within the borders of the historical kingdom of Małopolska
. Throughout history, the territory was also a part of the region of Kraków
. Biecz's importance during his medieval and renaissance heyday resulted in the city receiving administrative control over a significant amount of surrounding territory (Latin
: Terra Biecensis).
As of 2007, the chairmen of the divisions were as follows:
Miasto
Podwale
Załawie
Belna Dolna
Belna Górna
Przedmieście Dolne
Kurpiel
Osiedle Górne
Nęckówka
Wapniska
Harta
period, though the first mentions of a named settlement date back to the 11th century. This early medieval town was approximately 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) from the modern one. By the 12th century, the town had become a castellany
, and by the mid-14th century, it had been granted rights based on Magdeburg Law.
Biecz enjoyed a cultural and economic renaissance during the 14th and 15th centuries. Beginning in the 17th century, the town was beset by a number of natural disasters, including flooding, fires, and a plague
which killed all but 30 inhabitants. The town suffered heavy population losses during World War II, including a public massacre of 200 local Jews in the market square in 1942.
period, or about 4500 BCE
. Stone artifacts dating to this period have been excavated within Biecz proper and the surrounding area. During the late Bronze Age
and early Iron Age
, the area was home to the Lusatian culture
. Pottery fragments were uncovered during archaeological work at the castle in 1961. Excavated Byzantine
and Roman
coins dating from the 2nd to the 5th centuries indicate that the area was part of an important trade route for these empires.
in the 13th century and replaced with a much larger structure, now one of three surviving castles in the area. Biecz is first referenced by name in church documents written by Thietmar of Merseburg
circa
1012-1018. In 1184, King Kazimierz II
gave the land as tithe
s to St. Florian of Kraków. Documents dating to 1243 and 1257 make reference to specific castellan
s: Nicolaus de Beycz and Bronisius de Begech.
In 1288, Konrad I of Masovia
signed an agreement in Biecz castle which permitted the Teutonic Order
to enter Polish territory.
The castle was a strategic military stronghold due to its location near the Polish border. It served as a preparation area for attacks on enemy states and a rallying point for forces resisting invasion. The stronghold also served as a center for trade due to its position at the crossroads between east-west and north-south trade routes between Red Ruthenia
and Hungary
.
around the year 1257 CE, probably by Prince Bolesław V the Chaste of Kraków. The exact year is unknown, as the royal edict granting these rights has not been preserved. These rights were confirmed by King Kazimierz III in 1363, and then later by Queen Jadwiga
. Formal trade relations with Bardejov
across the Carpathians were also formalized during the 14th century.
During the late 13th century, King Wenceslaus II gifted the town to Jan Muskata
, bishop of Kraków, in exchange for the territory where he would later found Nowy Sącz
. According to contemporary documents, the transfer of power occurred on 24 March 1303 in Prague
.
During the fall of 1306, ownership of the town and castle were peacefully transferred to the control of Władysław I the Elbow-high. From this point forward, the town and municipality were under the control of the Polish crown. Władysław I based his campaign to unify Poland from the castle of Biecz from September 1311 to April 1312. Due to the importance granted to the city during this period, Biecz was initially considered the capital city of Poland.
Initially the town was protected by earthworks
and ditches. Walls were first constructed during the 14th century, as evidenced by a royal edict issued by King Władysław II Jagiełło
in 1399 ordering all able-bodied men to assist in the expansion and repair of the city walls. The walls were extended in the 16th century and again in the 17th, when seventeen towers were constructed to aid in the fortification and protection of the town.
King Kazimierz the Great took great interest in the city. In 1361 he gave orders for the construction of weighing scale
s and textile mill
s, and established a number of fairs, which were major sources of income. In addition, he granted all Biecz business an exemption from taxation and tariff
s, as well as economic benefit from surrounding villages.
Biecz flourished under Jagiellonian
rule. The crown's encouragement of growth and trade, as well as the town's favorable location, were major influences on Biecz's rapid growth during this period. Under the rule of King Kazimierz IV
, the town built its first municipal water supply. Inhabitants were also granted a number of privileges, such as relief from duties on various imported commodities. Additionally, merchants entering Polish territory were required to pass through Biecz, wherein taxes and other import tariffs were levied. This practice was established by Louis I of Hungary in 1372 along the Hungarian
-Red Ruthenian trade route.
Economic development prompted rapid population growth. By the end of the 14th century, Biecz had become one of the largest cities in all of Poland, with a population of over 3,000 in the city and its suburbs.
As a castellany
, Biecz was not only entrusted with defensive responsibilities, but also served as judicial, administrative, and economic center for the area of Prykarpattia
. After a lull in economic and population growth in the latter half of the 14th century, the judiciary and administration of the region were reorganized. The region of Kraków was established, and was further split into six districts, one of which was the large district of Biecz. Biecz was then designated a judicial center, and was home to two different court
systems. Kraków, Nowy Sącz, and Biecz were the locations of the high courts that dealt with the enforcement of the Magdeburg laws as established in 1374 by the Privilege of Košice
.
Little is known about the establishment of the Biecz starostwo
during the late 14th century. Nothing is known about the first recorded starosta
but his name: Drago. The starostwo were Crown lands administered by the starosta, and established mainly for economic purposes as the Crown considered revenues generated by these administrative regions a significant source of income. The Biecz starostwo had a strong economic base; by 1581 it encompassed 23 villages and Crown-operated folwark
s. Until 1641 the starosta had an office in the Franciscan monastery; after 1641 his office was moved to a designated administrative building.
In 1624, the reformed Franciscan order arrived in Biecz from Zakliczyn
, where a substantial reformation had recently occurred under the guidance of Friar
Hipolit Łowicjan and Father Piotr Zielonacki. In 1651 the Franciscan monastery was moved from its original location on the Ropa River to a new location closer to the city center.
Numerous public and private buildings were built during the 15th and 16th centuries. On 25 July 1395, Queen Jadwiga
issued building orders for the Szpital św. Ducha (Hospital of the Holy Ghost). The writ appropriated a nearby folwark
, several fish ponts, and the remnants of a plaza that had been destroyed by fire in 1388. Funded entirely by tax revenue, the hospital's budget was the largest in the country.
Over the years, many churches have been located in Biecz, the most ever being seven within the city limits. The most prominent of these is Corpus Christi Church (Kościół Bożego Ciała). The oldest surviving structures date back to 1480, but the register of monuments of the Kingdom of Poland show that construction had already begun by 1326. The main nave was constructed during the 15th century and completed by 1519. The side chapels were built between 1521 and 1560, and the main altar was added in 1604.
Another important monument constructed during this period is City Hall. The original bell tower was constructed in 1569, and the rest of the structure was built between 1569 and 1580. The structure was built with funds donated by Marcin Kromer
. Once construction on the tower was completed, the tradition of trumpeting the hejnał was begun. The hejnał was played every morning, noon, and evening, coinciding with the closing of the city gates, as well as in times of emergency.
In 1523, the Dom Barianów-Rokickich was built. The building was owned by Marcin Kromer and served as a pharmacy until the 17th century. Other important period buildings include the 1519 Kromer House, which never actually had anything to do with Marcin Kromer, and the Castle, built in the first half of the 16th century.
Biecz was a royal city
, and the center of local administrative, judicial, and military authority from the 12th century until 1783. In the 17th century, the district of Biecz encompassed eleven cities and 264 villages, as well as three castles, the royal court, and several royal residences. Kings from both the Piast
and Jagiellon dynasties made use of these royal residences. The royal residences remained in use by Polish monarchs until John II Casimir Vasa, who passed through the city while on his campaign to drive the Swedes from Poland
.
The castle served as a center of economic exchange for many centuries, mainly due to its favorable location at the intersection of north-south and east-west trade routes.
In 1505, Alexander Jagiellon
strengthened trade relations with Hungary
. As a result, the majority of Hungarian exports to Polish territories and beyond were sent through Biecz. These goods include iron, copper, lead, salt, wool, and large quantities of Hungarian wine. Initially this wine was a poor trade good, as the liquor was so expensive that only the magnate
s could afford to buy it. Over time, however, it became a more common drink, and increasing quantities were exported. On 17 January 1618, the wine cellars built by Kazimierz the Great had a stock of 331 barrels of Hungarian wine.
As the major defensive stronghold of the region, Biecz was required to combat manifestations of lawlessness. Marauders would frequently attack trade caravans, their major targets being those carrying large quantities of Hungarian wine. The issue was so widespread that the local sejm
designated a special committee to litigate the issue.
As attacks on merchants increased in frequency and severity, the government increased penalties for these types of crimes. The punishment was torture, usually flagellation
, followed by execution. Afterwards, the head of the criminal would be mounted on a pole at the city gate to serve as a warning to others. The bodies of highwaymen
were, according to tradition, hung from gibbet
s, which can be seen in the Hogenberg etching above. Though no longer in use, these gibbets can still be seen today.
Biecz executioners also performed executions in nearby villages for a fee. According to financial records, in the year 1450 executioners were sent to the towns of Jasło, Rymanów
, Dukla
, Dębowiec, Rzeszów
, and Wojnicz
.
The sheer number of executions enacted gave rise to the popular legend that there existed an executioners' school in Biecz. It is likely that this is the invention of a 19th century author, as trade schools did not exist during the Middle Age
s. Nevertheless, the legend is a popular one, and some historical scholars have even devoted time to study the possibility.
As the population grew, so did the variety of trade goods and handicraft
s produced in the city. In the 14th century, there were 30 different types of goods produced in the city, most of which are cloth or canvas goods. Economic prosperity gave rise to a mentality that valued education, which prompted the 1528 opening of a new school building. In the 15th and 16th centuries, 150 Bieczan students studied at the Jagiellonian University
in Kraków, then still known as Akademia Krakowska. Most of these students returned to Biecz after completing their studies.
Biecz was home to a number of famous artists, painters, poets, and writers, including Jan Matejko
and Stanisław Wyspiański. The first panoramic painting
of Biecz was created in 1617 by Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg. Another famous depiction is J. Janson's copperplate Widok ogólny Biecza ("General view of Biecz"), which appears in Regni Poloniæ Ducatus Lituaniæ novissima descriptio (1659). Biecz was also the subject of artworks created by numerous famous artists, including Tadeusz Rybkowski, ózef Mehoffer, and Helena Krajewska. Biecz was the subject of Miron Białoszewski's tpestry Średniowieczny gobelin o Bieczu.
The economic development of Biecz resulted in a population boom. A census conducted by the judiciary from 1388-1398 lists the names of 515 heads of households. Taking into account that contemporary families consisted on average of six people, it is believed that Biecz and its suburbs had at least 3,000 residents. By the mid-16th century, Biecz had a population of 3,700, the highest population the city achieved during the Middle Ages. Starting in the 17th century, Biecz went into a decline, its population slipping to approximately 1800 people in the first half of the 17th century, and then to 462 inhabitants in 1662.
in ruins. The invading Swedes razed houses, farms, peasant buildings, hospitals, and three wooden churches on the outskirts of the city.
The wine trade, which had sustained the city as trade waned, began to decline. Contemporary record-keeping shows a significant reduction in the stock of wine in the middle of the 17th century. As time went on, the wine trade dwindled further before eventually disappearing completely.
On 4 April 1770, Kierkor, the commander of a troop of 100 cavalry, mounted an attack from Biecz against the Imperial Russian Army in Siepietnica
under the command of Iwan Drewicz (Russian: Иван Григорьевич Древич). The cavalry were overwhelmed, and the Russian forces pursued the retreating troops and plundered Biecz.
The golden age of Biecz ended with the partition of Poland
, after which the city was under Austrian rule
. After the 1783 liquidation of the District of Biecz, the eastern portion of city hall, which was devoted to district administration, was demolished between 1815 and 1840.
By 1787, trade good production had declined such that there remained only eight trade guilds
. The most prosperous of the remaining trades was weaving, with approximately thirty workshops. Another surviving craft was shoemaking, with fourteen workshops. The shoemaking profession soon disappeared, however, as industrialization allowed for mass production of much cheaper product.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Biecz was one of the largest Polish cities both in area and population. Beginning in the middle of that century, however, Biecz fell victim to a number of natural disasters which devastated both its population and infrastructure. In 1543, 110 inhabitants died from a plague; a second plague in 1572 claimed 1,500 victims. In 1600 Biecz suffered yet another plague, which struck again in 1622. This plague struck the workshops, nearly wiping out the tradesman population. 52 craftsmen survived. The same occurred in the next plague, which struct in 1652. In 1721, Biecz suffered what is now known as the great plague, which devastated the populace and spared approximately thirty people.
In 1776, the ruling Habsburg dynasty sold the city to the Siemieńscy family, effectively revoking Biecz's status as a royal city. Initially the new administration provided a certain stability. However, in 1783, the city was forced to defend itself against invaders, forcing the administrative and judicial branches of government to shut down. The last Biecz castle still in service as a military stronghold fell to the invaders, who laid siege to the city. Effectively cut off from communication with the rest of the Austrian partition
, and severed from the traditional Hungarian trade routes, the city withstood the invasion solely due to the recent renovation and strengthening of the city walls.
was constructed in the Hart neighborhood, northwest of Biecz. Devastated areas were rebuilt and rejuvenated with money from these newly-made oil fortunes. One of these nouveau riche, Father Jan Bochniewicz, established a charitable
foundation with 50,000 PLN initial capital, a percentage of which was earmarked for distribution among the fifty poorest inhabitants of the city. The foundation survived until 1958.
The economic recovery and the inflow of capital to Biecz contributed positively to improving the quality of life. In 1882, Biecz constructed its first railroad station, and in 1889, its first credit union. Slowly education and culture returned to the city. In 1891 a new parochial school building was constructed, and in 1912 an all-girls school was opened. The 19th century brought with it an increased awareness of the historical value of buildings, and a subsequent increase in the conservation
and protection of historic monuments. As a result, Biecz soon became the focus of interest of many art historians, professors, and conservator
s.
On 12 May 1903, a great fire broke out in Biecz, razing half of the city. According to historical documents, destroyed buildings included twenty Jewish stores, thirty Catholic homes, the tax collector's offices, a pharmacy, the newly built Synagogue
, and old city hall. In total, 600 residents were left without homes.
In 1898, the city's public library, named after Tadeusz Kosciuszko
, was opened and quickly became a cultural center. The original library was completely destroyed in the fire, but shortly thereafter was rebuilt and stocked with approximately 8,000 volumes.
had little impact on the city proper, a number combatants who participated in the Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive are buried in cemeteries throughout the municipality.
There are five numbered cemeteries
in Biecz wherein soldiers of World War I
are buried:
The interwar period
heralded new growth in Biecz. A number of societies were founded during this period, including the Związek Młodzieży Polskiej Polish Youth Union (1920) and the Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Society of Friends (1938). The Society of Friends soon established the Muzeum Ziemi Bieckiej (Museum of Bieczan Lands).
In 1934, the Ropa River flooded, washing away railway embankments and all the houses built on the banks or valleys of the River. The floodwaters rose to unprecedented heights.
The outbreak of World War II
abruptly halted all forms of cultural life. The War resulted in significant population losses, as well as the destruction of several buildings and cultural facilities. Many people were resettled in Biecz from towns like Jasło; by 1944 the total population of the city was 5,973 inhabitants.
In 1942 and 1943, the occupying Nazi forces carried out a number of Jewish massacres. In 1942, 200 Jewish citizens were publicly executed by the Nazis in the town square.
Nationalist and patriotic feelings were strong, and resistance forces quickly developed during both wars in the forms of National Army
recruits and peasant battalions, as well as acts of violence and sabotage.
In 1950-1953, the city hall bell tower was renovated and strengthened, and the cupola covered in sheet copper. Later the city embarked on a costly campaign to repair and preserve the outer sgrafitto. Numerous preservation projects were ongoing during this period in Corpus Christi Church, such as the preservation of confessionals, altars, statues, and so forth. In 1992, the church gates of Corpus Christi Church were demolished. The gates dated back to the Renaissance
.
In 1955, a memorial plaque was placed on the city hall bell tower to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the death of Adam Mickiewicz
. During the 1970s, the city built and dedicated a monument to the victims of the world wars. In 1989, a bust of Macin Kromer and accompanying monument were dedicated on the 400th anniversary of his death.
In March 2001, the Fundacja na Rzecz Szpitala Ubogich im. św. Jadwigi Królowej w Bieczu was established as part of a campaign to save the Gothic Hospital of the Holy Ghost. Renovation and preservation work had already begun by 2004.
On 21 April 2005, the town government reinstated the tradition of playing the hejnał. Beginning June 2009 of that year, the hejnał was played from the bell tower of town hall.
Biecz was one of the towns to host the seventh annual Małopolskie Dni Dziedzictwa Kulturowego (Lesser Poland cultural heritage day) from 20–21 May 2006. On 8 June 2006, relic
s of Queen Jadwiga of Poland
, the patron saint of Biecz, were brought to the town for a dedicated exhibition. The relics were processed along a number of city and country roads that the Queen probably walked.
On 1 July 2007, Biecz celebrated the 750-year anniversary of the city's establishment under Magdeburg law. The festival was marked by dance performances, musical exhibitions, theater, and lectures by historical experts.
On 16 October 2008, the Biecz beltway was officially opened.
With a population of approximately 5,000, Biecz ranks as the 44th most populous city in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
. As the city prospered and grew, so did the popualtion. In the 14th century, the district of Biecz, including the surrounding villages, had a total population of 522. By the mid-16th century, this number was 3,700, and by the early 17th century had fallen back down to approximately 1,800.
During the first half of the 16th century, Biecz was one of the largest Polish cities both in size and population. The wars with Sweden as well as numerous fires caused the population to begin to decrease. In 1721, a great plague struck Biecz. The thirty survivors built a memorial chapel to St. Michael the Archangel in memory of the victims. Nazi occupation during World War II resulted in significant population losses. A number of smaller villages were resettled into Biecz during this time, resulting, in 1944, in a population of 5,973, the highest recorded population in history.
In recent years, Biecz has slowly begun to decrease in population once more. There exists a migration trend that moves populations from cities to larger cities and abroad, mostly due to high unemployment and lack of higher education institutions. According to census records, in 2007 the city had 4,575 inhabitants, about 73 fewer than in the previous year.
In Biecz there are 107 women for every 100 men. The number of women in an age group is greater than the number of men for all age groups except the following: 5-19, 30-34, and 40-44.
Brick Gothic
church dating back to the early 14th century. One of the most important churches in Poland, it houses the relics of Queen Jadwiga. The church is built of stone and brick, and decorated with patterns of strongly fired bricks.
The oldest part of the church is the presbytery
, which was completed before 1480. This date was inscribed on a support beam, and probably indicates the year in which expansion was begun. According to the monument registry of the Kingdom of Poland
, construction first began in 1326. The presbytery entrance is framed by a 15th century painted screen of the Passion
of Jesus Christ. To the sides are 17th century stalls. A music pulpit that dates back to 1633, and which is the oldest such monument of its kind in Europe
, can be found on the altar.
The altar was builtin 1604. The altarpiece includes an image of the cross
, circled by St. Michael the Archangel. It is one of three such images in the world. Above the painting is a scene showing the fatigue of the Mother of God, painted by Stanislas Stoss, son of Veit Stoss
. At the top is the coronation of Mary. To the left of the altar is the 17th century lesser altar of the Immaculate Conception
, which features the family tree of Mary.
On either side of the presbytery are 17th century, richly carved stalls. To the left is the Oratorium, where, according to legend, St. Jadwiga
often prayed. In 2006, a shrine
was added to the Oratorium to hold the relic
s of St. Jadwiga.
The church has eight chapels. Each chapel has a patron and guild dedicated to it. The chapels are:
The main nave was added in 1519, and consists of a huge stone vault supported by eight stone pillars. A hanging pulpit
was added in 1604. On the left of the chancel
is the altar of Our Lady of the Rosary, alongside sculptures of Piotr Sułowski, Saint Anne
, and Mikołaj Ligęza. Near the Kromer and St. Anthony chapels is a memorial plaque to the 400th anniversary of Marcin Kromer's death.
The wooden choir loft was built in 1898 by organmaster Jan Śliwiński. The organ
has 22 voices, 2 manual and keyboard foot pedals. The instrument itself was designed by Sławomir Odrzywolski. The choir stalls date back to the Renaissance
period.
Alongside the church is a 15th century bell tower that was initially intended to serve as a defensive tower under the auspices of the butchers guild. The bell dates back to the 14th century. Since World War II
, the bell has been on display in the Kromer House museum. The belltower is built alongside the 19th century chapel of St. Barbara that was built over the ruins of a 15th century chapel.
The outer walls of the church are decorated with Hungarian
-sculpted statues of the Apostles.
of Biecz. After the First Partition of Poland
, the powiat was dissolved, and the parts of the building dedicated to its administration fell into disuse. In the 19th century, the eastern wing of the hall was demolished. These foundations were discovered during a 1958 archaeological excavation of market square. Today these foundations are marked with commemorative plates.
The old bell tower collapsed from disrepair on 8 May 1569. It was rebuilt from 1569-1580 with funds donated by Marcin Kromer
. The tower stands at 58 metres (190.3 ft) in height. The walls are sgraffito
ed plaster simulating the appearance of rustication
.
Inside hang numerous crests and coats of arms, including that of Marcin Kromer and Adam Mickiewicz
. On the east wall is a 16th century 24-hour clock face
. This style of clock is rare, as the 17th century brought with it a switch to 12-hour clock faces.
The bell tower's ornate cap burned in the great city fire on 12 May 1903. During the process of reconstruction, the cap was rebuilt with wooden shingles
, which in 1998 were covered with sheet copper. Historically, a trumpeter played the hejnał from this tower when the city gates were opened, morning, noon, and night. This tradition ended with the collapse of the old bell tower, which killed the town trumpeter. In 2005, the tradition was restarted, and today the hejnał is played every day at noon.
The lowest levels of the tower include a dungeon
called Turm. Convicts scratched primitive calendars and other inscriptions into the walls, which are still visible to this day. Today, the dungeons include an exhibition of prison cells, and an exhibition dedicated to medieval torture
instruments.
during the 8th century. The first Polish hospitals were established during the 13th century, where they were administered by various religious order
s. Each hospital had an attached parish and church.
By the late 14th century, Biecz had accumulated a population of over 3,000 residents, necessitating some form of public health service. On 25 July 1395, Queen Jadwiga signed a royal edict ordering the construction of the hospital, granting tax breaks for the duration of construction, and earmarking two fiefs, a folwark
, 3 fish ponds, and a town square near the city walls for construction. The budget provided by the queen for construction was one of the largest of its kind in the country.
In the 18th century, the church attached to the hospital was demolished, and in the 19th century, the hospital was renovated. The hospital continued to administer to the poor until 1950, when it was converted into a boys' boarding school
. After a new school building had been built, the hospital was abandoned, and began to fall into a state of disrepair. Attempts to restore the buildings began during the 1980s, but were disrupted due to political changes in Poland. Due to difficult economic times during from 1991–97, only the walls and roofs have been preserved at present.
The hospital is in the Eastern part of the city, and consists of a two-story building measuring 21 by 10.5 m (68.9 by 34.4 ft). The eastern and western walls are decorated with patterns made from dark, strongly-fired bricks. The eastern wall has two entries, while the west has one stone entry that has since been walled over. Above the stone entryway is a stone sculpture
of the Polish coat of arms with the date 1487, that was probably moved there from the remnants of the third castle during the 17th century.
. Built in 1519, only 7 years after Kromer's birth, the building belonged to the wealthy Chodorów family.
Today the building houses a cultural museum that includes a number of important folk artifacts, art, and coins
. The oldest exhibits include axe
heads and related neolithic
artefacts, as well as Roman and Byzantine coins, and medieval ceramics and weaponry. Other exhibits showcase historical weaponry and the day-to-day life of townspeople throughout history.
Of the seventeen original towers, only three remain standing:
In 1964, the foundations of one of Poland's best-known barbican
s was discovered near Corpus Christi Church.
Only the foundations remain of the Gothic royal castle on nearby Górze Zamkowej (literally Castle Mountain). The castle was built on the foundations of an early medieval
gord. Built in the 13th century, the castle was made of fortified stone, and served as field headquarters for Polish kings and princes.
The entire hill was surrounded by a rectangular
defensive wall. The northern gate was guarded by a tower, bridge, and gates. The southern wall was protected by the Ropa River.
The castle ceased to be considered an important line of defense during the second half of the 15th century. In 1475, King Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk
ordered the castle's demolition. Large pieces of stonework and related ruins were scattered across the nearby countryside as late as the 19th century. Today, all that is visible is the foundation of the castle, which has been preserved for posterity.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in southeastern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Małopolska Voivodeship , or Lesser Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, in southern Poland...
, Gorlice County
Gorlice County
Gorlice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. It was created on 1 January 1999 as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Gorlice,...
. It is in the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
, in the Doły Jasielsko Sanockie, by the Ropa River. Due to its rich history, it is often referred to as "little Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
" or the "pearl of the Carpathians." The many preserved medieval city walls and buildings have also given rise to the nickname "Polish Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
."
By the mid-16th century, the city was one of the largest in Poland. As a designated royal town, Biecz enjoyed an economic and social Renaissance during the 14th and 15th centuries which tapered off into a gradual decline starting during the 17th century. Today, it is a small, picturesque tourist town with numerous historical monuments.
Toponymy
The exact origins of the name "Biecz" are still uncertain, but some historians have traced it back to as early as the first few centuries of the first millennium.Early sources, such as Ptolemaeus, mention a tribe of unknown origin called Biessi (singular Biessus). The tribe resided in the Carpathian mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
.
Some scholars believe this Biessi tribe to be the Thracian
Thracians
The ancient Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting areas including Thrace in Southeastern Europe. They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family...
tribe of Bessi
Bessi
The Bessi were an independent Thracian tribe who lived in a territory ranging from Moesia to Mount Rhodope in southern Thrace, but are often mentioned as dwelling about Haemus, the mountain range that separates Moesia from Thrace and from Mount Rhodope to the northern part of Hebrus...
. Other scholars believe that the name Biessi refers to Beskidy Mountains
Beskids
The Beskids , ) is a traditional name for a series of Eastern European mountain ranges.- Definition :The Beskids are approximately 600 km in length and 50–70 km in width...
due to the influence of the Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
("Wallachian") shepherds who spread their culture throughout the northern Carpathian Mountains (see Gorals
Gorals
The Gorale are a group of indigenous people found along southern Poland, northern Slovakia, and in the region of Cieszyn Silesia in the Czech Republic...
).
One final theory revolves around the west Slavic/Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
dialectal word meaning "town" or "borough." The same root word is used in a variety of languages: Beč - Беч in Serbo-Croatian; Bech or Vidnya in Romani; Bécs in Hungarian; and so forth.
Heraldry
The Biecz coat of arms depicts Saints PeterSaint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Paul on a field of red. St. Paul, on the right, holds a sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
, while St. Peter holds the Keys of Heaven
Keys of Heaven
In ecclesiastical heraldry, the Papal coat of arms contain the keys of the office of St. Peter. The Keys of Heaven were, according to Christian tradition, received by Saint Peter from Jesus, marking Peter's ability to take binding actions. Thus, the Keys are seen as a symbol of Papal authority...
. Between them is the capital letter B, a reference to the city name.
The coat of arms dates back to the 16th century, when official seal
Seal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
s depicting the images of Saints Peter and Paul and the letter B first appeared. The seals were used with more regularity during the 17th and 18th centuries. On 12 July 1990, the Municipal Council officially adopted the use of the coat of arms in Resolution No. III/15/90.
Geography
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
through the Carpathian mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
. Up until the 19th century, the River ran through the heart of the city. With the construction of the railroad, however, the river's course was altered so that it ran alongside the city instead.
| Municipal land use Data from 30 July 2004 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Description | ha Hectare The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2... | % |
| Agricultural | 1330 | 74,72 |
| Forests & wooded areas | 271 | 15,22 |
| Water | 20 | 1,12 |
| Urban development | 75 | 4,22 |
| Transportation | 77 | 4,33 |
| Unused | 7 | 0,39 |
| Other | - | 0,00 |
Despite the relatively small size of the city, there is a significant grade in elevation. The highest point lies at 368.7 metres (1,209.6 ft) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, while the lowest lies at 243 metres (797.2 ft). Biecz borders Binarowa
Binarowa
Binarowa is a village in southern Poland.The village is the site of St. Michael's Archangel church, built in the beginning of 16th century. This is one of the six Wooden Churches of Southern Little Poland, on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 2003....
, Głęboka, Grudna Kępska
Grudna Kepska
Grudna Kępska is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Biecz, within Gorlice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Biecz, north-east of Gorlice, and east of the regional capital Kraków....
, Korczyna
Korczyna, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Korczyna is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Biecz, within Gorlice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south of Biecz, north-east of Gorlice, and south-east of the regional capital Kraków....
, Libusza
Libusza, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Libusza is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Biecz, within Gorlice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south of Biecz, north-east of Gorlice, and south-east of the regional capital Kraków....
, and Strzeszyn
Strzeszyn, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Strzeszyn is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Biecz, within Gorlice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately west of Biecz, north of Gorlice, and south-east of the regional capital Kraków....
.
In the Biecz and the surrounding area there are a number of oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
deposits.
Biecz lies in the Western part of Poland, approximately 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) from the Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
n border and 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) from the Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
border. The distance from Biecz to the most important Polish cities is:
- Nowy SączNowy SaczNowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
- 50 km (31.1 mi) - TarnówTarnówTarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
- 55 km (34.2 mi) - KrakówKrakówKraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
- 125 km (77.7 mi) - KatowiceKatowiceKatowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
- 200 km (124.3 mi) - LublinLublinLublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
- 250 km (155.3 mi) - Łódź - 350 km (217.5 mi)
- Warszawa - 355 km (220.6 mi)
- PoznańPoznanPoznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
- 575 km (357.3 mi) - Bydgoszcz - 647 km (402 mi)
- GdańskGdanskGdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
- 705 km (438.1 mi) - SzczecinSzczecinSzczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
- 770 km (478.5 mi)
The city lies within the borders of the historical kingdom of Małopolska
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
. Throughout history, the territory was also a part of the region of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. Biecz's importance during his medieval and renaissance heyday resulted in the city receiving administrative control over a significant amount of surrounding territory (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Terra Biecensis).
Climate
The average annual temperature is approximately 6 °C (42.8 °F). The average high in July is 17 °C (62.6 °F), and in January the average low is -5 C. The area receives at most 900 millimetres (35.4 in) of rain per annum. Sheet ice in winter lasts approximately 100 days, and has an average thickness of 15 centimetres (5.9 in).Geopolitical divisions
Biecz municipality is split into three formal divisions called jednostki pomocnicze gminy (literally, auxiliary municipality units). These divisions are numbered one through three. Each division has a governing council, with an elected chairman.As of 2007, the chairmen of the divisions were as follows:
- Władysław Lignar
- Renata Kudła
- Ireneusz Zając
Neighborhoods
In addition to the formal divisions, Biecz has a number of neighborhoods, each with their own particular history and character. These include:Miasto
- The old parts of town enclosed by the remains of the city walls.
Podwale
- Historical buildings that abut the remains of the city walls. The name literally means "under the walls."
Załawie
- The part of town on the embankments of the Ropa River. The neighborhood abuts the village of KorczynaKorczyna, Lesser Poland VoivodeshipKorczyna is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Biecz, within Gorlice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south of Biecz, north-east of Gorlice, and south-east of the regional capital Kraków....
Belna Dolna
- The part of town along the banks of the Ropa within district 2.
Belna Górna
- The area encompassed by district number 2, along ulica Belna Górna.
Przedmieście Dolne
- Settlement along ulica Przedmieście Dolne and partly along ulica Kazimierz Wielki.
Kurpiel
- Also called Przedmieście Górne, the part of town along ulica Przedmieście Górne.
Osiedle Górne
- Settlement along the streets ulica Tysiąclecia, ulica Skłodowska, ulica królowa Jadwiga, and ulica Słoneczny.
Nęckówka
- The settlement past Osiedle Górne. It is sparsely populated, and mostly consists of forests, orchards, and cultivated fields.
Wapniska
- The part of town along the top of ulica ks. Jan Bochniewicz
Harta
- The part of town along ulica Harta.
History
The area of Biecz has been settled periodically since the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period, though the first mentions of a named settlement date back to the 11th century. This early medieval town was approximately 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) from the modern one. By the 12th century, the town had become a castellany
Castellany
A castellany was a district administered by a castellan.Castellanies appeared during the Middle Ages and in most current states are now replaced by a more modern type of country subdivision....
, and by the mid-14th century, it had been granted rights based on Magdeburg Law.
Biecz enjoyed a cultural and economic renaissance during the 14th and 15th centuries. Beginning in the 17th century, the town was beset by a number of natural disasters, including flooding, fires, and a plague
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
which killed all but 30 inhabitants. The town suffered heavy population losses during World War II, including a public massacre of 200 local Jews in the market square in 1942.
Prehistory
Biecz is situated in an area which was inhabited as early as the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period, or about 4500 BCE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
. Stone artifacts dating to this period have been excavated within Biecz proper and the surrounding area. During the late Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and early Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, the area was home to the Lusatian culture
Lusatian culture
The Lusatian culture existed in the later Bronze Age and early Iron Age in most of today's Poland, parts of Czech Republic and Slovakia, parts of eastern Germany and parts of Ukraine...
. Pottery fragments were uncovered during archaeological work at the castle in 1961. Excavated Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
and Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
coins dating from the 2nd to the 5th centuries indicate that the area was part of an important trade route for these empires.
Early middle ages
A castle was erected as early as the 9th century, a small settlement quickly developing around its perimeter. This early castle was demolished by King Kazimierz IVCasimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
in the 13th century and replaced with a much larger structure, now one of three surviving castles in the area. Biecz is first referenced by name in church documents written by Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg was a German chronicler who was also bishop of Merseburg.-Life:...
circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1012-1018. In 1184, King Kazimierz II
Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...
gave the land as tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
s to St. Florian of Kraków. Documents dating to 1243 and 1257 make reference to specific castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
s: Nicolaus de Beycz and Bronisius de Begech.
In 1288, Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia , from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia from 1194 until his death and High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232.-Life:...
signed an agreement in Biecz castle which permitted the Teutonic Order
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
to enter Polish territory.
The castle was a strategic military stronghold due to its location near the Polish border. It served as a preparation area for attacks on enemy states and a rallying point for forces resisting invasion. The stronghold also served as a center for trade due to its position at the crossroads between east-west and north-south trade routes between Red Ruthenia
Red Ruthenia
Red Ruthenia is the name used since medieval times to refer to the area known as Eastern Galicia prior to World War I; first mentioned in Polish historic chronicles in the 1321, as Ruthenia Rubra or Ruthenian Voivodeship .Ethnographers explain that the term was applied from the...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Magdeburg rights
Biecz was granted its Magdeburg rightsMagdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
around the year 1257 CE, probably by Prince Bolesław V the Chaste of Kraków. The exact year is unknown, as the royal edict granting these rights has not been preserved. These rights were confirmed by King Kazimierz III in 1363, and then later by Queen Jadwiga
Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death. Her official title was 'king' rather than 'queen', reflecting that she was a sovereign in her own right and not merely a royal consort. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of...
. Formal trade relations with Bardejov
Bardejov
Bardejov is a town in North-Eastern Slovakia. It is situated in the Šariš region and has about 33,000 inhabitants. The spa town, mentioned for the first time in 1241, exhibits numerous cultural monuments in its completely intact medieval town center...
across the Carpathians were also formalized during the 14th century.
During the late 13th century, King Wenceslaus II gifted the town to Jan Muskata
Jan Muskata
Jan Muskata was bishop of Kraków from 1294 to 1309.Muskata was born in Wrocław, Silesia. He was the son of a German spice trader. The name Muskata is derived from Latin, for nutmeg....
, bishop of Kraków, in exchange for the territory where he would later found Nowy Sącz
Nowy Sacz
Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
. According to contemporary documents, the transfer of power occurred on 24 March 1303 in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
During the fall of 1306, ownership of the town and castle were peacefully transferred to the control of Władysław I the Elbow-high. From this point forward, the town and municipality were under the control of the Polish crown. Władysław I based his campaign to unify Poland from the castle of Biecz from September 1311 to April 1312. Due to the importance granted to the city during this period, Biecz was initially considered the capital city of Poland.
Initially the town was protected by earthworks
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
and ditches. Walls were first constructed during the 14th century, as evidenced by a royal edict issued by King Władysław II Jagiełło
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
in 1399 ordering all able-bodied men to assist in the expansion and repair of the city walls. The walls were extended in the 16th century and again in the 17th, when seventeen towers were constructed to aid in the fortification and protection of the town.
Golden age
Weighing scale
A weighing scale is a measuring instrument for determining the weight or mass of an object. A spring scale measures weight by the distance a spring deflects under its load...
s and textile mill
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
s, and established a number of fairs, which were major sources of income. In addition, he granted all Biecz business an exemption from taxation and tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
s, as well as economic benefit from surrounding villages.
Biecz flourished under Jagiellonian
Jagiellon dynasty
The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...
rule. The crown's encouragement of growth and trade, as well as the town's favorable location, were major influences on Biecz's rapid growth during this period. Under the rule of King Kazimierz IV
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
, the town built its first municipal water supply. Inhabitants were also granted a number of privileges, such as relief from duties on various imported commodities. Additionally, merchants entering Polish territory were required to pass through Biecz, wherein taxes and other import tariffs were levied. This practice was established by Louis I of Hungary in 1372 along the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
-Red Ruthenian trade route.
Economic development prompted rapid population growth. By the end of the 14th century, Biecz had become one of the largest cities in all of Poland, with a population of over 3,000 in the city and its suburbs.
As a castellany
Castellany
A castellany was a district administered by a castellan.Castellanies appeared during the Middle Ages and in most current states are now replaced by a more modern type of country subdivision....
, Biecz was not only entrusted with defensive responsibilities, but also served as judicial, administrative, and economic center for the area of Prykarpattia
Prykarpattia
Prykarpattia is the Ukrainian geographical term for a historical area of Central Europe, at the foot of the Carpathian mountains, in modern Ukraine...
. After a lull in economic and population growth in the latter half of the 14th century, the judiciary and administration of the region were reorganized. The region of Kraków was established, and was further split into six districts, one of which was the large district of Biecz. Biecz was then designated a judicial center, and was home to two different court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
systems. Kraków, Nowy Sącz, and Biecz were the locations of the high courts that dealt with the enforcement of the Magdeburg laws as established in 1374 by the Privilege of Košice
Privilege of Koszyce
The Privilege of Koszyce was a set of concessions made by Louis I of Hungary to the Polish szlachta in 1374. The privileges were granted in Košice...
.
Little is known about the establishment of the Biecz starostwo
Starostwo
Starostwo , from the 14th century in the Polish Crown and later through the era of the joint state of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the partitions of Poland in 1795, referred to the crown lands administered by the official known as starosta...
during the late 14th century. Nothing is known about the first recorded starosta
Starosta
Starost is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership that has been used in various contexts through most of Slavic history. It can be translated as "elder"...
but his name: Drago. The starostwo were Crown lands administered by the starosta, and established mainly for economic purposes as the Crown considered revenues generated by these administrative regions a significant source of income. The Biecz starostwo had a strong economic base; by 1581 it encompassed 23 villages and Crown-operated folwark
Folwark
Folwark is a Polish word for a primarily serfdom-based farm and agricultural enterprise , often very large. Folwarks were operated in the Crown of Poland from the 14th century and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century, from the second half of the 16th century in the joint...
s. Until 1641 the starosta had an office in the Franciscan monastery; after 1641 his office was moved to a designated administrative building.
In 1624, the reformed Franciscan order arrived in Biecz from Zakliczyn
Zakliczyn
Zakliczyn is a town in Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 1,558 inhabitants , on the right bank of the Dunajec River.Zakliczyn had town rights from 1557 to 1934, and regained them on January 1, 2006....
, where a substantial reformation had recently occurred under the guidance of Friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
Hipolit Łowicjan and Father Piotr Zielonacki. In 1651 the Franciscan monastery was moved from its original location on the Ropa River to a new location closer to the city center.
Numerous public and private buildings were built during the 15th and 16th centuries. On 25 July 1395, Queen Jadwiga
Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death. Her official title was 'king' rather than 'queen', reflecting that she was a sovereign in her own right and not merely a royal consort. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of...
issued building orders for the Szpital św. Ducha (Hospital of the Holy Ghost). The writ appropriated a nearby folwark
Folwark
Folwark is a Polish word for a primarily serfdom-based farm and agricultural enterprise , often very large. Folwarks were operated in the Crown of Poland from the 14th century and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century, from the second half of the 16th century in the joint...
, several fish ponts, and the remnants of a plaza that had been destroyed by fire in 1388. Funded entirely by tax revenue, the hospital's budget was the largest in the country.
Over the years, many churches have been located in Biecz, the most ever being seven within the city limits. The most prominent of these is Corpus Christi Church (Kościół Bożego Ciała). The oldest surviving structures date back to 1480, but the register of monuments of the Kingdom of Poland show that construction had already begun by 1326. The main nave was constructed during the 15th century and completed by 1519. The side chapels were built between 1521 and 1560, and the main altar was added in 1604.
Another important monument constructed during this period is City Hall. The original bell tower was constructed in 1569, and the rest of the structure was built between 1569 and 1580. The structure was built with funds donated by Marcin Kromer
Marcin Kromer
Marcin Kromer or Martin Cromer was Prince-Bishop of Warmia , a cartographer, diplomat and historian in Poland and later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
. Once construction on the tower was completed, the tradition of trumpeting the hejnał was begun. The hejnał was played every morning, noon, and evening, coinciding with the closing of the city gates, as well as in times of emergency.
In 1523, the Dom Barianów-Rokickich was built. The building was owned by Marcin Kromer and served as a pharmacy until the 17th century. Other important period buildings include the 1519 Kromer House, which never actually had anything to do with Marcin Kromer, and the Castle, built in the first half of the 16th century.
Biecz was a royal city
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
, and the center of local administrative, judicial, and military authority from the 12th century until 1783. In the 17th century, the district of Biecz encompassed eleven cities and 264 villages, as well as three castles, the royal court, and several royal residences. Kings from both the Piast
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
and Jagiellon dynasties made use of these royal residences. The royal residences remained in use by Polish monarchs until John II Casimir Vasa, who passed through the city while on his campaign to drive the Swedes from Poland
The Deluge (Polish history)
The term Deluge denotes a series of mid-17th century campaigns in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In a wider sense it applies to the period between the Khmelnytsky Uprising of 1648 and the Truce of Andrusovo in 1667, thus comprising the Polish–Lithuanian theaters of the Russo-Polish and...
.
The castle served as a center of economic exchange for many centuries, mainly due to its favorable location at the intersection of north-south and east-west trade routes.
In 1505, Alexander Jagiellon
Alexander Jagiellon
Alexander of the House of Jagiellon was the Grand Duke of Lithuania and later also King of Poland. He was the fourth son of Casimir IV Jagiellon...
strengthened trade relations with Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. As a result, the majority of Hungarian exports to Polish territories and beyond were sent through Biecz. These goods include iron, copper, lead, salt, wool, and large quantities of Hungarian wine. Initially this wine was a poor trade good, as the liquor was so expensive that only the magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s could afford to buy it. Over time, however, it became a more common drink, and increasing quantities were exported. On 17 January 1618, the wine cellars built by Kazimierz the Great had a stock of 331 barrels of Hungarian wine.
As the major defensive stronghold of the region, Biecz was required to combat manifestations of lawlessness. Marauders would frequently attack trade caravans, their major targets being those carrying large quantities of Hungarian wine. The issue was so widespread that the local sejm
General sejm
The general sejm was the parliament of Poland for four centuries from the late 15th until the late 18th century.-Genesis:The power of early sejms grew during the period of Poland's fragmentation , when the power of individual rulers waned and that of various councils and wiece grew...
designated a special committee to litigate the issue.
As attacks on merchants increased in frequency and severity, the government increased penalties for these types of crimes. The punishment was torture, usually flagellation
Flagellation
Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok...
, followed by execution. Afterwards, the head of the criminal would be mounted on a pole at the city gate to serve as a warning to others. The bodies of highwaymen
Highwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
were, according to tradition, hung from gibbet
Gibbet
A gibbet is a gallows-type structure from which the dead bodies of executed criminals were hung on public display to deter other existing or potential criminals. In earlier times, up to the late 17th century, live gibbeting also took place, in which the criminal was placed alive in a metal cage...
s, which can be seen in the Hogenberg etching above. Though no longer in use, these gibbets can still be seen today.
Biecz executioners also performed executions in nearby villages for a fee. According to financial records, in the year 1450 executioners were sent to the towns of Jasło, Rymanów
Rymanów
Rymanów is a town of 3,585 inhabitants . in Poland's Subcarpathian Voivodeship. It is a capital of a separate commune within the powiat of Krosno...
, Dukla
Dukla
Dukla ; , Duklya] is a town and an eponymous municipality in southeastern Poland, in the Subcarpathian Voivodship. The town is populated by 2,127 people . while the total population of the commune containing the town and the villages surrounding it is 16,640...
, Dębowiec, Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
, and Wojnicz
Wojnicz
Wojnicz is a town in Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship.The Battle of Wojnicz took place here on September 23, 1655, against Sweden.- People :* Sebastian Lubomirski* Jan Wielopolski the elder* Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski* Chaim Kreiswirth, rabbi...
.
| Population | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | Year | Pop. | ||
| 1398 | ~3000 | 1921 | 3673 | ||
| mid-16th century | ~3700 | 1931 | 4055 | ||
| 1626 | ~1617 | 1939 | 4268 | ||
| 1695 | ~1030 | 1944 | 5973 | ||
| 1784 | 1783 | 1946 | 3947 | ||
| 1815 | 1770 | 1958 | 4066 | ||
| 1850 | 2330 | 1972 | 4145 | ||
| 1880 | 2930 | 1991 | 4005 | ||
| 1900 | 3180 | 1996 | 4965 | ||
| 1914 | 3825 | 2006 | 4648 | ||
| Source: T. Ślawski, Biecz i okolice | |||||
The sheer number of executions enacted gave rise to the popular legend that there existed an executioners' school in Biecz. It is likely that this is the invention of a 19th century author, as trade schools did not exist during the Middle Age
Middle age
Middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. Various attempts have been made to define this age, which is around the third quarter of the average life span of human beings....
s. Nevertheless, the legend is a popular one, and some historical scholars have even devoted time to study the possibility.
As the population grew, so did the variety of trade goods and handicraft
Handicraft
Handicraft, more precisely expressed as artisanic handicraft, sometimes also called artisanry, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It is a traditional main sector of craft. Usually the term is applied to traditional means...
s produced in the city. In the 14th century, there were 30 different types of goods produced in the city, most of which are cloth or canvas goods. Economic prosperity gave rise to a mentality that valued education, which prompted the 1528 opening of a new school building. In the 15th and 16th centuries, 150 Bieczan students studied at the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
in Kraków, then still known as Akademia Krakowska. Most of these students returned to Biecz after completing their studies.
Biecz was home to a number of famous artists, painters, poets, and writers, including Jan Matejko
Jan Matejko
Jan Matejko was a Polish painter known for paintings of notable historical Polish political and military events. His most famous works include oil on canvas paintings like Battle of Grunwald, paintings of numerous other battles and court scenes, and a gallery of Polish kings...
and Stanisław Wyspiański. The first panoramic painting
Panoramic painting
Panoramic paintings are massive artworks that reveal a wide, all-encompassing view of a particular subject, often a landscape, military battle, or historical event. They became especially popular in the 19th Century in Europe and the United States, inciting opposition from writers of Romantic poetry...
of Biecz was created in 1617 by Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg. Another famous depiction is J. Janson's copperplate Widok ogólny Biecza ("General view of Biecz"), which appears in Regni Poloniæ Ducatus Lituaniæ novissima descriptio (1659). Biecz was also the subject of artworks created by numerous famous artists, including Tadeusz Rybkowski, ózef Mehoffer, and Helena Krajewska. Biecz was the subject of Miron Białoszewski's tpestry Średniowieczny gobelin o Bieczu.
The economic development of Biecz resulted in a population boom. A census conducted by the judiciary from 1388-1398 lists the names of 515 heads of households. Taking into account that contemporary families consisted on average of six people, it is believed that Biecz and its suburbs had at least 3,000 residents. By the mid-16th century, Biecz had a population of 3,700, the highest population the city achieved during the Middle Ages. Starting in the 17th century, Biecz went into a decline, its population slipping to approximately 1800 people in the first half of the 17th century, and then to 462 inhabitants in 1662.
Decline
Starting in the mid-17th century, the city began to decline due to the stationing of foreign troops, alterations in trade routes, and numerous natural disasters. Further devastation was caused by the Deluge, a series of disastrous wars with Sweden that left the Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
in ruins. The invading Swedes razed houses, farms, peasant buildings, hospitals, and three wooden churches on the outskirts of the city.
The wine trade, which had sustained the city as trade waned, began to decline. Contemporary record-keeping shows a significant reduction in the stock of wine in the middle of the 17th century. As time went on, the wine trade dwindled further before eventually disappearing completely.
On 4 April 1770, Kierkor, the commander of a troop of 100 cavalry, mounted an attack from Biecz against the Imperial Russian Army in Siepietnica
Siepietnica
Siepietnica is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Skołyszyn, within Jasło County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Skołyszyn, west of Jasło, and south-west of the regional capital Rzeszów.-References:1. Website:...
under the command of Iwan Drewicz (Russian: Иван Григорьевич Древич). The cavalry were overwhelmed, and the Russian forces pursued the retreating troops and plundered Biecz.
The golden age of Biecz ended with the partition of Poland
First Partition of Poland
The First Partition of Poland or First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. Growth in the Russian Empire's power, threatening the Kingdom of Prussia and the...
, after which the city was under Austrian rule
Austrian partition
The Austrian partition refers to the former territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth acquired by the Austrian Empire during the partitions of Poland in late 18th century.-History:...
. After the 1783 liquidation of the District of Biecz, the eastern portion of city hall, which was devoted to district administration, was demolished between 1815 and 1840.
By 1787, trade good production had declined such that there remained only eight trade guilds
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
. The most prosperous of the remaining trades was weaving, with approximately thirty workshops. Another surviving craft was shoemaking, with fourteen workshops. The shoemaking profession soon disappeared, however, as industrialization allowed for mass production of much cheaper product.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Biecz was one of the largest Polish cities both in area and population. Beginning in the middle of that century, however, Biecz fell victim to a number of natural disasters which devastated both its population and infrastructure. In 1543, 110 inhabitants died from a plague; a second plague in 1572 claimed 1,500 victims. In 1600 Biecz suffered yet another plague, which struck again in 1622. This plague struck the workshops, nearly wiping out the tradesman population. 52 craftsmen survived. The same occurred in the next plague, which struct in 1652. In 1721, Biecz suffered what is now known as the great plague, which devastated the populace and spared approximately thirty people.
In 1776, the ruling Habsburg dynasty sold the city to the Siemieńscy family, effectively revoking Biecz's status as a royal city. Initially the new administration provided a certain stability. However, in 1783, the city was forced to defend itself against invaders, forcing the administrative and judicial branches of government to shut down. The last Biecz castle still in service as a military stronghold fell to the invaders, who laid siege to the city. Effectively cut off from communication with the rest of the Austrian partition
Austrian partition
The Austrian partition refers to the former territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth acquired by the Austrian Empire during the partitions of Poland in late 18th century.-History:...
, and severed from the traditional Hungarian trade routes, the city withstood the invasion solely due to the recent renovation and strengthening of the city walls.
1850-1914
Biecz began to recover economically beginning in the late 19th century. During this period, the petrochemical industry began to develop in the vicinity, which contributed to a number of personal fortunes through the years. In 1879, the first oil wellOil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
was constructed in the Hart neighborhood, northwest of Biecz. Devastated areas were rebuilt and rejuvenated with money from these newly-made oil fortunes. One of these nouveau riche, Father Jan Bochniewicz, established a charitable
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
foundation with 50,000 PLN initial capital, a percentage of which was earmarked for distribution among the fifty poorest inhabitants of the city. The foundation survived until 1958.
The economic recovery and the inflow of capital to Biecz contributed positively to improving the quality of life. In 1882, Biecz constructed its first railroad station, and in 1889, its first credit union. Slowly education and culture returned to the city. In 1891 a new parochial school building was constructed, and in 1912 an all-girls school was opened. The 19th century brought with it an increased awareness of the historical value of buildings, and a subsequent increase in the conservation
Architectural conservation
Architectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of mankind's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuit is known as an architectural conservator...
and protection of historic monuments. As a result, Biecz soon became the focus of interest of many art historians, professors, and conservator
Conservator
A Conservator is a judge delegated by the pope to defend certain privileged classes of persons — as universities, Roman Catholic religious orders, chapters, the poor — from manifest or notorious injury or violence, without recourse to a judicial process...
s.
On 12 May 1903, a great fire broke out in Biecz, razing half of the city. According to historical documents, destroyed buildings included twenty Jewish stores, thirty Catholic homes, the tax collector's offices, a pharmacy, the newly built Synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, and old city hall. In total, 600 residents were left without homes.
In 1898, the city's public library, named after Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish–Lithuanian and American general and military leader during the Kościuszko Uprising. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Belarus...
, was opened and quickly became a cultural center. The original library was completely destroyed in the fire, but shortly thereafter was rebuilt and stocked with approximately 8,000 volumes.
World Wars
While World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
had little impact on the city proper, a number combatants who participated in the Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive are buried in cemeteries throughout the municipality.
There are five numbered cemeteries
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in Biecz wherein soldiers of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
are buried:
- cemetery no. 105, in Harcie, by the road to the communal cemetery.
- cemetery no. 106, on Ulica Bochniewicza, was recently restored.
- cemetery no. 107, along Ulica Tysiąclecia, was originally a Jewish cemeteryJewish cemeteryA Jewish cemetery is a cemetery where members of the Jewish faith are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition....
which was destroyed during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. - cemetery no. 108, by the FranciscanFranciscanMost Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
cloisterCloisterA cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
s. - cemetery no. 109, on Ulica Parkowej.
The interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
heralded new growth in Biecz. A number of societies were founded during this period, including the Związek Młodzieży Polskiej Polish Youth Union (1920) and the Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Society of Friends (1938). The Society of Friends soon established the Muzeum Ziemi Bieckiej (Museum of Bieczan Lands).
In 1934, the Ropa River flooded, washing away railway embankments and all the houses built on the banks or valleys of the River. The floodwaters rose to unprecedented heights.
The outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
abruptly halted all forms of cultural life. The War resulted in significant population losses, as well as the destruction of several buildings and cultural facilities. Many people were resettled in Biecz from towns like Jasło; by 1944 the total population of the city was 5,973 inhabitants.
In 1942 and 1943, the occupying Nazi forces carried out a number of Jewish massacres. In 1942, 200 Jewish citizens were publicly executed by the Nazis in the town square.
Nationalist and patriotic feelings were strong, and resistance forces quickly developed during both wars in the forms of National Army
National Army
The term national army has many meanings around the world, and is used typically, but not necessarily, to mean the lawful army of the state as distinct from rebel armies or private armies that may operate there.National Army may also refer to:...
recruits and peasant battalions, as well as acts of violence and sabotage.
Post World War II
After the war, Biecz began the process of reconstruction and preservation. The first new buildings constructed were related to education, and included several high schools and vocational schools. In 1949, a new public library was built, and in 1953, a regional museum. During the 1970s, new buildings included hotels, restaurants, cooperatives, a health center, and a public kindergarten. The 1980s saw the construction of 150 single-family homes.In 1950-1953, the city hall bell tower was renovated and strengthened, and the cupola covered in sheet copper. Later the city embarked on a costly campaign to repair and preserve the outer sgrafitto. Numerous preservation projects were ongoing during this period in Corpus Christi Church, such as the preservation of confessionals, altars, statues, and so forth. In 1992, the church gates of Corpus Christi Church were demolished. The gates dated back to the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
.
In 1955, a memorial plaque was placed on the city hall bell tower to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the death of Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Bernard Mickiewicz ) was a Polish poet, publisher and political writer of the Romantic period. One of the primary representatives of the Polish Romanticism era, a national poet of Poland, he is seen as one of Poland's Three Bards and the greatest poet in all of Polish literature...
. During the 1970s, the city built and dedicated a monument to the victims of the world wars. In 1989, a bust of Macin Kromer and accompanying monument were dedicated on the 400th anniversary of his death.
21st century
The 21st century has been marked by numerous restoration and preservation projects. In 2000, renovation work was completed on the 15th century bell tower. The 14th century Corpus Christi Church has been the scene of a number of important restoration projects, including the 2004 restoration of the altar of St. Teresa of Avilla, 2002 restoration of the main altar, and 2005 replacement of a number of important structural support beams.In March 2001, the Fundacja na Rzecz Szpitala Ubogich im. św. Jadwigi Królowej w Bieczu was established as part of a campaign to save the Gothic Hospital of the Holy Ghost. Renovation and preservation work had already begun by 2004.
On 21 April 2005, the town government reinstated the tradition of playing the hejnał. Beginning June 2009 of that year, the hejnał was played from the bell tower of town hall.
Biecz was one of the towns to host the seventh annual Małopolskie Dni Dziedzictwa Kulturowego (Lesser Poland cultural heritage day) from 20–21 May 2006. On 8 June 2006, relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s of Queen Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death. Her official title was 'king' rather than 'queen', reflecting that she was a sovereign in her own right and not merely a royal consort. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of...
, the patron saint of Biecz, were brought to the town for a dedicated exhibition. The relics were processed along a number of city and country roads that the Queen probably walked.
On 1 July 2007, Biecz celebrated the 750-year anniversary of the city's establishment under Magdeburg law. The festival was marked by dance performances, musical exhibitions, theater, and lectures by historical experts.
On 16 October 2008, the Biecz beltway was officially opened.
Demographics
| Demographics as of early 2007 |
||||||
| Description | Total | Women | Men | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Persons | % | Persons | % | Persons | % |
| Population | 4575 | 100 | 2 361 | 51,6 | 2 214 | 48,4 |
| Population density | 254 | 123 | 131 | |||
With a population of approximately 5,000, Biecz ranks as the 44th most populous city in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Małopolska Voivodeship , or Lesser Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, in southern Poland...
. As the city prospered and grew, so did the popualtion. In the 14th century, the district of Biecz, including the surrounding villages, had a total population of 522. By the mid-16th century, this number was 3,700, and by the early 17th century had fallen back down to approximately 1,800.
During the first half of the 16th century, Biecz was one of the largest Polish cities both in size and population. The wars with Sweden as well as numerous fires caused the population to begin to decrease. In 1721, a great plague struck Biecz. The thirty survivors built a memorial chapel to St. Michael the Archangel in memory of the victims. Nazi occupation during World War II resulted in significant population losses. A number of smaller villages were resettled into Biecz during this time, resulting, in 1944, in a population of 5,973, the highest recorded population in history.
In recent years, Biecz has slowly begun to decrease in population once more. There exists a migration trend that moves populations from cities to larger cities and abroad, mostly due to high unemployment and lack of higher education institutions. According to census records, in 2007 the city had 4,575 inhabitants, about 73 fewer than in the previous year.
In Biecz there are 107 women for every 100 men. The number of women in an age group is greater than the number of men for all age groups except the following: 5-19, 30-34, and 40-44.
Monuments
Due to its long, rich history, Biecz is home to a number of culturally and historically significant monuments and buildings. Some of the most important of these include the 14th century Corpus Christi Church, the 15th century town hall bell tower, and the 14th century hospital of the Holy Ghost.Corpus Christi Church
Corpus Christi Church (Polish: Kościół Bożego Ciała) is PolishPolish Gothic
The Gothic style arrived in Poland in first half the 13th century with Dominican and Franciscan orders. The first elements of the new style is evident in the foundation built during the bishop Iwo Odrowąż in Dominican Trinity church in Kraków...
Brick Gothic
Brick Gothic
Brick Gothic is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Northern Europe, especially in Northern Germany and the regions around the Baltic Sea that do not have natural rock resources. The buildings are essentially built from bricks...
church dating back to the early 14th century. One of the most important churches in Poland, it houses the relics of Queen Jadwiga. The church is built of stone and brick, and decorated with patterns of strongly fired bricks.
The oldest part of the church is the presbytery
Presbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
, which was completed before 1480. This date was inscribed on a support beam, and probably indicates the year in which expansion was begun. According to the monument registry of the Kingdom of Poland
Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)
The Kingdom of Poland of the Jagiellons was the Polish state created by the accession of Jogaila , Grand Duke of Lithuania, to the Polish throne in 1386. The Union of Krewo or Krėva Act, united Poland and Lithuania under the rule of a single monarch...
, construction first began in 1326. The presbytery entrance is framed by a 15th century painted screen of the Passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
of Jesus Christ. To the sides are 17th century stalls. A music pulpit that dates back to 1633, and which is the oldest such monument of its kind in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, can be found on the altar.
The altar was builtin 1604. The altarpiece includes an image of the cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
, circled by St. Michael the Archangel. It is one of three such images in the world. Above the painting is a scene showing the fatigue of the Mother of God, painted by Stanislas Stoss, son of Veit Stoss
Veit Stoss
Veit Stoss was a leading Bavarian sculptor, mostly in wood, whose career covered the transition between the late Gothic and the Northern Renaissance. His style emphasized pathos and emotion, helped by his virtuoso carving of billowing drapery; it has been called "late Gothic Baroque"...
. At the top is the coronation of Mary. To the left of the altar is the 17th century lesser altar of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
, which features the family tree of Mary.
On either side of the presbytery are 17th century, richly carved stalls. To the left is the Oratorium, where, according to legend, St. Jadwiga
Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death. Her official title was 'king' rather than 'queen', reflecting that she was a sovereign in her own right and not merely a royal consort. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of...
often prayed. In 2006, a shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
was added to the Oratorium to hold the relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s of St. Jadwiga.
The church has eight chapels. Each chapel has a patron and guild dedicated to it. The chapels are:
- chapel of Marcin Kromer (tailors guild)
- chapel of St. Anthony of PaduaAnthony of PaduaAnthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
(shoemakers guild) - chapel of Holy Mother (carpenters guild)
- chapel of St. Michael the Archangel (weavers guild)
- chapel of BonarówBonarówBonarów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Słupia, within Skierniewice County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland. It lies approximately west of Słupia, south-west of Skierniewice, and east of the regional capital Łódź.-References:...
, WielkopolskaGreater PolandGreater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
and LigęzówLigezówLigęzów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Klwów, within Przysucha County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately north of Klwów, north of Przysucha, and south of Warsaw.-References:... - chapel of St. John CantiusJohn CantiusSaint John Cantius was a renowned Polish priest, Scholastic philosopher, physicist and theologian. He is also known as John of Kanty or John of Kanti.-Biography:...
(bakers guild) - chapel of St. Tekla (butchers guild)
- chapel of St. Joseph (blacksmiths guild)
The main nave was added in 1519, and consists of a huge stone vault supported by eight stone pillars. A hanging pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
was added in 1604. On the left of the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
is the altar of Our Lady of the Rosary, alongside sculptures of Piotr Sułowski, Saint Anne
Saint Anne
Saint Hanna of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. English Anne is derived from Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah...
, and Mikołaj Ligęza. Near the Kromer and St. Anthony chapels is a memorial plaque to the 400th anniversary of Marcin Kromer's death.
The wooden choir loft was built in 1898 by organmaster Jan Śliwiński. The organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
has 22 voices, 2 manual and keyboard foot pedals. The instrument itself was designed by Sławomir Odrzywolski. The choir stalls date back to the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
period.
Alongside the church is a 15th century bell tower that was initially intended to serve as a defensive tower under the auspices of the butchers guild. The bell dates back to the 14th century. Since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the bell has been on display in the Kromer House museum. The belltower is built alongside the 19th century chapel of St. Barbara that was built over the ruins of a 15th century chapel.
The outer walls of the church are decorated with Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
-sculpted statues of the Apostles.
Town Hall
The originally-Gothic town hall was rebuilt in the 16th century, and served as the center of administrative power for the powiatPowiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
of Biecz. After the First Partition of Poland
First Partition of Poland
The First Partition of Poland or First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. Growth in the Russian Empire's power, threatening the Kingdom of Prussia and the...
, the powiat was dissolved, and the parts of the building dedicated to its administration fell into disuse. In the 19th century, the eastern wing of the hall was demolished. These foundations were discovered during a 1958 archaeological excavation of market square. Today these foundations are marked with commemorative plates.
The old bell tower collapsed from disrepair on 8 May 1569. It was rebuilt from 1569-1580 with funds donated by Marcin Kromer
Marcin Kromer
Marcin Kromer or Martin Cromer was Prince-Bishop of Warmia , a cartographer, diplomat and historian in Poland and later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
. The tower stands at 58 metres (190.3 ft) in height. The walls are sgraffito
Sgraffito
Sgraffito is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colors to a moistened surface, or in ceramics, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive layers of contrasting slip, and then in either case scratching so as to produce an...
ed plaster simulating the appearance of rustication
Rustication (architecture)
thumb|upright|Two different styles of rustication in the [[Palazzo Medici-Riccardi]] in [[Florence]].In classical architecture rustication is an architectural feature that contrasts in texture with the smoothly finished, squared block masonry surfaces called ashlar...
.
Inside hang numerous crests and coats of arms, including that of Marcin Kromer and Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Bernard Mickiewicz ) was a Polish poet, publisher and political writer of the Romantic period. One of the primary representatives of the Polish Romanticism era, a national poet of Poland, he is seen as one of Poland's Three Bards and the greatest poet in all of Polish literature...
. On the east wall is a 16th century 24-hour clock face
Clock face
A clock face is the part of an analog clock that displays the time through the use of a fixed numbered dial or dials and moving hands. In its most basic form, recognized universally throughout the world, the dial is numbered 1–12 indicating the hours in a 12-hour cycle, and a short hour hand...
. This style of clock is rare, as the 17th century brought with it a switch to 12-hour clock faces.
The bell tower's ornate cap burned in the great city fire on 12 May 1903. During the process of reconstruction, the cap was rebuilt with wooden shingles
Shake (shingle)
A shake is a basic wooden shingle that is made from split logs. Shakes have traditionally been used for roofing and siding applications around the world. Higher grade shakes are typically used for roofing purposes, while the lower grades are used for siding purposes...
, which in 1998 were covered with sheet copper. Historically, a trumpeter played the hejnał from this tower when the city gates were opened, morning, noon, and night. This tradition ended with the collapse of the old bell tower, which killed the town trumpeter. In 2005, the tradition was restarted, and today the hejnał is played every day at noon.
The lowest levels of the tower include a dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
called Turm. Convicts scratched primitive calendars and other inscriptions into the walls, which are still visible to this day. Today, the dungeons include an exhibition of prison cells, and an exhibition dedicated to medieval torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
instruments.
Holy Ghost Hospital
The Hospital of the Holy Ghost (Polish: Szpital św. Ducha) is the oldest preserved hospital in Poland. The Catholic church first began establishing hospitals in Western EuropeWestern Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
during the 8th century. The first Polish hospitals were established during the 13th century, where they were administered by various religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
s. Each hospital had an attached parish and church.
By the late 14th century, Biecz had accumulated a population of over 3,000 residents, necessitating some form of public health service. On 25 July 1395, Queen Jadwiga signed a royal edict ordering the construction of the hospital, granting tax breaks for the duration of construction, and earmarking two fiefs, a folwark
Folwark
Folwark is a Polish word for a primarily serfdom-based farm and agricultural enterprise , often very large. Folwarks were operated in the Crown of Poland from the 14th century and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century, from the second half of the 16th century in the joint...
, 3 fish ponds, and a town square near the city walls for construction. The budget provided by the queen for construction was one of the largest of its kind in the country.
In the 18th century, the church attached to the hospital was demolished, and in the 19th century, the hospital was renovated. The hospital continued to administer to the poor until 1950, when it was converted into a boys' boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
. After a new school building had been built, the hospital was abandoned, and began to fall into a state of disrepair. Attempts to restore the buildings began during the 1980s, but were disrupted due to political changes in Poland. Due to difficult economic times during from 1991–97, only the walls and roofs have been preserved at present.
The hospital is in the Eastern part of the city, and consists of a two-story building measuring 21 by 10.5 m (68.9 by 34.4 ft). The eastern and western walls are decorated with patterns made from dark, strongly-fired bricks. The eastern wall has two entries, while the west has one stone entry that has since been walled over. Above the stone entryway is a stone sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
of the Polish coat of arms with the date 1487, that was probably moved there from the remnants of the third castle during the 17th century.
House of Kromer
The Kromer House (Polish: Dom Kromera) is a 16th century building that never actually belonged to Marcin KromerMarcin Kromer
Marcin Kromer or Martin Cromer was Prince-Bishop of Warmia , a cartographer, diplomat and historian in Poland and later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
. Built in 1519, only 7 years after Kromer's birth, the building belonged to the wealthy Chodorów family.
Today the building houses a cultural museum that includes a number of important folk artifacts, art, and coins
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
. The oldest exhibits include axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
heads and related neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
artefacts, as well as Roman and Byzantine coins, and medieval ceramics and weaponry. Other exhibits showcase historical weaponry and the day-to-day life of townspeople throughout history.
City Walls
The city walls date back to the beginnings of the 14th century, when approximately 1,200 meters of walls protected the city. During the course of history, the city's defense systems altered to reflect the changing technologies of war, and today there remain only fragments of the original defenses. These fragments can be seen near Corpus Christi Church and the hospital of the Holy Ghost.Of the seventeen original towers, only three remain standing:
- Kowalska tower, or smith'sSmith (metalwork)A metalsmith, often shortened to smith, is a person involved in making metal objects. In contemporary use a metalsmith is a person who uses metal as a material, uses traditional metalsmithing techniques , whose work thematically relates to the practice or history of the practice, or who engages in...
tower, which currently houses a museum exhibition. - Rzeźnick tower, the bell tower.
- Radziecka tower, or the municipal commissionerMunicipal CommissionerMunicipal Commissioner is an office and political title in the municipalities of Sweden for councillors with executive responsibilities. The Commissioners are the only full-time employed office-holders outside the municipal civil service...
's tower, which also houses a museum exhibition, and which is also known as the House of Barian Rokicki.
In 1964, the foundations of one of Poland's best-known barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
s was discovered near Corpus Christi Church.
Castle
During the course of history, there existed three separate castles in Biecz. Currently, only the ruins of one of these remain. Of the other two castles, one was built in the current location of the Franciscan church, while the other was located on land owned by the hospital.Only the foundations remain of the Gothic royal castle on nearby Górze Zamkowej (literally Castle Mountain). The castle was built on the foundations of an early medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
gord. Built in the 13th century, the castle was made of fortified stone, and served as field headquarters for Polish kings and princes.
The entire hill was surrounded by a rectangular
Rectangle
In Euclidean plane geometry, a rectangle is any quadrilateral with four right angles. The term "oblong" is occasionally used to refer to a non-square rectangle...
defensive wall. The northern gate was guarded by a tower, bridge, and gates. The southern wall was protected by the Ropa River.
The castle ceased to be considered an important line of defense during the second half of the 15th century. In 1475, King Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
ordered the castle's demolition. Large pieces of stonework and related ruins were scattered across the nearby countryside as late as the 19th century. Today, all that is visible is the foundation of the castle, which has been preserved for posterity.