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Brief history of the town
November 1292: King Wencelaus II grants
to Nowy Sącz the municipal rights, in the document, called “Nova
Civitas Sandecz”. It was a very favourable paper, giving the settlers the
rights to build among the others two public baths, cloth halls, butcher
stalls and mills. The town was given the right to use 5/6th of
all profits earned on the commercial and production activities for its
own benefit.
1311: Nowy Sącz supports
the King Ladislaus the Short, during the rebellion organised by Krakow’s
town people. In return, the king granted to his “faithful citizens” many
privileges. This resulted in further development of the town, which
became an important trade centre in this part of the country.
1350 – 1360: The King Casimir the Great
builds a huge castle and city walls. At that time many of Nowy Sącz
citizens occupied important political positions on the country level.
Stanislaw Malachowski of Nowy Sącz for example, was the Speaker of
the Polish Parliament.
April 1410: The King Ladislaus
Jagiello holds a meeting with the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas at the
castle of Nowy Sącz. After the meeting, the king sets off for the
war against the Teutonic Order. In the 15th century, the town
gains its fame for woollen goods and steel products.
1448: The bishop of Cracow
raises the status of St. Margaret’s Church to the level of a collegiate.
Later on, in 1992, the church became a basilica.
15th and 16th
centuries: The town reaches the peak of its development. Many artists and
craftsmen chose the town to be their home. Nowy Sącz was able to
compete with Krakow in the field of visual arts.
17th century: The great fire of 1611
destroyed most of the town and later on the invasion of the Swedish
devastated the economy. Nowy Sącz looses its importance as a
merchant power.
18th century: Along with Galicja, Nowy
Sącz was incorporated into Austro-Hungarian Empire. The laws of the
invader lowered the status of the town to be a regional capital rather
then provincial, as it used to be before.
19th century: Construction of Tarnów –
Leluchów railway, connected the town with the rest of the country. It
gave Nowy Sącz a chance for new development.
1918: Poland regains
independence. Nowy Sącz becomes a capital of the county. Enlargement
of the railway factory occurred. New factories and workshops were built.
6th September
1939: The
Nazis captured the town. One third of the population of the town (34 000)
did not survive the war. The Jewish Ghetto was formed near to the castle.
Many of the captured Jews were deported to concentration and
extermination camps. At the end of the 2nd World War, 62% of
the town was destroyed.
1975: Nowy Sącz becomes the
capital of the province. This boosts the importance of the town in the
southern part of the country.
End of 1980’s and
beginning of 1990’s: With the rest of the country, the town enjoys
the return of democracy. Rapid development of private enterprise changes
the outlook of the town. Quick development of town’s infrastructure.
2000: Administrative reform of
Poland downgraded the status of the town. Nowy Sącz is no longer a
capital of the province, but is incorporated into the province with the
capital in Krakow. Due to the activities of National Louis University in
Nowy Sącz, the town becomes more cosmopolitan and young in spirits,
as it attracts the youth from many parts of Europe and the world.
1st May 2004; Together with the rest of
the country, Nowy Sacz becomes a part of the European Union, the union of
25 countries. The town and its inhabitants are now faced with the
challenges and opportunities deriving from the membership in the EU.
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