Tarnów, Medieval city in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland.
Tarnów is a city in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, located near the point where the Biała and Dunajec rivers meet. The center features a rectangular market square surrounded by multi-story townhouses with painted facades and vaulted passages.
The settlement received town rights in 1330 from the Tarnowski family, who built a fortified complex here. During the 16th century, it grew into an important trading hub between Kraków and Lviv.
The name comes from the Tarnowski noble family, who shaped the urban character for centuries. Today their legacy appears in street names, coats of arms on old buildings, and annual festivals that honor the founders.
A railway junction connects the city to Kraków and the Ukrainian border, making arrival straightforward. The market square sits centrally and can be explored on foot, with most points of interest within a short walk.
Before World War II, this city had the highest percentage of Jewish residents in Poland relative to total population, a fact still visible in preserved synagogue ruins. The textile industry once dominated by Jewish craftsmen shaped the local economy until the postwar period.
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