Będzin, Medieval town in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Będzin is a town in Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland that follows the Czarna Przemsza River at roughly 176 meters above sea level. Narrow lanes climb from the waterfront toward the castle hill, surrounded by a patchwork of residential neighborhoods, parks and commercial structures.
A guard post appeared here in the 9th century along a trade route linking Kyiv and Western Europe. The settlement received town rights in 1358 and later grew into a center for coal mining and iron production.
The town's name comes from an Old Polish word meaning 'drum', likely referring to the rounded hilltop where the fortress stands. Today residents walk between the old center and riverside parks that connect former factory districts with newer housing.
Three railway stations offer connections to larger Polish cities, while local buses serve the town and neighboring communities. Walking from the station to the castle takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes uphill through the old quarter.
Parish priest Wincenty Zawadzki hid Jewish families in the Holy Trinity Church during World War II, saving their lives. A plaque on the church wall now honors his courage and the people who found refuge there.
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