Pińczów is a small district city in the Southern of Swiętokrzyskie Region. The green valley of Nida river bending between picturesque hills makes the landscape of the Pińczów region especially beautiful. Three national landscape parks located in the neighbourhood of the city protect rare species of animals and plants since many times have been attracting the attention of biologists. Also archaeologists appreciate the heritage of the region, they find here precious relicts of ancient history, which include e.g. unique Celtic excavations.
The history of Pińczów is rich and diverse as it was shaped through centuries by powerful families of Oleśniccy, Myszkowscy and Wielkopolscy. Sons of these families played a significant role in polish history by fulfilling the duties of high ecclesial hierarchs, state servants and generals. Also Polish art and Architecture have much to owe to Pińczów. The local limestone being extremely decorative and pliable for further treatment was appreciated by eminent artists such as: Wit Stwosz, Giovanni Maria Padovano and Santi Gucci.
The city was always open and hospitable for people of different nationalities and religions. Especially Italians, Scots, Englanders, Germans, French people and Jews appreciated the atmosphere of the city. Jews have been living in Pińczów since the XVIth century enjoying the privileges granted to them by Myszkowscy family. Thanks to the economic freedom and innate talents they became soon leaders of the trade in Małopolska region by creating commercial relations with such cities as: Kazimierz, Leopolis and Gdańsk. Jews activated also the international trade with Wroclaw, Leipzig and Vienna. The high position of the city among polish Jews resulted in the establishment of "Parliament of Jews of the Crown" known also under the name "Parliament of four lands".
Several eminent personages of Polish history had direct relationships with Pinczow. The city, due to its high recognition in the country, actively took part in the process of the emancipation of Jews. Especially Hugo Kołłątaj - Pińczów's parson of that time and chairmen of parliamentary commission for Jewish issues encouraged the integration of Jews with Polish society. 40 years later Jan Olbrych Szaniecki –inheritor of Pińczów city, postulated in national parliament granting full citizenship rights for Jewish people. The process of emancipation was successfully finalised by Aleksander Wielkopolski – the successor of Szaniecki, who released a disposition repealing all restrictions referring to Jewish people. Wielkopolski annulled all prohibitions concerning the place of living, acquiring immovables, fulfilling public functions and special taxes binding Jewish citizens. Wielkopolski remained in the memory of Jewish people for long time. His funeral, 25 years later, gathered thousands of grateful Jews.
A material sign of Jewish inherence in Pińczów is the old synagogue – a wonderful piece of architecture and art. It was built in the beginning of XVIIth century thanks to the approval of Zygmunt Myszkowski. The synagogue was located in the centre of Jewish quarter, close to the extensive Jewish cemetery. The experts of Jewish architecture claim that the Pińczów synagogue is the oldest example of prayer house in polish lands, in which all chambers form a compact block covered by common roof. The mural paintings situated in four chambers of the synagogue attract the attention of visitors. The paintings of the men’s hall are dated for the beginning of the XVII th and thus probably they are the oldest in Poland. On the Eastern wall of men’s hall there is a stone-made aron ha-kodesz, which is being compared with a similar one located in Leopolis synagogue "Gold Rose". M. Bałaban wrote about this altar that it represents the style of "the most beautiful renaissance".
Pińczów was through centuries called "ancient Judea in miniature", that's the expression of A. Łubieńska, who wanted to encourage tourists to visit Pińczów. In XIX century, when the Jewish Encyclopaedia was published in Russia, the appropriate article began with the words "Pińczów belongs to those cities, where Jewish people have never been confronted with any obstacles in their everyday lives". How wonderful sounds this praise of the city's history and Polish-Jewish neighbourhood.
Author: Andrzej DziubińskiTourist Information Office - The Town and Commune of Pińczów. You can find all the information you need:
ul. Plac Wolności 22, 28-400 Pińczówtel/fax: (41) 357 54 04,
e-mail: citpinczow@poczta.fm
Town Council in Pińczowie:
ul. 3 Maja 10, 28-400 Pińczówtel: (41) 357 38 71 (do 75), fax: (41) 357 26 45,
e-mail: sekretariat@pinczow.com.pl
http://www.pinczow.com.pl
Regional Museum in Pińczów:
ul. Piłsudskiego 2a, 28-400 Pinczówtel: (41) 357 24 72 e-mail: mrpinczow@wp.pl