Jarosław: Old Town history on the San

Jarosław combines a location on the San with a rich and varied history. The city lies on the high edge of the river’s left terrace, at the boundary between the Rzeszów Foothills—also called the Jarosław Foothills in this section—and the Lower San Valley. Visitors interested in culture and landscape during a trip to Poland will find a range of topics here: architectural history, religious art, and the river-shaped surroundings.

Landscape and location on the San

The landscape around Jarosław also tells the story of the San’s development. Repeated shifts in the river’s course have left behind former river channels known as Sanowiska. The area also features deep ravines, typical of loess regions and called Wądoły. The two terms refer to different landforms: Sanowiska are former river channels, while Wądoły are deep ravines. They give the surrounding area its own geographical character, without implying a specific route or access to any particular places.

Old Town and historic buildings

The Ratusz (town hall) is one of Jarosław’s notable historic landmarks. It was first mentioned in the last quarter of the 15th century. A clock dating from 1896, made in Vienna at Richard Liebing’s workshop, is mounted on the tower. The town hall thus brings together two clearly distinct dates: the building’s first mention and the year the tower clock was made.

The Podziemne Przejście Turystyczne runs beneath the townhouses at Rynek 4, 5, and 6. It is 186 metres long and reaches up to 6 metres below the surface of the market square. These precise measurements describe both the passage’s length and its depth beneath the square. The Kamienica Orsettich is also part of the city’s history: it has housed the Muzeum w Jarosławiu since 1945.

Sacred art and Jewish history

The Kolegiata pw. Bożego Ciała (formerly św. Janów) is the oldest post-Jesuit church in Poland. The high altar contains the painting Matki Boskiej Śnieżnej Królowej Rodzin. It survived the church fire of 1862 and is especially venerated. For travellers interested in sacred art, both the painting’s history and its veneration are important aspects of the church.

The history of the Jewish community is also among Jarosław’s historical themes. Construction of the new Mykwa, a ritual bathhouse at Spytka 11, began in 1906. During the typhus epidemic of 1920, at the county governor’s request, the Jewish Community made the Mykwa available to all residents. This historical episode records a specific moment when a religious institution played a role in the way the epidemic was addressed at the time.

Music, the fair, and water in the county

The Festiwal Muzyki Fortepianowej im. Marii Turzańskiej is Jarosław’s most important annual classical music festival and has been held since 2012. The Jarmark Jarosławski takes place in the Old Town towards the end of August. The two events offer different cultural points of interest; for the fair, its timing is also useful when planning a visit. If you are planning your stay for a specific year, be sure to check the date of the event that year.

Water activities can be found in the wider geographical area of Powiat jarosławski: the San flows through the county, and the 70-hectare reservoir in Radymno invites visitors to swim, enjoy water sports, and fish. This makes it a different excursion focus from the city’s cultural and historical attractions. When choosing accommodation, consider the focus of your trip: are you mainly interested in city history and sacred art, or would you also like to include the county’s water activities? A hotel, holiday apartment, and holiday home are different types of accommodation; the right choice depends on your preferences for service, independence, and day-to-day travel.

More town pages: Radymno, Morawsko, Jarosław, Boratyn, Tuczempy, Munina, Pruchnik, Radawa, Chłopice, Zamojsce.

For the wider travel overview: Subcarpathia.