Skawina, Poland

Welcome to Skawina, a charming town located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship of southern Poland. With a population of 27,328 inhabitants (2008), Skawina is situated on the Skawinka river, in close proximity to the city of Kraków. The town covers an area of 20.50 km2 and has a population of 23,761 (as of December 31, 2010). Skawina has a rich history dating back to the late 13th century when three villages existed here: Babice Nowe, Babice Stare, and Pisary. These villages belonged to the Tyniec Benedictine Abbey. Skawina was granted Magdeburg rights by King Kazimierz Wielki on May 22, 1364, and a few years later, the parish church of Holy Spirit was founded here. Skawina was the seat of a wójt and remained in the hands of the Benedictine monks. The town had a defensive wall and a castle, which was the residence of the wójt. In 1509, Skawina burned in a fire, but the town was quickly rebuilt and enjoyed the prosperity of the Polish Golden Age. Good times ended in the Swedish invasion of Poland when Swedish and Transilvanian armies destroyed Skawina, reducing its population by 50%. After the Partitions of Poland, Skawina became part of Austrian province of Galicia (1772). The town remained poor and backward until the second half of the 19th century when Skawina became a railroad hub, with three lines, to Kraków, Sucha Beskidzka, and Oświęcim. A brewery was built, and new businesses were opened. In the Second Polish Republic, Skawina belonged to the Kraków Voivodeship. During World War II, Skawina was occupied by the Germans, who murdered nearly all of the town’s pre-war population of around 300 Jews. After the war, the Communist government of Peoples Republic of Poland decided that Skawina would become a center of heavy industry. In 1954, the Skawina Aluminum Works (Huta Aluminium Skawina) were opened, and in 1961 the Skawina Power Station (Elektrownia Skawina) went online. The aluminum works were closed in 1981 due to the widespread pollution they caused. The growth of industry resulted in an influx of new residents and the construction of several apartment blocks in new districts of the town. Today, Skawina is a peaceful town with a rich history and many interesting places to visit. One of the most interesting historic buildings in Skawina is a Renaissance palace, built in the mid-16th century by Paweł Korytko. Skawina is also home to sports club Skawinka, founded in 1922. Skawina is twinned with Civitanova Marche in Italy (since 2005). Come and visit Skawina, and discover the charm of this hidden gem in southern Poland!