Happy TravellerWelcome to Nowy Sącz, a charming city located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship of southern Poland. With a population of around 83,116 as of 2021, Nowy Sącz is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County as a separate administrative unit. The city has a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine that make it a must-visit destination for any traveler.
Nowy Sącz has been known by many names throughout history, including Neu Sandez in German, Újszandec in Hungarian, Novyj Sanc in Rusyn, and Tzanz and Nay-Sants in Yiddish. The city is located at the confluence of the Kamienica River and Dunajec, about 20 kilometers north of the Slovak border, in the Sądecka Valley at an altitude of 381 meters. It is surrounded by ranges of the eastern Outer Western Carpathian Mountains, including Beskid Sądecki to the south, Beskid Wyspowy to the west, Beskid Niski to the southeast, and the foothills of Pogórze Rożnowskie to the north.
Nowy Sącz has a temperate climate, with an average annual rainfall of about 700 millimeters. The city was founded on November 8, 1292, by the Polish and Bohemian ruler Wenceslaus II, on the site of an earlier village named Kamienica. The town benefited from its proximity on the trade route to Hungary due to privileges granted by King Władysław I the Elbow-high, and later his son, Casimir III the Great, for supporting him during the Rebellion of wojt Albert in 1311–1312. During these times, the majority of the town’s inhabitants were German colonists. In the 15th century, it produced steel and woollen products, and nearly rivalled Kraków in visual arts.
Nowy Sącz has many historic features, including one of the largest marketplaces in Europe after Kraków, along with one of the largest old squares in Poland. The late 19th century Ratusz (city hall) is centred in the square. Other points of interest include Saint Margaret’s Basilica, a Gothic church from the 15th century, a 15th-century Gothic House containing a regional museum, a Gothic Franciscan church, the Great Synagogue, dating from 1746, now the Galeria Dawna Synagoga, a gallery with some historical displays, and the partially restored ruins of a medieval Royal Castle from the 14th century during the reign of Kazimierz the Great. It was destroyed in 1945 at the end of World War II when it was used as a German ammunition store and was the site of mass executions. There are also the remains of the city walls nearby.
The mountainous country around Nowy Sącz is also popular with tourists, and the city is the historic and tourist centre of Sądecczyzna, the Sądecki district. An open-air museum or skansen (Sądecki Park Etnograficzny), containing a village of relocated authentic structures recreating indigenous architecture, customs, and folk culture from the region, is also a popular attraction. Of particular note are the wooden churches, including an Orthodox church and the Roma (Gypsy) village. Stary Sącz (Old Sącz) 10 km to the south, founded in 1163 but smaller than Nowy Sącz, has a charming cobbled market square, with a convent of Poor Clares to the east. There are also several routes emphasizing wooden churches in the region of note.
Nowy Sącz is also important in the food industry, specializing in processing fruits, especially apples. Most of the factories were in the Biegonice district. The local government is trying to change the structure of the industry, restructuring
