Zamosc

 

Jan Zamoyski issued the Foundation Charter of Zamosc on the 10:th of April in the year of 1580. The location was confirmed and endorsed with additional privileges by King Stefan Batory, a cordial friend of Jan Zamoyski. The city, located in the south-eastern area of Poland, was set to perform many functions, it was to be Jan Zamoyskis family seat, a fortress that would defend the borders of Poland and an important cultural center.

An Italian architect from Padua, Bernardo Morando, was asked to make a design of the city. He decided to build Zamosc, a "Padua of the East", where two major rivers met thus making the city an ideal place for defence.

 

Zamosc in an old oil painting.

 

The Zamosc Fortress in the year of 1856.

 

Zamosc was situated in the crossroads of important trade routes leading from Kiev to Gdansk and from Vilnius to Cracow. The trade contributed vastly to the prosperity and development of the city. The Zamosc Academy, the Zamosc Fortifications and numerous churches were completed by the end of the 16:th century. The Zamosc Fortress has exerted a vast influence on the military history of Poland. It has never been captured by any enemy troops.

 

The Old City of Zamosc with the Fortifications in the foreground and the Great Market Square in the background.

 

Bernardo Morando designed a modern city in the Renaissance style surrounded by seven bastion fortifications, with three access gates and three market squares. The most spectacular of them is the Great Market Square. This market square is dominated by the lofty City Hall with its high tower and monumental staircase. On both sides of it stand beautiful houses, once owned by the rich merchants of Zamosc. South-west of the market square is the Zamosc Cathedral with its splendid Renaissance interior decorations, including paintings, portraits of the Zamoyski family and the family crypt.

 

A part of the Fortifications.

 

The City Hall.

 

Zamosc is considered to be one of the most precious urban complexes in Europe and the world. The old design of Zamosc and its most important historical objects have been preserved until today. Zamosc was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage list in the year of 1992 as the third Polish city, after Cracow and Warsaw had been entered on the list.

 

UNESCO World Heritage List Inscription.