Tarnow

Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland, located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, about 80 kilometers east of Kraków. It sits on the Wisłoka River and functions as a regional administrative and cultural center. The city has a population of roughly 110,000 residents.

Historically, Tarnów dates to the medieval period and grew as a market town within the Kingdom of Poland. It developed further during the Renaissance and remained an important regional center within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Following the partitions of Poland, Tarnów became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s Galicia and remained under Austrian rule until Poland’s reestablishment in 1918.

In the 19th century Tarnów expanded as a railway junction and light industrial town within Galicia, contributing to its growth and urban development. The city experienced social and economic changes as it integrated into broader Polish and Central European networks.

During World War II, Tarnów was occupied by Nazi Germany. The Jewish community, along with other residents, faced persecution and deportations. After the war, Tarnów rebuilt and developed as a regional cultural and educational center in Poland.

Today, Tarnów preserves a historic old town with a market square and several churches, and houses institutions such as the District Museum in Tarnów. The city supports cultural life through museums, theaters, and festivals, and serves as an administrative and service hub for the surrounding area.