Tarnów

Tarnów is a city in southern Poland, located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. With about 110,000 residents, it is the seat of Tarnów County and a city with powiat rights. The city lies in the historic region of Galicia, roughly 80 kilometers east of Kraków, and serves as a regional rail and road hub.

The town has medieval origins and developed as a market settlement that received town privileges in the Middle Ages. Its historic center preserves architectural styles from the Renaissance to Baroque, with the Market Square at its heart, lined by arcaded houses and a historic Town Hall. The area includes several churches and religious buildings and hosts a regional museum and other cultural institutions.

Under the partitions of Poland, Tarnów became part of the Habsburg-ruled province of Galicia. In the 20th century it endured the occupations of World War II and housed a Jewish community that suffered during the Holocaust; after 1945 Tarnów reestablished itself as a regional center for industry and services.

Economically, Tarnów today is diversified, with services, light manufacturing and educational activities contributing to the local economy. The city hosts several higher education institutions and research centers that serve the wider region.

In terms of transportation, Tarnów Główny railway station is a major junction on routes connecting Kraków with eastern Poland, including Przemyśl and Rzeszów. The city is also connected by roads to Kraków and other regional centers, reinforcing its role as a regional intermediary and services hub.