Rzeszów

Rzeszów is the largest city located in southeastern Poland.

It sits within the heartland of the Sandomierz Basin. The Wisłok River flows through the area, dividing the city into two sides.

Rzeszów serves as the capital of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship. It is also the administrative seat for Rzeszów County. Today, the city is considered one of the most elite cities in Poland. It is known for rapid progress and a high standard of living.

The history of the region begins in the late Paleolithic Age. Archaeologists found a human tool at the Rzeszów 25 site from this period. In the mid-6th century BC, the first farmers arrived through the Moravian Gate. Later, the area was home to the Lusatian and Przeworsk cultures. By the 7th century, Slavs appeared in the region. These people were likely the Vistulans. In the 10th century, the area became part of the emerging Duchy of Poland. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, the East Slavic Ruthenians conquered and annexed the town. Polish rulers of the Piast dynasty eventually recaptured it in 1264.

In 1340, King Casimir III the Great recaptured the area for Poland. He invited knights to govern the land. The town was granted Magdeburg rights, which were special legal privileges.

These rights allowed local authorities to build fortifications and tax merchants. They could also punish criminals. The town featured a marketplace, a cemetery, and a parish church. In the 15th century, the first Jewish residents settled in Rzeszów. The city grew because it sat on major trade routes. These routes connected Kraków to Lwów and Lublin to Slovakia. This location helped the town recover after several large fires and attacks by the Tatars.

The 16th century was a period of great prosperity. During this time, the nobleman Mikołaj Spytek Ligęza invested in the city's infrastructure. He built a castle, a monastery, and a Bernardine church.

The population reached about 2,500 people, including a growing Jewish community. In the 1638, the powerful Lubomirski family took control of the town. They made it the center of their vast properties. In 1658, the first college opened, which is now the Konarski Secondary School. However, this prosperity ended due to wars and fires. The city was captured by the Swedes and other armies during various conflicts.

In 1772, the First Partition of Poland changed the city's status. Rzeszów was annexed by the Austrian Empire for 146 years.

The population grew from 3,000 in the late 18th century to 7,500 by the mid-19th century. By 1911, the population reached 23,000 people. Half of these inhabitants were Jewish. The city also modernized during this time. The Galician Railway reached the city in 1858. Telephone lines opened in 1888, and gas street lamps appeared in 1900. A power plant and water system were established in 1911. Many modern buildings in the Secession style were built during this era.

World War II brought significant destruction and hardship to Rzeszów. The German army occupied the city and renamed it Reichshof.

During the occupation, the Germans established a ghetto for the Jewish population. Before the war, 14,000 Jews lived in the city, making up over one-third of the people. Sadly, about 20,000 Jews were murdered in the ghetto or nearby forests. The Polish intelligentsia also faced severe persecution. Many were arrested or executed at the local Bernardine monastery and in the Lubzina forest. The Polish Underground State remained active in the city.

Home Army soldiers fought to protect the population and attacked German positions.

Today, Rzeszów is a major regional center for business and tourism. In 2011, Forbes ranked it as the second most attractive semi-large city for business. The city has many higher education institutions and foreign consulates.

It is also a destination for travelers. Visitors enjoy the Old Town, the Main Market Square, and historic synagogues.

The city is connected to the world via the Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport.

Between 2017 and 2021, the city expanded its borders to include more surrounding counties. This change helps Rzeszów function as a large metropolitan center in southeastern Poland.