The Best Things to See and Do in Tarnów

Tarnów is a Polish city in the Małopolska Province that is too often overshadowed by the province’s capital, the world-famous Kraków. Understandably, this is why many tourists neglect pretty Tarnów, some even unaware of its very existence. Tarnów sits under the radar yet deserves to be seen. For the intrepid tourist, this list contains some interesting things to check out, a true reward for your decision to venture here.

Watch day become night at the Town Hall

Tarnów has a historic Town Hall, sitting in the heart of its Old Town Square (Stary Rynek). It began life as a Gothic building in the 15th century, but has since been through changes during the Renaissance period, and again in the 1800s. You can go inside into the little museum, which has relics in silver and glass of the noble family who used to rule over Tarnów. It’s worth watching day turn to night as the lights come on and the bars fill up.

Rynek 1, 33-100 Tarnów, Poland

Visit the mausoleum of General Józef Bem

Tarnów contains the mausoleum of General Józef Bem. Bem was born in this city and is considered a national hero in Poland, Hungary and the former Ottoman Empire. Bem was an engineer and army general who fought for what he believed in – to maintain and protect Poland’s borders. As well as visiting his mausoleum, Bem also has a statue on Forteczna Street.

Strzelecki Park, Romanowicza, 33-100 Tarnów, Poland

Wander through the Jewish Cemetery

It is worth making the ten-minute walk north of the Old Town to the Old Jewish Cemetery. With thousands of gravestones in a huge area, this is one of the largest cemeteries in Poland. What’s more astonishing is that they remain fairly intact – they were not destroyed by the Nazis. It is not a common tourist sight, so parts of the paths within the cemetery are overgrown – tread carefully.

Szpitalna, 33-100 Tarnów, Poland

Understand the sad history at the Mikvah

The Mikvah (Jewish Bath House) in Tarnów has a truly sad history. Jews used this place to meet and bathe for generations. However, on June 14, 1940, Nazis took 753 convicts (most of whom were not actually Jewish) from the local prison and locked them here overnight. The next morning they were all escorted at gunpoint to the notorious Nazi Concentration Camp known as Auschwitz. They were the first prisoners to enter that death camp. Surprisingly, it has since been used as a bar and nightclub, and these days houses an up-market restaurant.

Więcej: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/poland/articles/the-best-things-to-see-and-do-in-tarnow-poland/