A FEW WORDS ABOUT SŁAWKÓW
Sławków is one of the oldest towns in the south of Poland besides Kraków (Cracow). As a legend has it, it was founded by a knight named Sławko, from whose name the name of the colony was derived. It was granted the civic rights in the 13th century, at the same time as Cracow, Sandomierz, Wiślica and Bochnia.
Originally, Sławków was a fortified city ruled by Silesian princes, then it was a mining settlement and an important trading post on the route from Wrocław to Cracow. Today Sławków belongs to Silesia province and has almost 7,000 inhabitants.
Besides the rich history and beautiful historic monuments the town offers the beauty of nature with vast areas of forests and the unique character of the Biała Przemsza Valley. The numerous historic monuments and interesting history can give all visitors an opportunity to move for a while to a primeval city.
Sławków has a chance to become the centre of weekend tourism for Zagłębie (Coalfield) and Śląsk (Silesia). The huge potential of the town can make it a desirable place for visitors searching for peace and relaxation.
The town is likely to become an economically developing centre of the region with the biggest "dry port" in Europe, and the most westward European thread of the "broad gauge", where a logistic centre is going to be built in the nearest future.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
Sławków is one of the oldest places in the south of Poland, situated on the route from Wrocław to Cracow. The settlement expanded quickly thanks to mining, craftsmanship, trade and agriculture. It was also an important centre of ore mining.
The first mention of Sławków comes from the beginning of the 13th century. The originally ducal property became an estate of the mighty bishops of Cracow. In the 13th century the great parish church, later the St John the Baptist' monastery church and the bishop's castle - one of the oldest in Poland, were built. Sławków was granted the civic rights in the second half of the 13th century. A document from 1286 describes Sławków as a city (civitas). In its heyday the city was the centre of the so - called "key of Sławków" and a temporary residence of Cracow bishops.
The golden age of Sławków declined with the end of the Middle Ages and the downfall of the city was eventually decided at the time of the Swedish invasion. The inhabitants took part in national uprisings, which is documented. When the Polish State ceased to exist, the city lost its civic rights (in 1869). They were restored to Sławków only on 1st January 1958. The interwar period is the time of the gradual development of the town. The outbreak of the Second World War brought Germans to Sławków. The town's inhabitants fought in the September campaign and on remote fronts. The town was liberated on 23rd January 1945.
Until 1999 Sławków had belonged to the Katowice province, after the administrative reform it was included into the Małopolska province but returned to the Silesia province in 2002. As the saying goes "Cracow was built on bread from Sławków". It was born in the 13th century after craftsmen from Sławków had contributed significantly to the reconstruction of Cracow destroyed by Tatar invasions in 1241 and 1259. Besides, the fact that both in Cracow and in Wrocław there are streets named "Sławkowska" proves that the next important city situated on the route between the two great ones was Sławków, not Bytom, Brzeg or Oława.
HISTORIC MONUMENTS
Sławków has rich history. For that reason it abounds in historical and cultural resources. The numerous historic monuments which can be found in almost each part of the town speak volumes for the splendour and power of Sławków. Some of the monuments are very important not only for the region, others are vital for the identity of our "small homeland".
Sławków is an example of a medieval city, whose layout still exists. In order to preserve the traditional buildings and the layout of the old town, it constitutes the area protected by conservators of monuments.
The town is often mentioned in archaeological literature thanks to the discovery of one of the oldest stone fortifications in southern Poland - the bishop's castle dating back to the second half of the 13th century. Besides ruins of a residential tower, a building of a gate and remains of walls there are also an earth embankment, a moat and a secret subway found during archaeological research. Austeria is one of the most interesting historic monuments of Sławków. The old wooden inn built in 1781 is undoubtedly the most beautiful and probably the oldest one in Poland.
Among other places worth seeing in Sławków there are: the parish church dedicated to the Elevation of the Holy Cross, "Lamus", a former estate of the bishops of Cracow, dating from the end of the 15th century or the beginning of the 16th century, St Mark's church, St James' church and a Jewish cemetery called Kirkut.
CULTURE
Sławków is a town whose history goes back to the dark Middle Ages and is closely connected with the town's culture. The inhabitants cherish both the history and the culture because they evidence the magnitude and uniqueness of Sławków. Research and archaeological excavations prove the artistry of crafts, and the history and legends reflect the rich culture of the town.
The Town Cultural Centre, which has been operating for twenty years, fosters the cultural life of the inhabitants of Sławków. There is the Song and Movement Children's Band "Supełek" founded and led continuously by Małgorzata Kostka since 1986. There are also some other artistic groups, e.g. Old Wave, Mandolinists, Ragtime Band, Ancora Imparo, Focus, Focuski.
A characteristic of people who live in Sławków is their social activity evidenced by prosperous organisations and societies. The Lovers of Sławków Society cherishes the culture, tradition and history, and the Association in Support of the Development of the Town Sławków tries to increase the chance of the town's social and economic development.
NATURE
The main advantage of Sławków is the beauty of its nature, whose enclaves have remained in the shadow of the great industry. The Biała Przemsza river, which flows through Sławków, has a unique character, especially in the Klucze - Okradzionów - Sławków section. It is characterised by the existence of numerous meanders on the wide area of bog and marshland. The Biała Przemsza Valley is a refuge for waterfowl, especially ducks, plovers, seagulls, cranes and also the predatory marsh - harriers.
In the Chwaliboskie district there is a part of the "Eagles' Nests" Scenic Park. The area of 115 ha is replete with a variety of fauna and flora, which is concentrated mainly in the river basin of Biała Przemsza flowing through the park.
Sławków is a paradise for people who are fond of mushrooms. In August, September and October they comb the local forests for butter boleti, bay boleti, umbrella mushrooms and lactarius. Forests cover about 1,230 ha, nearly one - third of the town's area. Consequently, nobody should fear that there is too little space for them.
ECONOMY
As the saying goes "Cracow was built on bread from Sławków". It was born in the 13th century after craftsmen from Sławków had contributed significantly to the reconstruction of Cracow destroyed by Tatar invasions in 1241 and 1259.
Nowadays our town also has a chance to become a vital economic centre of the whole region. In Sławków there is the most westward European thread of the "broad gauge", which has a connection with the trans - Siberian railway, enabling the direct transportation of goods from the Far East by rail.
The town's economy does not only involve the "broad gauge" and the Euroterminal, but first and foremost the local firms, which prosper on Polish and European markets.
For years the town was the centre of metal industry, which is still the main branch of the town's economy. Such services as trade, the catering business and transportation are becoming increasingly important. The local government also focus on the development of tourism and recreation.
In 2003 there were 465 economic establishments in Sławków. The town is an attractive place for investors. Besides, the system of tax cuts, introduced in 2003, can be an impulse for them.
"BROAD GAUGE"
The East and the West meet in Sławków, where there is the end of the broad gauge trans - Siberian railway. Thanks to the railway, trains with containers from Russia, Ukraine and the Far East can reach Silesia, without the necessity of reloading on the border.
One of the biggest logistic centres in the European Union is going to be built in Sławków in the next few years. Loading platforms, warehouses and bonded stores are also going to be erected here. The transportation of goods by rail will be cheaper and faster than by ship. The logistic centre can employ even 2,000 people and it can reload 100 thousand containers a year.
The Metallurgy Broad Gauge Railway Line, which ends in Sławków, starts on the border with Ukraine. It was built in the 70's. When the economic connections with the East weakened, the line deteriorated. It is going to change soon.
SPORT & RECREATION
In 1921, three years after the independence was regained, football, the new sport which was a tremendous success in Western Europe, came to Sławków. Franciszek Kołpanowicz, the president of the Gymnastic Society "Sokół" , was the founder and organiser of the football division. He persuaded young people in Sławków to practise the new game.
Nowadays in the town there are prosperous sports clubs and societies which constitute the recreational base for the inhabitants, e.g. the Town Sports Club "Sławków", in which young people learn to play football.
In 2002 a new sports hall, which is attached to "Zespół Szkół" in Sławków, started to be used. Besides, near the Jan Baranowski Primary School there are sports fields which supplement the sport base of the Recreational Sports Club TKKF "Michałek".
On 15th December 1998 the Pupil's Sports Club (UKS) was founded in Sławków. Its main objective is to improve the physical fitness of children and to popularise sport, especially football. Members of the club initiated the building of the beach volleyball court in Hrubieszowska Street.
