Tarnogród – the capital of Polish rural theatres, a multicultural town – always has attracted tourists with its uniqueness and rich medieval history. There are historic churches, synagogues and historical buildings which remind you of the multicultural heritage of the region. While in Tarnogród, a visit to the Tarnogród Cultural Centre (TOK) is a must. It is a vibrant showpiece of the town. For many years, it has attracted not only locals but also theatre lovers from all over the country. The TOK has been present on the cultural map of Lublin for over 65 years. Thanks to its unspoilt environment and beautiful surroundings, the city is an attractive place for tourists. It is worth taking a trip by bicycle and seeking harmony with nature. The town is full of country roads, paths, streets, where you will rarely meet a car.
A town on the crossroads of cultures and religions
Tarnogród is recognised as a multicultural town mainly because of its rich history, which includes ethnic and cultural diversity. Since the Middle Ages, it has attracted settlers from various regions of Europe, including Poles, Jews, Ukrainians, Germans and others. It was traditionally a place of three denominations – Roman Catholic, Jewish and Orthodox – to which Tarnogród’s temples (Catholic churches, an Orthodox church and a Synagogue) still bear witness today. In 1921, the number of Tarnogród’s Jews (almost half of the population) outnumbered the Catholic townspeople, while Orthodox Christians made up less than 13% of Tarnogród’s population.
The town is also famous for its traditional regional cuisine, with many unique dishes and flavours characteristic of the region. Influences from various cultures can be seen here.
– Dumplings are popular in Polish cuisine, but can be prepared in a variety of variants, from the traditional ones stuffed with meat or cheese, to versions with cabbage and mushrooms, which are typical of Eastern European cuisine.
– Potato pancakes are common in Polish and Ukrainian cuisine.
– Borsch is a traditional beetroot soup that is popular in Eastern European cuisines. It usually contains beetroot, cabbage, potatoes and sometimes meat.
– Kugel is a traditional Jewish dish that can be prepared in many ways, but usually contains noodles, eggs, milk and sugar. It is often a sweet dish. There are also salty variants.
The capital of Polish rural theatre
The Tarnogród Cultural Centre is a magical place where theatre and cultural activities have flourished since 1956. For more than 30 years, it has been managed by Władysław Dubaj, a nationally known cultural animator, creator and organiser of annual theatre assemblies (since 1975), which were transformed into the Assemblies of Polish Rural Theatres in 1984. Since that year, Tarnogród has been the undisputed capital of Polish rural theatre. The current director, Renata Ćwik, daughter of Władysław Dubaj, continues the assembly’s tradition. The pride of the cultural house is the band which cultivates and promotes the music of the region, as well as the famous Tarnogród costume in which it performs. The TOK is home to singing, dancing and music ensembles, a senior citizens’ club and a Fire Brigade Brass Band.
The institution’s activities related to building the historical awareness of the community are also extremely important. It is here that the first memorial chamber was established, the collection of which was moved in 1990 to the renovated synagogue building. The Tarnogród Regional Society operates at the cultural centre, on whose initiative the ‘Tarnogród Quarterly’ has been published. The Society has also organised scientific sessions and conferences as part of the Tarnogród History Meetings. Materials after the sessions served to publish a historical monograph of Tarnogród edited by Professor Ryszard Szczygieł. For all its contributions to folk culture, the Tarnogród Cultural Centre received the prestigious Oskar Kolberg Award in 2011.
Former synagogue – now municipal library
The synagogue was built by local Jews in 1686 and was destroyed during the occupation by the Germans. The devastated building was turned into a stable; the northern annex, which had housed the women’s gallery, was also demolished. In the post-war period, the synagogue was subjected to progressive devastation, serving as a warehouse for GS. Between 1985 and 1990, on the initiative of the Zamość branch of the Historical Monuments Conservator, the building was renovated to serve as a library and community centre.
The library, which is housed in the synagogue, attracts readers not only with its extensive collection of books, but with its very aura. It is located on a higher level, below which there is the Regional Memorial Chamber, which collects antique tools, objects of daily use and documents relating to the history of the region. Since 2012, the Library building has been home to Poland’s only Scissors Museum, which has over 150 exhibits.
Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Tarnogród.
The church was built at the end of the 60s of the 16th century – at first in a wooden form, in the 70s of the 19th century it was rebuilt into a brick one. What is worth seeing here is the iconostasis with images of saints, particularly venerated in this region. To the left of the iconostasis – the Tarnogród Icon of the Mother of God, most likely created in the 16th century. An interesting fact is that the icon was lost during the deportation of Ukrainians from the Chełm region. It was found in 2008. Subjected to necessary conservation work, it was returned to the Holy Trinity Church in Tarnogród. On the right side of the iconostasis – the icon of St Leontius and his image with a piece of his relic. This is a very important figure for the faithful, as the saintly confessed monk St Leontius (Stasiewicz), came from Tarnogród.
Late Baroque Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Situated on a small hill, the church is appreciated for its historic Baroque interior. Before it was built, there were two wooden churches on the site: the first, dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (burned down in 1629), and the second – which was demolished after 130 years and on the initiative of Father Józef Łysakowski, the brick structure of the present Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord was built.
Worth seeing here are the paintings on the vaults, the wooden Stations of the Cross and the images of saints in the side aisles. Inside the church, you will see world-famous works of art. The main altar contains paintings by the famous Italian painter of the Mannerist period, Domenic Tintoretto. They depict images of St John the Baptist and St John the Apostle. They were brought to Tarnogród thanks to Grand Hetman Jan Zamoyski, who commissioned the paintings from the Venetian master. Until 1781, the works were in the collegiate church in Zamość, but were later transported to Tarnogród. After the theft of the works in 1994, the paintings were returned to the parish and can still be admired today. Next to the church stands a historic bell tower from 1777, and on the other side of the churchyard, a historic vicarage as well.
A bit of history
The town of Tarnogród was founded in 1567. It owes its origin and name to the starost of Krzeszów, Stanisław Tarnowski, who located it in 1567 in a place called ‘Cierniogród’ by the local population, on the territory of the Krzeszów district in the Przemyśl region of the Russian province.
From 1588, Tarnogród became a part of Jan Zamoyski’s estate and later became a large centre of it. In the history of Poland, Tarnogród stands out as a place of establishment in 1715 Tarnogród Confederation, directed against the stay of Saxon troops in Poland and the policy of King August II.
After the First Partition of Poland, the town was incorporated into the Austrian partition and remained there until 1809, when – after its incorporation into the Duchy of Warsaw – it became the capital of a newly created county in the Lublin region, which included the towns of Biłgoraj, Frampol, Goraj, Zamość and Krzeszów.
It lost the status of a county town in 1842, and lost its municipal rights in 1867 (for the active participation of its inhabitants in the January Uprising). Connected to Biłgoraj County from that year, it was a large settlement – in 1906 it had about 7,000 inhabitants, and before World War II it had about 5,000.
The Second World War
The years of World War II were tragic for the town’s inhabitants. More than half of the town’s buildings were destroyed. In November 1942, the Nazis murdered about 2,000 Jews and deported the rest to extermination camps. In June 1943, the Nazis displaced the town’s Polish inhabitants to transit camps and then to forced labour in the Third Reich. The war changed the town. After 1944, the population dwindled even further when local Ukrainians left for the USSR. As a result, in 1946 Tarnogród had a population of only 2,200. On January 1, 1987, Tarnogród regained its municipal rights. Today, it is thriving. Since 1999, it has belonged to Biłgoraj County. Currently, the town has a population of 3,304 (CSO data from 2021).
Visionaries
Tarnogród is a town full of impressions. Interesting for history, culture and natural beauty. People in Tarnogród are known for their hospitality and friendly approach to tourists, making visitors feel welcome and comfortable. Local artists, musicians, writers and creatives are inspired by the atmosphere and history of the town, creating works that promote its unique character. The hosts take care of the town’s historical multiculturalism. They look favourably on the amateur theatres that come to the assemblies. They are proud of the fact that Tarnogród is referred to as the Capital of Rural Theatre.
Source: Tarnogrod.info, sztetl.org.pl