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Tarnów is known for its traditional Polish architecture, which was influenced by foreign cultures and foreigners that once lived in the area, most notably Jews, Germans and Austrians. [3] The Old Town, featuring 16th century tenements, houses and defensive walls, has been preserved. Tarnów is also the warmest city of Poland, with the highest ...
A fortified town was founded on the site by the wealthy Tarnowski family in 1330. Completely destroyed by fire in the 15th century, it was rebuilt and became a cultural centre in the 16th century. It passed to Austria in 1772 and returned to Poland after World War II, in which all its industrial plants were destroyed.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
A privately owned city until 1787, Tarnów’s greatest period of growth came under the illustrious, avant-garde nobleman Jan Tarnowski during the 16th century when the Old Town was largely reconstructed in the manner that today earns it the accolade of being Poland’s ‘Pearl of the Renaissance.’
According to early modern written sources, it had three floors, probably also in the 16th century was reinforced with corner brick buttresses. The entrance to it was preceded by a drawbridge, pulled up by a 5.3 meter long chain.
The greatest period of development for Tarnow occurred in the 16 th century when Jan Tarnowski the nobleman, or hetman, and famous entrepreneur was the heir of Tarnow. In 1536 there lived 200 tenement houses and 2000 inhabitants within the city walls.
At the beginning of the 16th century Tarnów had ca. 1,200 inhabitants. The city was surrounded with fortified walls and had water supply and sewage systems in place. The inhabitants made their money on trade and craft.
Of the late Gothic details, the northern nave portal from the beginning of the 15th century has survived, and the southern one from the vestibule to the nave and from the tower to the nave, both from the beginning of the 16th century.
