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Poland
> Zamosc
Zamosc
Great market square and the Armenian town houses
The most representative part of the city constitutes Great Market Square with
its town houses. According to the urban planning scheme, it was assumed to be
the centre of the middle-class part of the city. The Great Market Square in
Zamosc is said to be the most beautiful square of the 17th- century Europe.
A perfect square in shape, it has the dimensions of 100 x 100 metres. It is
surrounded by arcades of the town houses. As a consequence, Market Square has
a consistent form and holds an irresistible charm. The most interesting frontage
is the Northern one, which includes the Town Hall and the Armenian town houses.
Water market square and salt market square
These are the two smaller Market Squares within the shortest axis of the city.
The name of the Water Market Square originates most probably from the proximity
of the flood waters called "Wielka Zalewa" ("Great Flood").
The Salt Market Square is located in the part of town that was once inhabited
mainly by Jews. ). Its name comes from trading the salt stored here. Then, the
annexes of the Town Hall were built. They stood the test of time. In the past,
they used to house a prison and for this reason above the entrance there are
bas-reliefs of a hand, eye and scales-the symbols of justice.
The Zamosc museum
Sapphire Town Houses). Dating back to the 17th century, the stunningly beautiful
interiors are home to exhibitions devoted to history, archaeology, and ethnography;
there are also temporary exhibitions and accompanying events. Among the most
valuable historical collections there is the Zamosc incorporation charter (1580),
and the sceptre of the Zamosc Academy (1619). In the museum, one can also admire
the collection of portraits of the Zamoyski heirs of fee tail and their spouses.
The Zamosc cathedral
The cathedral was once a collegiate church. It was endowed by Jan Zamoyski and
designed by Bernardo Morando in the style of Venetian mannerism with some Polish
elements. It has the dimensions of 30m x 45m and is a three- nave basilica with
two rows of chapels.
The Zamosc fortress
Almost since the beginning of its existence, it had the reputation of a powerful
fortress and an impregnable city. Morando designed the walls in a very modern
way using the New Italian system. The construction of fortifica1 tions began with
the digging of moats and the dug out soil was used for the foundation of embankments.
Then embankments were built with bricks. In this way, sections of simple walls
were constructed, i.e., the so-called curtains and bastions were erected on their
connections.
The tourist route: bastion no. 7
The Tourist Route in the curtain and in Bastion No. 7 has existed since the
1980s, enabling visitors to look inside the Zamosc fortress. It leads through
the shooting gallery and the casemates. From April until October there is also
an added attraction on the fortress plateau, namely, the visitors can shoot
with a bow or fire a cannon and mint a coin of Stephen Bathory. In addition,
it is strongly recommended to climb the roof of the Casemate and look at the
Zamosc panorama from the viewing deck.
Stefan miler zoological garden
The zoological and botanical garden in Zamosc was set opened in 1918, as a School
Zoo created on the joint initiative of Stefan Miler and his students. It is
one of the oldest zoological gardens in Poland. Butterfly conservatory is a
real gem of the Zoo. Entering it, one can feel the atmosphere of a real-life
jungle, watch fabulous butterflies and admire tropical flora.
City park
The Zamosc City Park is said to represent one of the most interesting modernist
park assumptions in Poland. It was created on the remnants of the fortress,
which is why the layout of the land is particularly interesting. In the park,
there are also the remnants of the old fortification. The nature in the park
is abundant in trees and shrubs as well as in rosesand perennial plants.
Rotunda
The Rotunda is located approximately 550 metres from the southern wall of
Zamosc. It was once a fortified heavy gun post. It was built in the years 1825-
1831 underthe guidance of Jan Malletski.
Currently, the site houses "Rotunda" -The Museum of Martyrdom, which
is open from April to October from 7.00 a.m. until 8.00 p.m.
Synagogue
The Old-Town Synagogue is connected to the Sephardic Jews, who settled in
the city at the invitation of Jan Zamoyski. Zamoyski made Sephardic Jews and
other townsmen equal in the eyes of the law. He allowed them also to erect their
own temple. The synagogue constitutes an outstanding example of the late-Renaissance
Jewish architecture in Poland.
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