Jawiszowice brings together several specific points of interest for a trip: the history of the Jawischowitz subcamp, the wooden St Martin’s Parish Church, the regional room Piykno Izba and the starting point of a section of the Vistula Cycling Route in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The topics therefore range from local history and sacred architecture to everyday objects and cycling. For your planning, a good first step is to choose the focus you want to shape your stay.

History and Architecture

The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum locates the Jawischowitz subcamp in the village of Jawiszowice. In June 1944, 2,500 prisoners were held there, most of them Jewish people from Poland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Hungary. The relationship between the two names is clear: Jawischowitz refers to the subcamp, while Jawiszowice is the village where it was located. The date, number and origins of the prisoners give this historical topic a specific temporal and geographical context.

The wooden St Martin’s Parish Church was built in 1692. If you are interested in historic sacred architecture, its wooden construction and year of construction provide two specific features to focus on. They also offer a point of comparison with the history of the subcamp: the church belongs to the architectural history of the 17th century, while the camp’s occupancy is recorded for June 1944. This makes it possible to place two different aspects of local history in context by subject and period.

Everyday Culture at Piykno Izba

The regional room Piykno Izba adds objects from the lives of Jawiszowice residents to these topics. Its collection includes dishes, household appliances, furniture and furnishings from homes, as well as agricultural tools, jewellery, toys, and everyday and festive clothing. The objects were used by residents for at least three generations. Thus, alongside the individual types of objects, the collection also offers a cross-generational perspective on everyday life. The regional room opened in September 2019, when its collections were made accessible to a wider audience.

The Vistula Cycling Route and Trip Planning

Cyclists also have a clear connection to the village: the section of the Vistula Cycling Route in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship begins in Jawiszowice, coming from the west. The direction of approach is therefore a useful reference point when planning this section. Check the current route conditions before setting off. Here, the focus is on route planning, whereas the cultural topics concern architectural history, historical context or the Piykno Izba collection.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Jawiszowice, it helps to decide first what the purpose of your trip is: an interest in sacred architectural history is a different focus from a collection about everyday life or a cycling trip. If Piykno Izba is part of your plans, check the current visiting arrangements in advance; for the cycling route, checking route conditions is part of your preparations.

Discover more destinations: Bielany, Łęki, Brzeszcze, Skidzin, Kęty, Nowa Wieś, Grojec, Zator

For the overview of the wider area: Auschwitz.