Biecz
Biecz | |
|---|---|
From left to right: Museum with a turret tower, Holy Ghost Hospital from the 14th century, Grodzka Street and Town Hall, Corpus Christi Church | |
| Coordinates: 49°43′55″N 21°15′45″E / 49.73194°N 21.26250°E | |
| Country | Poland |
| Voivodeship | Lesser Poland |
| County | Gorlice |
| Gmina | Biecz |
| Established | 10th century |
| Town rights | 1257 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mirosław Józef Wędrychowicz |
| Area | |
• Total | 17.71 km2 (6.84 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 281 m (922 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2021) | |
• Total | 4,468 |
| • Density | 252/km2 (650/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 38-340 |
| Area code | +48 13 |
| Vehicle plates | KGR |
| National roads | |
| Voivodeship roads | |
| Website | http://www.biecz.pl |
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Biecz (Polish pronunciation: ['bʲɛt͡ʂ] ⓘ) (German: Beitsch) is a town and municipality in southeastern Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Gorlice County. It is in the Carpathian Mountains, in the Doły Jasielsko-Sanockie, by the Ropa River. Due to its rich history, it is often referred to as "little Kraków" or the "pearl of the Carpathians". The many preserved medieval city walls and buildings have also given rise to the nickname "Polish Carcassonne" for both Biecz and the town of Szydłów.
By the mid-16th century, the city was one of the largest in Poland. Being a royal city, Biecz enjoyed an economic and social Renaissance during the 14th and 15th centuries which tapered off into a gradual decline starting during the 17th century. Today, it is a small town with a number of historical monuments.