Żagań
Żagań | |
|---|---|
Old town | |
| Coordinates: 51°37′N 15°19′E / 51.617°N 15.317°E | |
| Country | Poland |
| Voivodeship | Lubusz |
| County | Żagań |
| Gmina | Żagań (urban gmina) |
| Established | 12th century |
| First mentioned | 1202 |
| Town rights | between 1248 and 1260 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sławomir Kowal |
| Area | |
• Total | 39.92 km2 (15.41 sq mi) |
| Population (2019-06-30) | |
• Total | 25,731 |
| • Density | 640/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 68-100 to 68-103 |
| Area code | +48 68 |
| Car plates | FZG |
| Website | urzadmiasta |
Żagań [ˈʐaɡaɲ] ⓘ (French and German: Sagan, Latin: Saganum) is a town in western Poland, on the Bóbr river, with 25,731 inhabitants (2019), capital of Żagań County in the Lubusz Voivodeship, located in the historic region of Lower Silesia.
Founded in the 12th century by Polish monarch Bolesław IV the Curly, Żagań was the capital of an eponymous principality from 1274 to 1935. The main sights are the former Augustinian Monastery, one of the burial sites of the Piast dynasty, listed as a Historic Monument of Poland, the Ducal Palace and Park ensemble and the POW Camps Museum, located at the site of German-operated WWII prisoner-of-war camps for over 60,000 Allied soldiers of various nationalities, where the Great Escape took place.
The town hosts the Polish 11th Armoured Cavalry Division. An American Armored Brigade Combat Team is constantly rotated through the town under Operation Atlantic Resolve.