Alwernia

Alwernia is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, distinguished by its rich architectural and cultural heritage. Among its listed monuments are the architectural and spatial complex featuring the Monastery and Church of the Stigmata of St. Francis, the monastic establishment of the Bernardine Fathers, and wooden houses dating back to the 17th and 19th centuries. Alwernia is renowned for the Museum of Firefighting, the oldest of its kind in Poland, and the Skowronek Reservoir, making it an attractive tourist destination. The town's history dates back to the 17th century when Krzysztof Koryciński of the Topór coat of arms founded a monastery modeled after the Italian hermitage of Alverno. The monastery quickly became a center of religious life, housing many valuable artifacts, including the Ecce Homo painting. After the Koryciński family line died out, the estate passed into the hands of the Schwarzenberg and Szembek families, who contributed to the settlement's development by granting it the right to hold markets in 1776. Alwernia obtained town rights in 1790 and was recognized as a commercial and administrative center by 1796. The town hosts an annual fair known as Strzelanka on the first Sunday following the Octave of Corpus Christi, attracting numerous pilgrims. Alwernia also holds a place in Polish history, as Witold Pilecki hid here in 1943, and the town faced challenges such as forced resettlements by the Germans during World War II. Transportation in Alwernia is well-developed due to its proximity to the A4 motorway and provincial road 780. The town has bus connections to larger regional centers, although the PKP (Polish State Railways) station has been closed since 2002. Alwernia is also an industrial hub, home to the "Alwernia" Chemical Plant, and has a sporting presence with the local team MKS Alwernia and annual mountain races. Notable figures associated with Alwernia include Andrzej and Mikołaj Grabowscy, who contributed to Polish theater culture. The name "Alwernia" refers to Mount La Verna in Tuscany, associated with St. Francis of Assisi. Alwernia is a place where history, culture, and industry harmoniously intertwine, creating the unique character of this Lesser Poland town.