Baborów

Baborów is a town located in southern Poland, in the Opole Voivodeship, within Głubczyce County, with a rich history dating back to the 13th century. It was granted town rights before 1340, and its name derives from the given name Bawor. Over the centuries, Baborów has been influenced by Czech, German, and Polish cultures, forming part of various political entities. The town's architecture includes numerous historical monuments, such as 19th-century churches, the wooden cemetery church of St. Joseph from 1700–1702, and well-preserved 19th-century houses. Baborów was a site of industrial development, including the establishment of a sugar refinery and a cement plant, as well as the introduction of railway communication in 1856, which contributed to economic growth. A Jewish community once thrived in the town, and after World War I, in 1919, Czechoslovakia raised territorial claims to Baborów at the Paris Peace Conference. After World War II, the town underwent significant Germanization, and in later years, efforts were made to partially commemorate tragic events related to the war, such as the death marches. Today, Baborów serves as a local service center and is home to a feed production plant. It maintains partnership ties with the town of Hradec nad Moravicí in the Czech Republic and Teublitz in Germany. The residents take pride in their rich history and cultural diversity, which contribute to an active social life and contemporary challenges.