Chmielnik

Chmielnik is a town in the Kielce County of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, situated on the Wschodnia River at the intersection of important national and regional roads. As the seat of the municipality, Chmielnik serves as a commercial and service hub, with industries focused on building materials and food processing. The town features a well-preserved urban layout with a small market square and perpendicular streets, which is a valuable architectural monument. Numerous sites in Chmielnik are listed in the register of historical monuments, including the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of the Holy Trinity, and a synagogue dating back to 1630. The history of Chmielnik dates back to the 13th century, with the first records from 1241. From the mid-16th century, the town became one of the centers of Polish Calvinism, significantly influencing its cultural development during that period. Chmielnik was granted town rights by King Sigismund Augustus in 1551. Education also played an important role, as evidenced by the existence of a Calvinist school and the organization of synods. After the closure of Calvinist churches in 1689, the town declined, but by the 18th century, a Jewish community had settled there, contributing to its economic revival. Chmielnik was a private town and, after the Third Partition of Poland, came under Austrian rule. In the 20th century, the town witnessed historical events, including skirmishes during the January Uprising and the entry of the Red Army in 1945. Today, the town is divided into four districts, and in the realm of sports, the football club Zenit Chmielnik, founded in 1946, is actively involved. Since 1990, the town has had several mayors, with Paweł Wójcik currently holding the office. Chmielnik is a place rich in history and tradition, blending elements of Catholic and Jewish culture, making it an interesting point on the map of Poland.