Józefów

Józefów is a town in the Lublin Voivodeship, located in the Biłgoraj County, on the Niepryszka River. It serves as the seat of the urban-rural municipality of Józefów and is the second town in Poland with this name. The town was founded in the early 18th century on the lands of the village of Majdan Nepryski, with its founding charter signed by Tomasz Józef Zamoyski in 1725. Józefów quickly developed as a center for crafts and stonemasonry, but its growth was hindered by the partitions of Poland and the German occupation during World War II. The town was known for its Hebrew printing houses, and Jews constituted a large part of its population; however, during World War II, they were almost entirely exterminated. In 1944, after the war, Józefów began a process of reconstruction and development, which led to it regaining its town rights in 1988. Józefów features historical monuments such as the town hall from 1775, a 19th-century synagogue, and a parish church. The town and its surroundings are home to numerous natural monuments and tourist attractions related to the Roztocze and Solska Wilderness regions, including recreational reservoirs and a viewing tower built in 2011. Józefów is also a sports center, known for its amateur football club LKS Cosmos Józefów. The town attracts tourists who appreciate its scenic beauty and rich history.