Jurgów

Jurgów is a picturesque Spiš village located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, known for its numerous heritage sites listed in the national register, including the Parish Church of St. Sebastian, homestead No. 215, and a complex of shepherds' huts on Pod Okólnem Glade. The village features a waterwheel-powered sawmill, which, despite its age and surviving fires, remains operational. Nearby, there is a metal border post from the Austro-Hungarian era and a former fire station from 1943, now used for organizing exhibitions. Jurgów boasts a rich linguistic landscape; locals speak the Spiš dialect, and Mass is held in two languages—Polish and Slovak—in the local church. The community is characterized by strong cultural influences, including musical traditions associated with the brass band, whose origins date back to 1830, and the regional ensemble "Cepelia-Podhale," founded in 1953. An important element of Jurgów's culture is also its poetry and literary works, which preserve local traditions and history. The village was founded in 1546 and has experienced various political affiliations over time, shaping its development. According to legend, it was established by the outlaw Jurko. After the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the village was assigned to Poland in 1920, and during World War II, it was part of the Slovak Republic. Today, Jurgów is a popular tourist destination, particularly due to its ski resort offering downhill slopes and opportunities for extreme sports on the Białka River. Economically, due to challenging conditions for crop cultivation, the village historically focused on pastoralism and water-powered processing, though today most residents are employed in tourism. Jurgów is also home to several notable figures, such as Józef Bryjka, a folk musician and singer, and Elżbieta Dziębowska, an AK courier and Warsaw Uprising insurgent.