Michalów

Michałów is a village in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, situated on the Mierzawa River, serving as the administrative seat of the Michałów Commune. It is distinguished by its rich history, dating back to at least the 14th century, when Dobiesław, the castellan of Kraków, built the first church here. The village, whose name derives from the given name Michał, quickly became an important center focused on the development of local education, crafts, and farms. In the 15th century, Michałów gained a brick church and came into the hands of various owners, including the Kurozwęcki and Myszkowski families. Ultimately, in the 19th century, it was owned by the Dembiński family, who contributed to the construction of a new church, which remains the central place of worship to this day. The Church of St. Lawrence, built between 1852 and 1853, is a brick, single-nave structure with Baroque altars and is listed in the register of historical monuments. The Michałów community is characterized by an active cultural life, as evidenced by the activities of the Volunteer Fire Department, established in 1922, which possesses modern rescue and firefighting equipment and celebrated its centenary in 2022. Michałów is also known for its Stud Farm, dedicated to breeding Arabian horses, attracting equestrian enthusiasts. The village is home to an Educational Institutions Complex and a Kindergarten, reflecting its commitment to children's education. It is also worth mentioning the tragic events of World War II, when a German labor camp operated in Michałów, where many people were imprisoned and forced into hard labor. In the Michałów cemetery, there is a grave of an unknown soldier of the Polish Army murdered by the Nazis, and in the forest near the Kwietniówka hamlet, a wooden cross stands in memory of the officers of the Polish Army murdered in Katyn. Thus, the history of Michałów reflects both its development and the difficult times it has endured.