Mroczków

Mroczków is a village located in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in the municipality of Bliżyn, known for its rich history and industrial traditions. Its name dates back to 1415, and the village consists of a main part and three hamlets: Kaptury, Niwki, and Kamionka. From the 16th to the 19th century, Mroczków was a significant center of the iron industry, with a forge established between 1532 and 1548 and an expanded blast furnace, which in 1778 was rebuilt from an earlier bloomery used for smelting iron ore. In the 19th century, water mills also operated in the village, of which only traces remain today. The period of World War II brought tragedy, as the surrounding forests provided shelter for units of the Home Army, and the village experienced brutal repression from the German occupiers. After the war, Mroczków began to develop, and among its present-day attractions are a primary school from the 1950s and a Volunteer Fire Department. Architecturally, the wooden Church of St. Roch from the early 19th century stands out, built as a votive offering of gratitude by the inhabitants in response to a cholera epidemic. Today, Mroczków is home to approximately 630 residents, and among the local monuments are the remains of the water mills and a stone cross funded in 1877. An interesting fact is that Teofil Waligórski, a well-known politician and journalist and co-founder of the National Democracy movement, lived in Mroczków. With its historical roots and traditions, Mroczków constitutes an important element of the region's culture.