Okszów

Okszów, a village in the Lublin Voivodeship within the Chełm commune, boasts a rich history dating back to the 18th century, when its first owners were Michał and Zofia Sobolewski. In 1761, they transferred the manor farm to the Basilian monks of Chełm. In the 19th century, Okszów was owned by families such as the Sidorowskis, Prusinowskis, and Kuziemskis, and in 1873 the estate comprised 482 morgs (about 270 hectares), including a brewery with an annual production value of 3,000 rubles. During the interwar period, Okszów was home to the Józef Piłsudski People's Agricultural School, which was dedicated in 1925 by Piłsudski himself. During World War II, Okszów was the site of one of the largest German prisoner-of-war camps, Stalag 319, and also served as the headquarters of the 1st Polish Army. Architecturally, the most important site is the manor complex, which was adapted for the agricultural school. The 19th-century park, covering 9.3 hectares, is home to approximately 1,400 trees and shrubs. Okszów also features modern educational facilities, including the Agricultural School Complex and the Communal Public Library, as well as a sports complex with playing fields and sledding tracks. In 1989, the parish of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe was established, and local cultural traditions are celebrated during the annual Nadbużańskie Święto Pszczoły (Bug River Honey Bee Festival), which attracts beekeepers and visitors from various countries and offers honey tastings, regional dishes, and diverse competitions. Okszów, with its fascinating past and dynamic development, is an important part of the region, blending history with cultural life.