Rudka

Rudka is a village in Poland, located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, Bielsk County, serving as the seat of the Rudka municipality and the Roman Catholic Parish of the Holy Trinity. Settlement history dates back to prehistoric times, and the village itself was founded in the second half of the 14th century. Its name may derive from deposits of iron ore or rusty peat waters. Over the following centuries, the village was owned by many prominent families, including the Korczewskis, Hlebowiczs, and Ossolińskis, who secured trade privileges for the locality. In the 18th century, iron smelting was conducted in Rudka, and numerous Rudka estates existed. After World War II, the estate was nationalized, and an agricultural school began operating in the village. The Church of the Holy Trinity houses collections related to the history of the parish, with the oldest endowment dating back to 1442. The architectural charm of the village is highlighted by historic buildings, including an 18th-century brick church and the Ossoliński Palace from 1763, surrounded by an English-French style park. Modern-day Rudka is a locality with developed educational infrastructure and rich natural surroundings, including protected forests that are home to rare species of plants and animals, such as white-tailed eagles and black storks. The largest employer in the municipality is the Rudka Forest District. In 2006, the Rudka School Complex was named after John Paul II. The village has undergone significant history, from medieval settlement to contemporary administrative and developmental changes, and its cultural heritage remains present to this day.