Szczurowa

Szczurowa, a village in the Brzesko County of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, boasts a long and rich history dating back to medieval times. The first mentions of its lands appeared in the will of Bolesław Krzywousty (Boleslaus the Wry-mouthed), and the village was founded in 1338 under German law by Bishop Jan Grot. From that time, Szczurowa developed as an agricultural settlement, featuring a mill, an inn, and a church. In the 16th century, it became part of the Kraków bishopric. In the 19th century, the village came under the administration of Jan Popowich and later the Zieliński family, and in 1846, it was spared from the Galician slaughter. Thanks to Anastazja and Jan Kępiński, who settled in Szczurowa in the 1850s, the village transformed into a culturally significant town, which contributed to the expansion of its infrastructure, including the construction of an eclectic-style palace and a new church. The Kępińskis were involved in patriotic activities, supporting independence movements and organizing charitable actions. After World War II, Szczurowa became known for tragic events, such as the Szczurowa Massacre, where German occupiers murdered 93 people from the local Roma community. The post-war fate of the village was tied to the development of local government structures and education, which persisted even during the occupation through clandestine teaching. Many notable figures were born in Szczurowa, including participants in national uprisings and social activists. The village is home to valuable historical monuments, such as the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew from 1893 and the Kępiński manor. Szczurowa, which gained town rights in 1785 and was later stripped of them in 1933, is not only a place with a rich history but also holds social and cultural significance in the region.