Zaborów

Zaborów is a sołectwo (administrative village unit) in the Masovian Voivodeship, located in the Leszno municipality, within the buffer zone of the Kampinos National Park, 30 km west of Warsaw city center. The village boasts a rich history dating back to the 1st century BC and the early Middle Ages. The first written records mention a resident named Ścibor of Zaborów in 1239, and the village was the ancestral seat of the Zaborowski family of the Rogala coat of arms. The village features a historic classicist church dedicated to St. Anne, built in 1791, and a 19th-century palace complex belonging to the Goldstand family, surrounded by a park. Other preserved monuments include a Roman Catholic cemetery and a manor farm complex. During World War II, the village endured significant suffering, and the school building was used by the German gendarmerie for brutal interrogations. After the war, a State Agricultural Farm (PGR) was established, and the palace became a creative retreat center. Zaborów is also home to significant organizations, such as the Missionaries of Charity, where Mother Teresa of Calcutta opened a house in 1983. Today, the village offers various cultural and educational activities, including a public school complex, local sports clubs, and scouting organizations. It also has transport infrastructure, enabling residents to commute to Warsaw. Interestingly, the palace in Zaborów and its surrounding park have served as filming locations for well-known productions such as "Lalka" (The Doll) and "Kariera Nikodema Dyzmy" (The Career of Nikodem Dyzma). With its rich history and cultural heritage, Zaborów is a place full of living historical legacy, attracting not only local residents but also tourists.