COME AND SEE THE TOWN OF LEŻAJSK

Leżajsk is one of the oldest towns of the south-eastern part of Poland. It has a population of about 14 000. The town’s location decreed by the king Władysław

Jagiełło took place in 1397.

In the past Leżajsk was a place of multicultural character. For a few centuries, until the end of the Second World War, the town and its surroundings were inhabited

by Poles, Jews, Ruthenians and Germans.

Leżajsk’s most prominent sites include: the Bernardine Order Monastery and Church Complex, the Parish Church, the Manor House Complex, the Jewish

Cemetery, the Wooden Manor House, the Former Orthodox Church, the Municipal Public Library.

The Monastery and Church Complex was erected in the years 1618-1628.

Its baroque organ is one of the largest in Europe.

The Parish Church dates from the beginning of the 17th century.

Its main altar contains a famous painting presenting Virgin Mary with the Holy Infant.

The Manor House Complex was built in the years 1760-1770.

Today it houses the Museum of Leżajsk Region.

One of the museum’s permanent exhibitions is devoted to wooden toy making.

In the Jewish Cemetery there is the grave of the Zaddik Elimelech, one of the greatest members of the Hassidic movement.

Elimelech lived in the years 1717-1778 and worked as a psychologist and philosopher.

The Wooden Manor House, erected in the 17th century and made of larch logs, is one of the oldest Leżajsk buildings.

The manor house was renovated by its private owner in 1990.

The Former Orthodox Church was built in 1832.

Nowadays it belongs to Roman Catholics and is known as a branch church for school children.

Until the Second World War the edifice of the present Municipal Public Library housed a social and culture club of the “Proświta” Ruthenian Association.

This presentation has been made by the students of Leżajsk Primary School No. 2, Poland. It is the result of their joint actions connected with the implementation

of a Comenius project.