Sławków

Sławków
Sławków
	Town hall
	Flag Coat of arms
	Sławków
	Coordinates: 50°19′N 19°23′E / 50.317°N 19.383°E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Silesian
County	Będzin
Gmina	Sławków (urban gmina)
Area
• City	36.6 km2 (14.1 sq mi)
Population (2019-06-30)
• City	7,017
• Density	190/km2 (500/sq mi)
• Urban	2,746,000
• Metro	5,294,000
Postal code	41-260
Website	http://www.slawkow.pl

Sławków

Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line

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Location

Sławków is located in western

Lesser Poland Upland), on the Biała Przemsza river. The town borders Dąbrowa Górnicza, Sosnowiec, Jaworzno and Bukowno. Apart from its historic center, Sławków has 25 smaller districts, and as much as 35% of the town is covered by forests. The name of the town comes from ancient Slavic given name Sławomir

(Sławko, Sławek), and can be translated as The settlement of Sławko.

History

Archaeological sites from the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages have been discovered giving evidence to early human settlement in the area. The first written record of the town's name comes from 1220. However, the exact date of its incorporation remains unknown. Indirect written sources indicate that it most probably took place between 1279 and 1286. This assumption is supported by two documents from the 13th century: a charter issued in 1279 by Prince Bolesław V the Chaste, in which the locality is still called a village (villa episcopalis) and an agreement dated 1286 between the Bishop of Kraków Paweł z Przemankowa and Prince Leszek II the Black, in which Sławków is already called a town (civitas). In the 1280s, Bishop Paweł z Przemankowa built here a defensive castle, located near western border of Lesser Poland.

Due to rich deposits of lead and silver, and location on a merchant route from Kraków to Wrocław, Sławków quickly developed, and in the 13th century it was one of the most important urban centers of Lesser Poland. In the 14th century its importance diminished, and later on, the town was destroyed several times in numerous wars (1433, 1434, 1455), as well as in a fire (1498). Furthermore, the deposits of silver and lead dried out. Until the Partitions of Poland, Sławków remained administrative center of properties of the Bishop of Kraków.

In 1795 Sławków briefly belonged to

Congress Kingdom). In the mid-19th century first industrial enterprises were established here, and the town was connected with other locations in the area by a paved road. In 1870 Sławków lost its town privileges, to recover them in 1958. In 1885 it got a rail connection with Kielce and Dąbrowa Górnicza, in 1887 with Sosnowiec. In the Second Polish Republic Sławków belonged to Olkusz County, part of Kielce Voivodeship. After the war, until 1975, it belonged to Kraków Voivodeship, then was transferred to Katowice Voivodeship. Between 1977 and 1984, Sławków was a district of Dąbrowa Górnicza. At that time the town grew in size, due to the construction of Katowice Steelworks

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Points of interest

Medieval center of the town, with a market square, and a town hall from 1905

18th-century inn (austeria),

St. Nicholas Church,

complex of church parish (18th century),

hospital for miners (1758),

ruins of the castle of Bishops of Kraków (13th century, destroyed in 1455 and never rebuilt),

Lamus – manor house of Bishops of Kraków (18th century)

St. Jacob Church (1827)

St. Rozalia wayside shrine (1536)

Demographics

Sławków church (13th century)
old inn from 1781
ruins of the Sławków castle (13th century)
market square ca. 1919
market square southern frontage
one of the streets
railway station
post office
primary school

Broad gauge railway

PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa Spólka z o.o.

company. Previous name of this line was Linia Hutniczo-Siarkowa (English: Metallurgy – Sulphur Line), but after sulfur ceased to be transported on the line its name was changed.