History Skawina

in late 13th century, 3 villages existed here: babice nowe, babice stare , pisary. belonged tyniec benedictine abbey. in middle ages, skawinka marked while boundary between silesia , lesser poland, resulted in construction of defensive gord, protected city of kraków south. on may 22, 1364, king kazimierz wielki granted magdeburg rights skawina, , few years later, parish church of holy spirit funded here. skawina seat of wójt, , remained in hands of benedictine monks. town had defensive wall , castle, residence of wójt. in 1509, skawina burned in fire, town rebuilt , enjoyed prosperity of polish golden age. times ended in swedish invasion of poland, when swedish , transilvanian armies destroyed skawina, reducing population 50%. after partitions of poland, skawina became part of austrian province of galicia (1772). town remained poor , backward until second half of 19th century, when skawina became railroad hub, 3 lines, kraków, sucha beskidzka, , oświęcim. brewery built , new businesses opened.

austrian kk stamp cancelled in 1908 @ skawina

in second polish republic skawina belonged kraków voivodeship. on september 6, 1939 first wehrmacht troops entered town, , german occupation lasted until january 23, 1945. communist government of people s republic of poland decided skawina become center of heavy industry. in 1954, skawina aluminum works (huta aluminium skawina) opened, , in 1961 skawina power station (elektrownia skawina) went on line. aluminium works closed in 1981 due widespread pollution caused. growth of industry resulted in influx of new residents , construction of several apartment blocks in new districts of town.