Biłgoraj

**Biłgoraj** is a town in southeastern Poland. It is part of the Lublin Voivodeship since 1999. From 1975 to 1998, it was part of the Zamość Voivodeship. Biłgoraj is the capital of Biłgoraj County. The population is about 25,838 people as of 2021.

## Location

Biłgoraj is in southeastern Poland, in the Roztocze region. The Biłgoraj County is surrounded by forests, covering about 64,000 hectares. The Biłgoraj Forest District manages 17,000 hectares of these forests. The town is close to the Roztocze National Park, and the Łada River runs through it. Biłgoraj is about 90 km south of Lublin and also near Zamość (50 km) and Rzeszów (90 km). Nearby are three landscape parks: Szczebrzeszyn, Janowskie Forests, and Solska Forest.

## History

Biłgoraj was founded in 1578 by Adam Gorajski. He got permission from King Stephen Bathory to start the town.

In the 17th century, a Jewish community grew in the town. In 1674, out of 237 people, 40 were Jewish. In 1648, Cossacks and Tatars attacked Biłgoraj. They burned many buildings, including a Franciscan monastery. The town was also hurt in the Swedish war. After the first partition, it was controlled by Austria. In 1918, Biłgoraj became part of Poland again.

During World War II, Biłgoraj was taken over by Germany. In August 1939, the population was 8,270, with 5,010 being Jewish. The Jewish community was destroyed in the Holocaust. Many buildings were also damaged in the war. After the war, the town was rebuilt.

In 1999, Biłgoraj became part of the Lublin Voivodeship.

## Culture

In Biłgoraj, there are cultural institutions like the Biłgoraj Museum (_Muzeum Ziemi Biłgorajskiej_), the Cultural Center (_Biłgorajskie Centrum Kultury_), and the Sports and Recreation Center (_Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji_). There are four primary schools, six secondary schools, and a music school. There is also the local football club _Łada 1945 Biłgoraj_.

Biłgoraj has historical sites such as the Sanctuary of St. Mary Magdalene with a Franciscan monastery, the 18th-century church, and the Sieve making Museum (_Skansen Zagroda Sitarska_). There are also historic cemeteries, including an 18th-century Catholic cemetery and a Jewish cemetery.

## Religion

Most people in Biłgoraj are Roman Catholics. The town belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Zamość-Lubaczów. It is split into two deaneries: Biłgoraj North and Biłgoraj South. In 2018, about 48.3% of Catholics in the North and 50% in the South attended Mass.

Biłgoraj has five main Catholic churches, three Catholic cemeteries, synagogue, and a historic Jewish cemetery. Other religious groups in the town include:
- The Polish Orthodox Church, with St. George's Orthodox Church,
- Jehovah's Witnesses with a Kingdom Hall,
- The Free Bible Students Association.

## Transport

Biłgoraj is connected with regional roads 835 and 858. The town also has a railway station with passenger trains running on line 66. The station is operated by PKP Intercity. There is also a bus station in Biłgoraj.

## Nature

About 60% of the Biłgoraj Commune area is covered by forests. Near Biłgoraj, there is the "Obary" nature reserve. The Biłgoraj Forest District manages nearly 17,000 hectares of forest land, which makes up 97% of its total area. The dominant species in these forests is Scots pine (_Pinus sylvestris_).

## Related pages

- Lublin
- Rzeszów

## Other websites

- Official website of Biłgoraj

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Biłgoraj
- **settlement type**: Town
- **image skyline**: Urząd Miasta Biłgoraj.jpg
- **image caption**: Town Hall (2021)
- **image flag**: POL Biłgoraj flag.svg
- **pushpin map**: Poland
- **pushpin label position**: bottom
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision name**: Poland
- **subdivision type1**: Voivodeship
- **subdivision name1**: Lublin Voivodeship
- **subdivision type2**: County
- **subdivision name2**: Biłgoraj County
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **leader name**: Wojciech Gleń
- **area total km2**: 21,1
- **population total**: 25,838
- **population as of**: 2022
- **population density km2**: auto
- **postal code type**: Postal code
- **postal code**: 23-400
- **website**: [http://www.bilgoraj.pl/ www.bilgoraj.pl]
- **image shield**: POL Biłgoraj COA.svg