Zamość - the ideal city

Old city of Zamość
Zamość is a city in southeastern Poland. The city was founded in 1580 by the Chancellor and Hetman (head of the army of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) Jan Zamoyski, on the trade route linking western and northern Europe with the Black Sea. 
Modelled on Italian trading cities, and built during the Baroque period by the architect Bernardo Morando, a native of Padua, Zamość remains a perfect example of a Renaissance town of the late 16th century, which retains its original layout and fortifications (Zamość Fortress), and a large number of buildings blending Italian and central European architectural traditions. Zamość is a unique and outstanding example of a Renaissance town, consistently designed and built in accordance with the Italian theories of the "ideal town", combining the functions of an urban ensemble, a residence, and a fortress. According to the conception of "the ideal city", such a town should be "good, beautiful and eternal". Massive walls of the fortifications were to guarantee safety and long existence. On the other hand, good and beauty were to sustain not only superb architectural forms, but also the harmony of its elements including the way of life, social and cultural requirements of the people. Zamosc gained the name of "the Town of Arcades", it is also called "the Pearl of Renaissance" or "Padua of the North". 
In 1992 the historical centre of Zamość was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

Great Market Square in Zamość
Linked to: Great Market Square in Zamość & Zamość Fortress

You might also like other articles about beautiful Polish towns and cities (click)

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Location: Zamość, Poland

Comments

  1. fredamans6/1/15 11:01 pm

    Very beautiful indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tom7/1/15 12:42 am

    Lovely photos of a beautiful city. Thanks for sharing. Tom The Backroads Traveller

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz7/1/15 12:46 pm

    Who knew? I love the idea of creating "ideal cities." Why don't we all do that?!

    Here's my Wordless Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Reader Wil7/1/15 1:30 pm

    Interesting and beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
    Have a great week.
    Wil, ABCW Team.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Raquel Jimenez Artesania7/1/15 1:53 pm

    Unas fotos preciosas de una preciosa ciudad.
    Besos
    Raquel

    ReplyDelete
  6. Indrani7/1/15 7:00 pm

    Beautiful sky in the background. I hope to be there some day!
    Happy ABCW!
    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Roger Owen Green7/1/15 7:51 pm

    A lovely city, and a non-usual Z!~

    ROG, ABCW

    ReplyDelete
  8. Photo Cache7/1/15 8:13 pm

    What a beautiful city with incredible architecture and history. Our mom hopes to be able to see all these.

    Emma and Buster

    ReplyDelete
  9. Me Mumbaikar8/1/15 6:14 am

    lovely choice for Z

    ReplyDelete
  10. Out And About Global8/1/15 1:14 pm

    Great photos and a new city to add to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  11. molly8/1/15 7:11 pm

    What a truly beautiful place

    Mollyxxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Renuko Style3/3/15 7:01 pm

    Thank you for this small view into my Polish heritage. I rarely see photos of Poland. It makes me want to find out where my grandparents were born.
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tony McGurk27/11/15 8:09 am

    In the 1st photo the colour of the building's contrasted with the snow & sky look especially beautiful. The architecture is magnificent & it looks such an incredibly clean & lovely city. Blogs such as yours & those of other European bloggers are great as they really give a great insight into European places that I don't often get to see as we mostly get only American & British television & movies here in Australia

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous30/11/15 8:16 pm

    charming.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous2/12/15 7:34 pm

    powerful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Unknown16/3/17 11:43 pm

    The architecture is so striking! I particularly like the first photo with the snow and yellow buildings #citytripping

    ReplyDelete

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