Sprawling around the Wisłok River, Rzeszow is a bustling business hub and the largest city in south-east Poland. It flourished during the Middle Ages as a trade hub along the routes connecting Europe with the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East. After being annexed by the Austrian Empire at the end of the 18th century, it was returned to Poland following World War I.
Things to do in Rzeszow
Occupying a 17th-century Piarist monastery is the Regional Museum, which showcases archaeological artefacts and Polish paintings dating from the 18th to 20th centuries. In addition to its frescoed vaulting, antique weaponry and guild artefacts, it features portraits of noblemen, burghers and Rzeszow lords. The archaeological collection includes ceramics, tools and decorative items dating from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages.
One of Rzeszow’s most eye-catching landmarks is the Lubomirski Castle, which was rebuilt between 1902 and 1906 on the site of a 16th-century fortress. It centres around a courtyard where open-air performances are held while the original walls host regular exhibitions. Plaques dot the castle commemorating the prisoners who died during the Nazi occupation and the lawyers who were executed here in the Stalinist era.
Travelling with kids? Head to the Museum of Bedtime Cartoons to see dolls, puppets and toys related to popular Polish bedtime stories. Highlights of the collection include original dolls from “Adventures of Teddy Bear Colargola” and “Plastic Diary”, as well as postmarks and chewing gum featuring the images of the beloved characters Bolek and Lolek.
Getting around Rzeszow
Rzeszow–Jasionka Airport is a 15-minute drive from the city centre and has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect from Krakow to the Rzeszow railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Rzeszow can easily be explored on foot.