Węgrów

History

First mentioned in historical records in 1414, Węgrów received its city charter in 1441. Between 16th and 18th centuries it was an important centre for Reformation movements in Poland. It was a private town owned by various Polish nobles, including the Kiszka, Radziwiłł, Niszcz and Krasiński families, administratively located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship in the Lesser Poland Province of the Kingdom of Poland. The local Basilica of the Assumption houses Twardowski's Mirror, a Renaissance mirror from the 16th century associated with the legend of Sir Twardowski. After the Third Partition of Poland it was annexed by Austria in 1795. It was regained by Poles following the Austro–Polish War of 1809, and included within the short-lived Duchy of Warsaw. After the duchy's dissolution, in 1815, it passed to so-called Congress Poland in the Russian Partition of Poland. It was the site of four battles between Polish insurgents and Russian troops during the Polish November Uprising of 1830–1831. During the January Uprising, on 3 February 1863, it was the site of the Battle of Węgrów, in which Polish insurgents defeated Russian troops and captured the town. From 1867 to 1912, Węgrów was part of Siedlce Governorate and from 1912 to 1915 of Łomża Governorate. It became part of independent Poland again when the country regained its independence in 1918. From 1919 to 1938, Węgrów was part of Lublin Voivodeship and from 1938 to 1939 of Warsaw Voivodeship. During the Polish–Soviet War, on 19 August 1920, it was the site of a battle between Poles and the retreating Russian 16th Army. Throughout most of its history, the town had a thriving Jewish community, present at least since the 16th century. It numbered about 6,000 in 1939. The entire community was exterminated during the…

Most-observed species

• Common Crane

  Grus grus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  73
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  58
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  53
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  50
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  50
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  47
• Rook

  Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  45
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  43