Żagań

Sister cities

• Netphen
• Teltow
• Ortrand
• Duns
• Saint-Omer

History

The area formed part of Poland after the creation of the state in the 10th century. Żagań was founded in the 12th century by Polish monarch Bolesław IV the Curly near an old settlement of the same name, which name was then changed to Stary Żagań ("Old Żagań"). The name comes from the Old Polish word zagon. It was first mentioned in a 1202 deed, when it belonged to the Duchy of Silesia under the rule of the Piast duke Henry I the Bearded, within fragmented Poland. In 1251, it became part of the newly created Duchy of Głogów under Henry's grandson Konrad I. Duke Konrad I granted Żagań town rights between 1248 and 1260. The town developed wealth from development of mining, and attracted German settlers from the west. After Konrad's death in 1274, his heirs again divided the duchy and the castle of Żagań became the residence of his youngest son Przemko of Ścinawa, Duke of Żagań from 1278, who established a monastery of the Augustinian Canons here. Thus the Duchy of Żagań came into the existence. In 1284, he swapped his estates for the Duchy of Ścinawa and was succeeded by his elder brother Konrad II the Hunchback. When Konrad II died in 1304, all the former Głogów estates were reunified under his surviving brother Henry III. In 1309, Henry III of Głogów was succeeded by his eldest son Henry IV the Faithful, who in 1321 again had to divide the duchy with his younger brothers. He ceded Głogów to Przemko II and retired to Żagań, which again became the capital of a duchy in its own right. In 1329, all the sons of Henry III of Głogów became vassals of John of Luxembourg, the King of Bohemia - with the exception of Przemko II who died suddenly two years later. When in 1393 Henry VI the Elder, grandson of Henry IV, died without issue, the estates were again reunified with…

Geography

Żagań is located roughly halfway between Cottbus and Wrocław, approximately 100 meters above sea level and at the centre of the Żagań administrative district. It is about north of the Polish border with the Czech Republic, and approximately to the east of Poland's border with Germany. The rural district of Żagań surrounds the town on its northern, eastern and southern sides. Iłowa lies to the south-west and the rural district of Żary is to the north-west. The Rivers Bóbr and Kwisa meet up just outside the town on its south-eastern side.

Most-observed species

• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  537
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  520
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  504
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  481
• Great Spotted Woodpecker

  Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  477
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  440
• Eurasian Jay

  Garrulus glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  434
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  414

Most recent

• M 4.3 — 2026-08-12
  5 km N of Polkowice, Poland
• M 3.9 — 2026-07-18
  4 km N of Polkowice, Poland
• M 4 — 2026-07-18
  0 km E of Polkowice, Poland
• M 4.9 — 2026-07-11
  2 km W of Polkowice, Poland
• M 4.2 — 2026-05-03
  6 km E of Radwanice, Poland
• M 4.2 — 2026-01-21
  5 km E of Polkowice, Poland