Żarki - szlak żydowski

Żarki

Żarki is a small town of a few thousand inhabitants lying between Częstochowa and Zawiercie. The surrounding area is picturesque – after all, it is part of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. Yet it is not only the landscape that draws visitors here, as Żarki boasts a long history and interesting historic sites. It also has numerous Judaica, well worth discovering on a walk with the audio guide.In 1900, when the 20th century had already replaced the 19th, Żarki had more than 6,000 inhabitants – and over 60 per cent of them were Jews! Followers of the Mosaic faith appeared in the town as early as the 16th century, but it was only in the 19th century that they began to have a significant influence on its development. This world was annihilated during the Second World War.Walking with the audio guide, we discover Jewish traces in Żarki. The most obvious is the restored 19th-century synagogue, but former Jewish houses and cemeteries have also survived. There are also colourful stories, which the audio guide offers tourists in abundance.