Żarnów

Żarnów was once an important fortified centre of northern Lesser Poland. Mentioned in 1065, it became the seat of an early castellany, and a papal bull of 1136 counted it among the principal strongholds of the region. Its parish church was recorded in 1191. Although nearby Opoczno eventually surpassed it, Żarnów obtained a town charter in 1415 and its castellans retained their title until the partitions of Poland. A major battle was fought here during the Swedish invasion in 1655.