Baligród

Lesko County, Poland

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Baligród is a historic village in Lesko County, Poland, situated in the valley of the Hoczewka River near the Bieszczady Mountains. Founded in the early 17th century by Piotr II Bal, a local noble, the village grew around a castle built between 1600 and 1615.

Throughout its history, Baligród was an important market town, especially noted for its wine trade and regular Monday markets selling goods like Hungarian wine, honey, leather, and wool. The village had a significant Jewish community from the early 18th century, with synagogues, a cemetery, and religious schools, contributing to local trade and craft.

During World War I and II, Baligród experienced considerable upheaval, including the tragic Baligród massacre of 1944, where Ukrainian nationalists killed Polish residents. Post-war, the Jewish community and Ukrainians largely left or were displaced. Today, Baligród is a quiet village known for its natural beauty, proximity to the Bieszczady Mountains, and historical heritage, attracting tourists interested in its cultural and wartime history.