Lublin

About

For centuries Lublin was a leading centre of Jewish scholarship in Poland, but suffered greatly under the Nazi regime. Due to its large and noticeable Jewish population, Lublin became a target of severe Nazi repressions and Jewish residents were forcibly removed to Lublin Ghetto, one mile outside the city. The majority of the ghetto inmates were deported to the Bełżec extermination camp and very few survived the war. Despite such atrocities, architecturally Lublin survived the war mostly intact meaning it can now boast one of the most authentic and ornamental old towns in Poland. A highlight of the old town is Lublin Castle; one oldest and best preserved Royal residencies. The castle now houses the Lublin Museum but its attractive façade hides a dark past. Used as a prison from 1831 to 1954, inmates were often Polish Resistance fighters.