The region
Muszyna - a source of unforgettable impressions
Muszyna is the oldest town in the Sącz region. The first mention of Muszyna comes from 1209 year and the next from 1288 T- J. Długosz. The town is situated at the mouth of the Muszynka and Szczawnik streams to the Poprad River, in a beautiful, wide mountain valley surrounded by hills and forests. Its name may come from the surname of Muskata, who settled the city in the wilderness. The town name can also origin from mossy places (river stones covered with moss) on which mountain streams flowed.
History of the region
The first mention of Muszyna is found in the act of granting from 1209, in which the Hungarian king Andrzej II allowed the priest Adolf from the Chapel of St. Martin to collect custom duty. The oldest written mention comes from 1288 year – in a document according to which Wysz from Niegowice coat of arms Polkozice wrote off his goods including Muszyna to the bishop of Krakow Paul of Przemankowo. This is considered the beginning of the creation of “The State of Muszyna, otherwise known as “The Key of Muszyna”.
Famous personages in Muszyna
One of the important trade routes from Hungary used to pass through the town of Muszyna, also along the Poprad River. This town has often hosted more important lay people and clergy, coming from Kraków or Sącz, mainly in matters of defence of the Muszyna region, as well as economic and administrative matters, due to the possession of Muszyna by Krakow’s bishops. These bishops also visited Muszyna.
One of the most distinguished guests was famous poet Jan Kochanowski, who appreciated the Muszyna hospitality, recording it in the epigram "To the staroste of Muszyna”
„To the staroste of Muszyna”:
"O staroste in Muszyna”
You have the expert knowledge about wine.
You know wine well and have wine great inventory.
Please lower the wagon and show your good taste and hospitality and let me also try it,
Because the wonderful taste I can feel myself from the barrel.
I don't regret to be a poet, it requires skills knowing alpha with beta.
Dear Stanislaw, if you want to behave worthily to Muszyna visitors,
Treat us not with a sapphire, nor a ruby, but pour your good wine.
Your profit will be closeness to the sky.
With our drunken rhymes we will lead you straight to Heaven.
