History

Biesiadki (formerly known as Possedk, Bessadek) sit on a small fragment (about 635 ha) of an extensive plateau in the eastern part of the Wiśnicz Foothills. Archaeological research reveal that Biesiadki started as a defensive settlement situated on an isolated hill of military importance (defence of the south border of Poland). The first mention of the village comes from a 1269 document in which Bishop Paweł of Przemankowo nominates Radost a village head in Possedk with two available houses, an inn, bathhouse, butchery, and a water mill with two wheels.  In 1321 the village is incorporated under Magdeburg law by Bishop Nankier of Kraków. Hence, its contemporary arrangement: a layout of fields divided into “lans” (about 18 ha) and a layout of the village buildings sitting on the verge with a dominating church. Biesiadki is rated among the so-called “lan” villages, established on forest clearances (grubs). The first mention of a parish comes from the second half of the 13th century. In the 15th century, Biesiadki was invaded by Spytek of Melsztyn as a revenge against Zbigniew Oleśnicki, the bishop of Kraków and the owner of the Uszew estate (Biesiadki was part of it). Another major historic event was the Polish-Swedish War, during which the church and residential buildings were destroyed. The reconstruction took a long time. During the Partitions of Poland, Biesiadki was supervised by the Austrian administration in Uszewo, which was the seat of the Austrian Kamera. In 1840 the bishop of Tarnów restored full parish rights of the church in Biesiadki. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Götz family from Okocim purchased some land in Biesiadki. It is known that in 1933, the landlord built farm buildings, including a brick house of the estate manager, a cattle shed, and a granary. In November 1914, the village was the scene of a battle between Russian and Austrian troops. One of the shells fired from a Russian cannon hit the school building and destroyed the equipment. The parish church and farm buildings also suffered.

Description

The village was filled mostly with wooden buildings of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century. The houses are built along the main road, gables facing the street. Today, some of the houses have been rebuilt, but the street layout of the village has been preserved.

The site is open to visitors.

Author of the note Olga Dyba, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Kraków 3/02/2016

Bibliography

• Słownik Historyczno-Geograficzny Województwa Krakowskiego w Średniowieczu. Wrocław 1980.
• Magdoń J., Biesiadki dawniej i dziś. Ropczyce 2001.