The osiedle Old City (Polish: Osiedle Stare Miasto) is the oldest historic area in the city of Zamość. It is a World Heritage Site in Poland, added in 1992. UNESCO states that its importance lies in being "an outstanding example of a Renaissance planned town from the late 16th century, which still has its original layout, fortifications, and many buildings of special interest. These buildings combine Italian and Central European architectural styles." The Medieval Town covers an area of 75 hectares, with a protected buffer zone of 200 hectares.
The district was named one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii) on September 16, 1994. Its status is managed by the National Heritage Board of Poland.
History
Zamość was built in the late 16th century based on Italian ideas for an "ideal town." The town was funded by Jan Zamoyski and designed by architect Bernardo Morando. The buildings show Renaissance style, combining Mannerist features with traditions from Central Europe, such as covered walkways around town squares that create protected paths in front of shops.
Geography and monuments
Morando designed the town on a six-sided shape with two different areas: on the west side, homes for wealthy people, and on the east side, the town itself, built around three squares (the Grand Market Square, the Salt Market Square, and the Water Market Square).
Important places in Zamość include about 200 landmarks, such as the Grand Market Square, which is surrounded by many stone buildings and the Zamość City Hall. The Old Town also includes the Zamość Cathedral, the Zamość Synagogue, the Zamojski Academy, and the Zamojski Palace.
The Old Town is surrounded by the ruins of the Zamość Fortress.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1992, the World Heritage Committee recognized Zamość as a World Heritage Site because it meets criterion (iv), which states that a place must be an excellent example of a building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape that shows an important part of human history. Zamość was described as an excellent example of a Renaissance town planned in the late 16th century. It still has its original layout, fortifications, and many buildings that are especially interesting, mixing Italian and Central European architectural styles.