I think that king Casimirus didn't predict that a privilege that he granted to this city in 1487 would continue until today… but it does. The Thursday markets are an over 500 years long tradition. But the New Market (the exact translation of the town's name) is even older than this, it was founded in 13th or 14th century. It is the biggest city of Podhale, actually, by saying “the city”, the locals simply mean Nowy Targ. It was re-founded by the Cistercians from the nearby Ludźmierz in the 13th century and the town, situated on a trade route from Silesia to Hungary quickly gained and retained its importance as a local centre of power and industry.
The town had quite a bad luck, it was damaged in many fires during its history, the last big one in 1784, hence the today's aspect is mostly a result of the reconstruction and a re-urbanisation that followed. By 1914 the city had a population of some 9.000 inhabitants, 15% of whom were Jewish. Hardly anyone of them survived WW2. After the 1945 several big factories were built, including a shoe factory (after 1989 its part turned into private factory - Wojas). At its best time it had 10.000 workers. The city keeps growing, attracting the people from the villages.
Nowy Targ Sightseeing - as the town was damaged by fires a number of times, what we can see today is generally not older than 19th century. Market Square (Rynek) features some old brick houses and also some ice cream shops, famous in the region. Apart from Rynek, there is St Catherine church, the oldest in Nowy Targ. Damaged and rebuilt many times, with a Baroque interior and many wooden replicas in other styles. The main altar from 1892 with a St Catherine painting. St Anne Church, a wooden church constructed in 15th century, later damaged,.changed and rebuilt many times. Located north from the centre, on a hill overlooking the town.