Zalischyky

Zalischyky ( _uk. Залiщики, also "Zalishchyky", _pl. Zaleszczyki) is a small city located on the Dniester River in the southern part of the Ternopil Oblast (province), in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zalishchytskyi Raion (district).

The current estimated population is around 10,100 (as of 2001).

History

During 1375 - 1772 and during 1918 - 1939 Zalischyky was part of Poland. During the period 1772 - 1918 it belonged to Austrian empire (later Austrian-Hungarian empire when the dual monarchy was introduced in Austria). In 1939 Zalischyky was incorporated into Soviet Ukraine, a constituent republic of the Soviet Union; since collapse of USSR in 1991, it is in independent Ukraine.

In 1766 it received the rights of self-government under the Magdeburg Law. During the nineteenth century, the area around Zalischyky was populated primarily by Ukrainian country folk but the town had a large Polish and Jewish population. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the area around Zalischyky witnessed large-scale immigration to the New World, especially western Canada. After the collapse of the Habsburg Monarchy and the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1918-1919, it again became part of Poland (as part of the Tarnopol Voivodeship), which ruled it to 1939 when it was annexed to Soviet Ukraine (see: Polish September Campaign). In the interbellum period, the town was an important tourist center of Poland, also one of the few Polish areas where local wine was produced. In 1939, it was through the border checkpoint at Zalishchyky that the Polish government and military officials could escape to Romania following the Invasion of Poland.

Before the Second World War, the area around Zalischyky became a major centre of archeological attention. Near various villages, especially Koshylivtsi ( _pl. Koszylowce), a little north of the Dniester, excavations were carried out which uncovered statues, coins, and other artifacts from as far back as the neolithic age and extending through to Roman times and the era of the "Wandering of the Peoples."

Zalischyky contains a 17th century Roman Catholic church, an 18th century City Hall and other monuments. Its climate is quite mild with grapes, peaches and other fruits growing in the area. It is especially famous for its tomatoes. Since the inter-war era, it has been a centre for the tourist industry. Before the collapse of the USSR some 10,000 visitors arrived annually.

References

* Stella Hryniuk, "Peasants with Promise: Ukrainians in Southeastern Galicia 1880-1900" (Edmonton, 1991). Contains a map on the endpapers of the book which shows all of the villages of this part of Galicia, including the Zalishchyky area.
* "Przewodnik po Województwie Tarnopolskiem z mapą" [Guide to the Ternopil Region with a Map] (Ternopil, 1928: reprinted circa 1990). Contains much historical material.

External links

* [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkPath=pagesAalishchyky.htm Zalischyky] in the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com Encyclopedia of Ukraine]