Template:Infobox Poland

Końskowola (name from the Koninski family) is a village in South-Eastern Poland, located between Puławy and Lublin, near Kurów, on the Kurówka River. It is capital of a separate gmina within the Lublin Voivodship. It has 2188 inhabitants (as of 2004).

Końskowola literally means today Horse's Will, but it's name cames from Wola - type of village, and it's owner name - Jan z Konina (John from Konin). Name Konińskawola is noted in 1442.

The village was founded probably in XIV century, under name Witowska Wola and it's name was changed to Konińskawola and after, in a XIX century - to present name.

June 8 1532 the town was incorporated. As a private town, Końskowola served as a centre of foodstuffs trade for the surrounding area. Several textile production manufactories were also located there. Many people immigrated there, not only from another parts of Poland, among others many Saxons immigrated there.

Since then it shared the history of the whole region. After the third partitions of Poland, in 1795, it was annexed by Austria. In 1809 it became part of the Duchy of Warsaw, only to become part of the Kingdom of Poland in 1815. After the January Uprising, in 1870 the town finally lost the city charter, never to regain it. During Russian Revolution of 1905, many demonstrations and strikes of solidarity were organized there. Since 1918 it is again part of Poland.

September 15 1939 Końskowola was taken by german troops and it was occupied by it to July 25 1944. During the War, in 1940 Germans set up prison war camp and slave labour camps in the town. First was liquidated quickly, but second existed to 1943. Prisoners worked for Germans on farms, and building sites (roads, railroads).

A ghetto was established there, many groups of Jews was relocated there, among others from Slovakia. May 8 1942 many Jews were transfered to Nazi extermination camp Sobibor. In october 1942 a ghetto was liquidated - c. 800-1000 persons, with childrens and women was murdered in a forest by German troop - Reserve Police Battalion 101. Rest people were transfered to another one camp.

Among the notable tourist attractions is a catholic church (refurbished c. 1670 according to project by Tylman van Gameren) with a graves of the Opaliński and Lubomirski families. There is also another old catholic church, built 1613 on a style Lublin Renaissance. The Lublin Renaissance is best represented by just the churches in Konskowola and Kazimierz Dolny. There are also reminders after lutheran cemetery.

Końskowola is also known as the deathplace of polish poets: Franciszek Dionizy Kniaźnin and Franciszek Zabłocki.

Henryk Sienkiewicz, a famous polish writer, Nobel prize winner, in historical novel With Fire and Sword wrote among others:
- (...) Very poor beer also in this Końskowola - Mr. Zagłoba noticed (...)

• About Deportations of the Slovakian Jews to Lublin District
• Transport list in a Sobibor site
• Końskowola during a war - photos
• History of Końskowola