Muszyna

Muszyna
View of Muszyna from Mount Malnik with bridge over Poprad river, part of the Poprad Landscape Park
Coat of arms
Muszyna
Coordinates: 49°21′30″N 20°54′0″E / 49.35833°N 20.90000°E / 49.35833; 20.90000
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lesser Poland
County	Nowy Sącz
Gmina	Muszyna
Government
• Mayor	mgr Jan Golba
Area
• Total	23.96 km2 (9.25 sq mi)
Elevation	450 m (1,480 ft)
Population (2006)
• Total	4,980
• Density	210/km2 (540/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	33-370
Car plates	KNS
Website	http://www.muszyna.pl

Muszyna [muˈʂɨna] is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. Population: 4,989 (2006). It is a railroad junction, located near border with Slovakia, with trains going into three directions - towards Nowy Sącz, Krynica-Zdrój and southwards, to Slovakia. The distance to the border is 5 kilometres (3 miles).

Muszyna lies in the valley of the Poprad, 450 metres (1,476 feet) above sea level. The town has the status of a spa, with Poprad Landscape Park and picturesque Poprad River Gorge located nearby.

Muszyna’s development is tied with proximity of the southern borders of the Polish state. The settlement was located along the so-called “Hungarian Trail”, as for centuries Slovakia belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. Muszyna was first mentioned in 1209, in a document in which King Andrew II of Hungary allowed local parish priest to collect tolls at the Poprad river near Muszyna. At that time, the settlement belonged to the Niegowicki family (Półkozic coat of arms). In 1288 Muszyna passed into the hands of Bishops of Kraków, and in the early 14th century, King Władysław Łokietek, after a conflict with Bishop Jan Muskata, and the Rebellion of wójt Albert, decided to make the village a royal property. Muszyna remained in the hands of Polish kings for almost 100 years, and in 1356, it was granted Magdeburg rights town charter by King Kazimierz Wielki.