Wschowa is a city that in the 18th century was often called the unofficial capital of Poland due to the fact that kings August II and August III resided here. A lot of historic buildings and one of the few lapidaria of tombstones in Poland have been preserved here.
The city was founded in the thirteenth century and thanks to its location on the trade route connecting Silesia with Greater Poland, it quickly became an important center of trade and crafts. At that time, the defensive walls of Wschowa were erected, which partially survived to this day, and the gothic parish church. The temple was thoroughly rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries, so today its interior has Baroque features, and only the tower has retained its Gothic character.
The Royal Castle existed in Wschowa since the Middle Ages. In the 17th century it was rebuilt in accordance with the spirit of the era, and in the 18th century it was often inhabited by Polish kings from the Saxon dynasty, August II and August III. Today, on the site of the then castle, there is a 19th-century building used by a hotel.
A noteworthy attraction of Wschowa is the Museum of Wschowa Region, which takes care of the Tomb Sculpture Lapidarium. It consists of four historic cemeteries, the most valuable of which is the Evangelical cemetery from the beginning of the 17th century, modeled on the Roman Santo Campo. The tombstones are surrounded by a wall with cloisters in which epitaphs are placed.
