Janów Podlaski

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Janów Podlaski

Janów Podlaski

Janów Podlaski is a town in eastern Poland, near the border with Belarus. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Janów Podlaski Deanery and the Saint Trinity Cathedral. Next to the Episcopal Palace, the Baroque building of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, built between 1714 and 1735, was elevated to the dignity of a cathedral in 1741. It has a two-tower façade and a three-nave interior. The interior decoration is notable for the twelve octagonal canvases from the school of Franciszek Smuglewicz. Next to the collegiate church are the buildings of the former seminary, now used for education. The bell tower, dating from 1745, has been preserved in almost its original form. Among the old town buildings of Janów, the Rytt House from 1793 has been preserved. The town is famous for its state stud farm, also known as Janów Podlaski. It is the oldest Polish state stud farm and one of the most picturesque in Poland. The town is world famous for its breeding of purebred Arabian horses, from which some of the most famous Polish Arabian families descend. The stud was founded here in 1817, when John Ritz, following his mission to organize the first Polish state stud, brought an Arabian stallion to the stables in Janów. Arabian horses, which have a breeding tradition in Poland of more than 200 years, have been sold to many European countries. Even Rolling Stones star Charlie Watts bought three horses here in 1998. Every August, Janów hosts the National Arabian Horse Show and a well-known horse auction, which attracts many Arabian horse lovers.