Like town, like founder: Zamoyski was a man who deserved a town. He not only designed it for beauty, but for purpose as well. In addition to the requisite fortifications (complete with moat) securing the safety of Zamosc, he ensured the growth of intellectual and economic capital as well. Tolerant and open-minded, Zamoyski freely invited one and all to his town, including Jews, Armenians, Greeks, Scots, Hungarians, and of course, Italians. By doing so he helped create a pocket of progressive peoples who prospered well.

But that prosperity waned, as prosperity is wont to do, and Zamosc stumbled through the 18th century, and stumbled even farther in the 19th under Austrian rule. During that time, a few battles here and there gave proof to the local fighting spirit, and foreshadowed an unexpected defeat for Russia in the 20th century. During the Polish-Russian War of 1919-20, the Polish Army trounced the Russians near Zamosc. But the next war ended a bit differently, and Zamosc languished over the next 4 decades under Communist rule. Fortunately, the town itself was not destroyed during WWII and it remains today a hidden jewel of the east.