Oksa Oksa is the historical village located in Jędrzejów County in Świętokrzyskie Province. It is situated close to Nagłowice, Jędrzejów and Małogoszcz. Main trade routes of the region are nearby. It is only 20 kilometres to Jędrzejów and about 40 to Kielce - main city of the Świętokrzyskie Province. Oksa territory covers an area of 90 square kilometres. Population: 5000 inhabitants. This area is an exceptional enclave of polish wildlife full of protected species of plants and animals surrounded by two rivers- The Lipnica and The Biała Nida, fishponds and woodlands. Oksa lies in area of Włoszczowsko-Jędrzejowski protected countryside. Rare species of plants can be found in Oksa territory. Among them are: Daphne (Daphne mezereum L. / Wawrzynek wilczełyko), Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica L. / Kosaciec syberyjski), The Globe-flower (Trollius europaeus L. / Pełnik europejski), White Butterbur (Petasites albus L. / Lepiężnik biały), Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis / Długosz królewski) and Martagon (Turk's cap lily / Lilium martagon L. / Lilia złotogłów). Peat bogs and marshy meadows are characteristic of this area. Many rare plants grow in these peculiar conditions for example Swamp Willow (Salix myrtilloides L. / Wierzba borówkolistna), Bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia L. / Modrzewnica zwyczajna), White Beaksedge (Rhynchospora alba L. / Przygiełka biała), Harestail Bog-cotton (Eriophorum vaginatum L. / Wełnianka pochwowata) and many more. There are not natural resources or heavy industry. It is mostly a farming area with cattle breeding what helps to preserve and protect this beautiful region of Poland. There is no place like Oksa. The beauty of this place was appreciated even by our ancestors. The best ex ample is Mikołaj Rej known as the father of polish literature. Oksa was founded in 1554 by renaissance poet Mikołaj Rej or Mikołaj Rey (Nicholas Rey) of Nagłowice. He was also a politician, a musician, and a nobleman of the Oksza coat-of-arms. He is considered as one of the founders of Polish literature. Mikołaj Rej came from a wealthy, noble family. He was born in 1505 in Żurawin near Halicz. His father moved to Russia from Nagłowice near Kraków. The writer considerably increased the family’s fortune. By the end of his life, he owned several villages and two towns Rejowiec and Oksa both founded by the poet. He was educated in Lwów and in the Academy of Kraków, but stopped attending it after just over a year. He was mostly self-educated, well-read, also in European Latin literature. He moved to the Chełm area in 1531, and from then on frequented the court of Mikołaj Sieniawski, Hetman (the commander-in-chief) of the Polish army and an outstanding representative of Polish Protestantism. Rej was converted to Calvinism at that time, from then he took part in synods and founded Protestant communities and schools on his lands. He was often a Deputy to the Parliament. He died in 1569, probably in Rejowiec (Chełm area). Oksa was founded as a town with geometrical layout of streets and big main square. One but important disadvantage of town was a distance from main trade routes between Krakow and other parts of Poland. It was found off the beaten track of Renaissance Poland. This was the main reason why Oksa did not remained town but became village. Nagłowice and Oksa were close connected to each other from 16th century up to 1945 by their owners. Last of them was Prince Michał Radziwiłł. In years 1976-1991 both villages were connected again by one borough called ,,Gmina Nagłowice-Oksa”. Oksa became fully independent borough - seat of the local government in 1991. Nowadays there is also the Roman Catholic St Nicholas church, health centre, pharmacy, nursery, primary and grammar schools, library, bank, post office, police and fire department. Popowice Location: 3.5 km to the southwest of Oksa by the mouth of river Przyrwa. Population: 232 inhabitants. Popowice was known from the 14th century as the village enumerated in King Casimir III the Great donations for church in Małogoszcz. This privilege was repeatedly confirmed by next polish kings: Casimir IV Jagiellon and Stephen Báthory. Błogoszów Location: 5 km from Oksa by the road to Włoszczowa. Population: 411 inhabitants. The historical sources informed about this village in documents from the 16th century. After the Second World War primary school were built on inhabitants’ initiative and then extended and modernized several times. Funding for this purpose came mostly from private donors. Węgleszyn Location: between Oksa and Małogoszcz. It is 5 km from Oksa. Population: 873 people. Węgleszyn is built in typical for Polish villages’ way - along the both sides of the main road. The origin of name Węgleszyn is hard to establish. It is probably that it comes from manufacturing charcoal. The first written mention of this place is from 1315. The chronicles said about estate that belonged to Jelitczyk family related to the Bishop of Cracow Florian from Mokrsko. He built bricked church in the Gothic style, which replaced old wooden one. St Andrew’s church survived to present day slightly altered. In July 1858 Stefan Żeromski’s parents - Wincenty Żeromski and Franciszka Józefa Katerla got married there. During the First World War Węgleszyn was under Austrian occupation. The surrounding manors were plundered and an antique bells from St Andrew’s church stolen. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries there were seat of the local government. Dębina Location: near to Węgleszyn. Population: 349 people. Formerly it was connected to manor in Węgleszyn. After the fall of the November Uprising in 1831, this village was separated from Węgleszyn estate. The next owner became Liberata Kochanowska née Bystrzonowska who in 1843 renovated church in Węgleszyn. Zakrzów Location: 10 km from Oksa in The River Lipnica valley. Population: 256 people. In the past was connected to owners of manor in Węgleszyn. In the middle of 18th century, Zakrzów became separate estate and had lot of different owners. Among them were Bystrzonowski, Grabkowski and Krassowski families. Jerzy Giedroyć, politician and journalist, founder and editor of the Paris-based journal "Kultura" (Culture), came repeatedly to Zakrzów manor to his sister Maria Krassowska in the 1930s last century. In 19th century, stones and peat were extracted there. After the Second World War, that estate was taken over, nationalised and divided between village inhabitants. Rembiechowa Location: 7 km from Oksa in the Northeast direction. Population: 428 people. The historical sources from the 16th century informed about this village and about it owners - Oleśnicki family. In the past Rembiechowa was connected to manor in Węgleszyn. After the fall of the November Uprising in 1831, this village was separated from Węgleszyn estate. The next owner became Liberata Kochanowska née Bystrzonowska who in 1843 renovated church in Węgleszyn. Kanice Location: 10 km from Oksa Population: 408 inhabitants. This village belonged to monastery in Jędrzejów. According to historical sources in 1830 about 90 people lived there. From 19th century two parts of this village had separate names - New Kanice (Kanice Nowe) and Kanice Old (Stare Kanice). Almost whole village was destroyed in terrible fire in 1959. Tyniec Location: 8 km from Oksa in the Biała Nida valley. Population: 458 inhabitants. Polish writer Stefan Żeromski was connected with this village. His mother Franciszka Józefa was daughter of Tyniec squire Józef Katerla. During the Second World War in 1944 Battalion Jędrzejów’s Infantry Regiment of Polish Home Army (AK) was created in a nearby forest. Lieutenant Józef Kurek alias „Halny” commanded this battalion. Gawrony Location: Tyniec colony. About 8 km from Oksa. Population: 70 people. Historical sources from 1630 say about Gawrony as newly cleared forest and transformed into fields. Dzierążnia Location: Settlement formally belonged to Tyniec 1 km from Tyniec. Population: 34 people. In 19th century this manor had a water-wheel mill and fishponds. Later during the Second World War guerrillas forces struggled with Nazi occupiers in this area. An airdrop of the arms supply took place in local meadows. Rzeszówek Location: 2 km from Oksa. Population: 198 inhabitants. Old name of this village Rzeschow came from owners’ name - Rzeszowski family. The first written mention of this place is from 16th. The chronicles said about estate that had manor, village, inn, mill and ponds. Today there is antique manor from 19th century in old, extensive park. Lipno Location: 8 km from Oksa in the west direction. Population: 300 people. Lipno is one of the oldest villages in this area. In the Middle Ages the chronicles said that Poraj family lived here and in 1258 Jan from Lipno was in the court of Bolesław V the Chaste. Rej family also was among Lipno owners. In 1945 16 innocent villagers were killed. It was the most tragic event in history of this area. Last owner of this village Stanisław Borkowski and built a small palace, which was changed into primary school after the Second World War. Pawęzów Location: about 2 km from Oksa, by the road to Włoszczowa. Population: 198 people. In the past, there were other names of this village - Powiązów and from 14th century Powanzow that came from the owners - Powęzowski family. There were two manors, a mill, fishponds, meadows and a forest. In 1554 Mikołaj Rej bought this estate. Zalesie Location: 10 km from Oksa. Population: 180 people. The first written mention of this place is from 16th century. Formerly it was connected to Zakrzów owners Górski and Zakrzewski families. There were two manors, an inn, fishponds, a mill, meadows and a forest.