Nowy Sacz, Poland

Capital City

With a population of just 81,281, Nowy Sącz is a modest city in southern Poland, far from the glitz of Warsaw or Krakow. The town has a long and tumultuous history, emerging as a cultural and economic hub in the 14th and 15th centuries before facing repeated destruction over the centuries. Today, Nowy Sącz remains an important regional center, home to a railway industry and food processing plants, though the town's bureaucracy can be a persistent headache for residents. For those drawn to the natural beauty of the nearby Beskid Sądecki mountains, Nowy Sącz may offer an affordable alternative to pricier mountain resort towns.