In analyzing the particularities of tourism in this area special attention should be paid to visits by tourists seeking their family roots. This is the result of the major population emigrations in bygone days. This kind of tourist should be classified according to their nationality, as each of them had a different fate during and just after WW II.
Jews- Before WW II Jews mainly resided in the towns of Roztocze, e.g. in Krasnobrod(PL) 55% of the total in 1860, in Yavoriv (UA) 25%, and in Lubycza Krolewska(PL) nearly the total population. As a consequence of the Nazis extermination policy the Jews were totally annihilated as well as the monuments of their culture. The only preserved cemeteries are those in Józefów, Szczebrzeszyn, Krasnobród, Zamość, Tomaszów Lubelski(with refurbished cemetery chapel), synagogues in Zamość, Józefow and Szczebrzeszyn and also the buildings of the kahal house and mikvah in Zamość. Nowadays the interest of Jewish tourists is concentrated on the concentration camp in Bełżec.
More on www.zchor.org/hitachdut/lostr.htm
Ukrainians - before the WW II the Ukrainians had mostly lived in the Roztocze countryside. In 1946 the majority were deported to Ukraine (about 482,000 people), the rest were deported to the so called “regained lands” under the “Wisla” programme (about 140,000 people)
Nowadays the Uniate churches in Radruż, Wola Wielka, Prusiem, Bełżec and Hrebenne , where church services are usually celebrated in Latin and Greek rites, testify to their former presence .
Poles – the population of Polish nationality mainly lived in towns on the territory which now belongs to Western Ukraine. In Lvov, for instance, Poles constituted 60% of the total population before 1938. According to the deportation action after the end of WW II almost 788,000 people were permanently deported to Poland. The signs of the former Polish presence are inseparable from the Old city in Lvov, particularly via the architectural features, and also numerous cemeteries and Rome Catholic churches in Zhovkva, Ivano Frankove and Yavoriv. Polish “roots” tourism is mainly concentrated in Lvov and is on the increase.
Jewish Heritage
Before Holocaust during WW II, Jews had formed the majority of the population in many places in Roztocze. In Szczebrzeszyn ,for instance, Jews had made up the majority of the population before the war. A well-known Talmudist- Cohen Izhar Ber comes from this town. Rosa Luxemburg, the socialist pioneer, was born in Zamość where Jews formed 70% of the total population in 1890. The writer Icchak Lejb Perec and poet Boleslav Leśmian also lived here. The famous novelist and 1978 Nobel Prize winner, Isaak Bashevis Singer, spent most of his childhood in Biłgoraj, and his family also originated from Tomaszów. Not only was almost all the Jewish population exterminated by the Nazis but in addition the majority of synagogues and kirkuts. The only synagogues which have survived are those in Zamość, Zhovkva, Jozefow and Szczebrzeszyn and some cemeteries- in Zamość, Lubaczów, Jozefów, Szczebrzeszyn, Zwierzyniec and Tomaszów Lubelski.
The Jewish heritage cited above, though not very magnificent, can generate interest among those of Jewish origin who visit the former death camp in Bełżec (the largest cemetery in South East Poland), where about 600.000 Jews from the whole of Europe perished. Recently a new memorial together with a museum has been constructed. This has consequently increased the interest of Jews from Israel and the USA in this site. More www.belzec.org.pl
Useful Addresses:
Aleksander Denisenko - Drahomanov Street 38/9, 290005 Lvov Ukraine, tel.+380322721347
ZHYVA SIMYA, 3 Piskova Street, Suite 6, Lvov, tel.+380322986625, +380506710725
eFax in US (503)217-8406 e-mail:tuag@cscd.lviv.ua; tuag@is.lviv.ua;
igor@tuag.lviv.ua; http://www.autodidacts.f2s.com/tua/res.html
Aleksander Dunay; O.Stepanivny Street 17/2; Lvov 290016 dunai@iname.com
Miriam Weiner www.routestoroots.com; mweiner@routestoroots.cpm
One can seek aid in searching for one’s origins and roots through the museums found in Roztocze. The most important are:
-Zamoyski Museum in Zamość, Ormianska Street 30, www.muzeum-zamojskie.one.pl
-The Home Army Museum in Bondyrz, Bondyrz 179a/3, tel.+4884 6186285
-The Museum of the Village in Krasnobród, Tomaszowska Street 16,tel.+4884 6607814
-The Regional Museum in Tomaszów Lubelski tel.+48846643720
-History Museum in Lvov, pl.Rynok 6, tel.+380 0322 743304,720671
-Yavorivshchyna Ethnographic Museum in Yavoriv, Lvivska Street 31, tel.+380 259 28437
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