Zbarazh

Name in Ukrainian: 
Збараж [Zbarazh]
Name in Polish: 
Zbaraż
Name in Hebrew: 
זברז'
Name in Yiddish: 
זבאריזש (Zbarizh)
Historical-cultural region: 
Eastern Galicia
Administrative District : 
Ternopil Region
Population Data: 

Year

General Population

Jewish Population

1765

(?)

910

1830

8062

3768

1890

8785

3631

1900

8310

2896

1910

9983

3291

1921

8409

2982

1931

(?)

2870

 

Zbarazh is located about 15 kilometers northeast of Tarnopol, on the banks of the Hnizna River, on a hill that controls the surrounding area. Zbarazh’s location as a border town in the eastern part of Galicia led to its fortification at different points in time, and the remnants of some of these fortresses still exist. The city was founded even before the 13th century, and a wooden fortress was constructed in the old part of the city (Stary Zbaraz) by the Zbaraski family already at the end of the 14th century. This fortress was burned during the Tatar attack on the city in 1447, and all its defenders, including Prince Wasyl  Nieświski, were killed in the fire as well. The fortress was rebuilt in the same spot, again out of wood, and its defenders were again killed in similar circumstances in 1589 in a Nomad attack on the city, which was then under the command of Janusz Zbaraski.