Pacanów

Pacanów , sometimes referred to as the European Capital of Fable, is a town in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the seat of Gmina Pacanów. It had a population of 1137 in 2003. In modern times the town is partly noted for its connection to the fictional character Koziołek Matołek. It lies in historic Lesser Poland, approximately east of Busko-Zdrój and south-east of the regional capital Kielce.

== History == thumb|left|Saint Martin church Pacanów was first mentioned in a document from 1110 to 1117, issued by the Bishop of Kraków Maur, in which the erection of St. Martin's church was confirmed. At that time, the village probably belonged to a man named Siemian, who is mentioned in the document. The existence of the parish church was confirmed on August 1219 by the incumbent Bishop of Kraków Iwo Odrowąż, and in 1265, the village was granted Magdeburg rights by Prince Bolesław V the Chaste. In the same period, a number of local villages were also granted town charters (Połaniec, Nowy Korczyn, Koprzywnica and Opatowiec). The original charter of Pacanów has not been preserved, but in a document issued on February 26, 1603, King Sigismund III Vasa reconfirmed its town status.