Tatar’s Barrow

The Tatar’s Barrow in Przemyśl is also called Przemysław’s Mound – the legendary founder of Przemyśl. The mound is located on the Zniesienie hill, 350.3 m above sea level, behind the Castle Park in Przemyśl. The name “Zniesienie” has been given in remembrance of victory in this place over the Tatars. Legend tells that the mound was allegedly built by the Tartars as the grave of a khan killed in the fight. Its height from the base is just over 10 m.

There is, however, a supposition that in the old Tatar mound there used to be a temple in which the Slav gods, especially Swarożyc, were worshiped. Pagan rulers were sacrificed from cattle and… people (this would be confirmed by archaeological research, during which human skulls and skeletons were discovered at the base of the mound). Later, in the place of the former temple, a St. Leonard’s chapel was built (as compensation for the alleged victims of Christians). However, the chapel was destroyed during World War II.

For many centuries, or even millennia, the mound served as an important observation point in the defense system of Przemyśl. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Austrians built on the Zniesienie several objects forming part of the inner ring of the Przemyśl Fortress, including Fort XVI called Zniesienie. Fort, however, did not play a major role during the fights for the Przemyśl Fortress, and the adjacent warehouse was blown up.