The Suwałki village, was founded by the Calmedolites brought to the island on Wigry Lake by King John Casimirus in 1667. In 1710 Suwalki received the right to rendering and fairs from the king. Five years later it received the privilege to fund a town from the prior of the Cameldolites, which was confirmed by the king August II (together with the Magdebourg right and the coat of arms). In the years 1710-1714 the Cameldolites erected there the wooden chuch of Holy Cross, and in 1788 they founded a parish.

After the Third Partition of Poland (1795) Suwalki ended up under the Prussian rule. As a result of administration reform in 1816 it became the seat of the Augustow Province authorities. From 1837 it was the capital of Augustow Gubernya, and from 1866 of the Suwalki Gubernya. During the Russian rule it had a status of an independent Town; Since 1818 it has had a president as the head of town authorities.

Jews were one of the biggest group among town inhabitants. There were also some Russians, Germans, Lithuaninas and Tatars. At the beginning of the First World War German troops entered Suwalki and occupied it until August 1919. The life was greatly influence by the presence of the army, since Suwalki had one of the biggest garrisons in the country with two regiments of cavalry and one of infantry.

After five years of German occupation the Town was liberated by Russian troops on 23rd October 1944.

In 1975, as a result of the administrative reform, it became the capital of a newly created province. In the next 24 years – it became a medium-sized, and interregional centre of administration, economy, culture and education. On 1st January 1999 Suwalki became a mere district Town in the Bialystok Province.

The coat of arms of Suwałki presents of Saint Romuald and Saint Roch at three mountains with cross and crown.

Suwalki Municipality is situated in north-east Poland in the Podlaskie Province, on the Czarna Hańcza River, in the proximity of the state border with Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. Suwalki is a city of county rank, the seat of land county and the Commune of Suwalki; Suwalki Municipality has been managed by the President Mr. Józef Gajewski. 

The town covers the area of 65,5 km2, of which 74% are green areas. Suwalki is surrounded by attractive land and landscape features, as regards both natural environment and tourist point of view (post-monastic complexes, ruins of places and manor-houses, decorated wooden folk buildings, sacra historic monuments as well as lakes, rivers, woods, and primeval forests. Suwalki has over 69 thousand residents. Suwalki is an attractive place to conduct business, service and trade activities as well as to develope investment projects in a variety of business sectors. Advantageous are here well developed industrial zones, qualified labour force as well as administrative and tax incentives for businessmen (Suwalki Special Economic Zone and Park of Science and Technolgy Poland – East).

All year round Suwalki attract tourists with it’s reach offer calendar of cultural events. In 2008, Suwalki for the first time in it’s history became the venue of the international „Suwalki Blues Festival”. In the poll organized by the quarterly „Twój Bles” Suwalki came first as the venue of the best organized blues festival in Poland. Suwalki closely cooperates with Notodden Blues Festival, the event with over 20 years of tradition organized in the Norwegian city of Notodden, linked by twinning agrement with Suwalki. The next festival will be heald on 15-17 July 2010.

Another import and international event organized for over 10 years is Suwalki Folk Fair, which in 2008 won a prize in the all-Polish competition titled:”Poland Grows Pretty – 7 Miracles of European Funds” organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and the PASCAL Publishing House.

Scenic environs encourage active recreation: sailing, kayaking, swimming, cycling, horse riding or hiking. A wide offer of accommodation and catering facilities are sure to meet various expectations of tourists. More information is here.