The town of Sochaczew (population 39,700) is located 34 miles (55 kilometres) to the West of the capital Warsaw, on the Lowicki-Blonska plain, by the River Bzura. The junctions of the highways Poznan-Warsaw (No.2) and Plonsk-Wyszogrod-Grojec (No.569 and No.717) are here. The town has been known since 1221 and has been in the battlegrounds of many wars including WWI and WWII. Since 1945 the town has developed rapidly economically and industrially, including in the latter “Master Foods Polska” - not unknown to the citizens of Melton Mowbray as it is part of the Mars Incorporated group from which the name Pedigree Petfoods is immediately called to mind!
As an important tourist centre with considerable history, Sochaczew boasts 6 museums including one with working steam trains.
The famous Fryderyk Chopin was born in 1810 in nearby Zelazowa Wola.
