city, Małopolskie województwo (province), southern Poland. It lies along the Dunajec River, a tributary of the Vistula River. Nowy Sącz is situated in the fertile Kotlina Sądecka (Sącz Dale), a plain of the Carpathian Mountains noted for its apples. Its scenic surroundings and historic buildings make it a tourist centre as well. The regional museum is located there. The valley, which has been inhabited since prehistoric times, was chosen as the site for Nowy Sącz by King Wenceslas (Wacław) II in 1292. The city became an administrative, economic, and cultural centre for the region. Computer technology became an important local industry after 1990. Pop. (2002) 84,477.