Cieszyn, top attractions of the city

Cieszyn is a very beautiful, historical city, located in the southern part of the Silesian Voivodeship. It was picturesquely located on the Olza River, at the foot of the Beskids, at the border with the Czech Republic. It is about 30 km from Bielsko-Biała and even closer to the Vistula River. Legend has it that in 810, three brothers - Cieszko, Bolko and Leszko - met at the local spring after a long journey and out of this joy they founded the city with the eloquent name of Cieszyn. This event is commemorated by the Well of the Three Brothers.

Cieszyn - Little Vienna

Cieszyn, the historical capital of the region, is called "Little Vienna". Both due to its architecture and the fact that, despite its small size, it is an important cultural and educational center. These two cities are slightly more than 280 km apart in a straight line, hence in the past they were connected by lively contacts. Initially, they covered the upper social strata and tightened as early as in the 16th century. Then they also spilled over to the lower layers through trade contacts. The Jewish Singer family, who settled here in 1631, imported goods directly from Vienna to Cieszyn, and in the 18th century an international fair was launched here, integrating Galicia with the rest of the monarchy.

Experiences in Cieszyn

The Olza River divides the city into the Polish Cieszyn and the Czech Cieszyn, but the historical part with the remains of the once significant Piast stronghold on the Castle Hill, beautiful tenement houses and other monuments remains within the borders of our country. We will be happy to show you them in our guide. Check out the best attractions in Cieszyn! We also encourage you to read the description of Cieszyn on the friendly blog of Antek w Podróży.

Castle Mountain in Cieszyn

The Castle Mountain is the most valuable and oldest place in Cieszyn, where local settlement began. This is usually where tourists start exploring the whole of Cieszyn. Entrance to the Castle Mountain is free, the entrance to the inside of the tower or rotunda is behind the tickets. In addition, you will see the Tower of the Final Defense from the 13th century - the remnant of the defense system of the upper castle or the Habsburg Hunting Palace from the 19th century - now Cieszyn Castle. Under the hill, on the opposite side of the street, there is a paid parking lot.

In May, the hill comes alive with medieval life during the Festival of Nine - the Feast of the Beskids and Cieszyn Silesia!

Rotunda in Cieszyn

The most recognizable element of the Castle Hill and at the same time a symbol of the whole of Cieszyn is the Romanesque Rotunda from the 11th century. It is one of the oldest Christian temples in Poland and thus the most valuable monument of Upper Silesia. The image of the rotunda appears on the Polish 20 złoty banknote, hence the facility is known to almost every Pole 🙂 The rotunda can be visited after buying a ticket in a nearby tower. There is a fantastic, huge key to the rotunda, with which you can open this valuable and austere monument in its own form. It's moving to cross her thick walls, all the more so when you open her gates yourself with this powerful key.

Piast Tower in Cieszyn

The tallest building on the Castle Hill is the stone, powerful Piast Tower from the 14th century. It is a great vantage point overlooking the city and the surrounding area, available behind the tickets. Of course, there are also mountains on the horizon, well described on the boards. There are quite steep stairs to the top of the tower, so be careful when climbing them.

Promenade on the Olza River in Cieszyn

You will descend to the Promenade almost directly from the Castle Hill. It is a very pleasant promenade by the river, with nice views of Olza and the city. Recently, there were interesting benches in the shape of circles, beautifully illuminated in the evening. They encourage you to sit on them or even lie down.

Głęboka Street in Cieszyn

Głęboka Street is a representative promenade of the city. It will take you from the Castle Hill to the Market Square. Since the Middle Ages, it has been the main artery of the city, connecting the center and the castle. Initially, it was called Polska Street. Today, it is a popular promenade in Cieszyn with beautiful architecture.

Museum of Printing in Cieszyn

The Printing Museum is located near the Castle Hill, at the Cieszyn promenade. It was established in 1996 to make the printing traditions in Cieszyn Silesia visible. You will see a typographic machine with a set of fonts, chemigraphic and woodcut dies, clamping presses or bookbinding devices.

Market Square in Cieszyn

The old town, located within the borders of Poland, preserved the medieval layout of the city. The central point is the beautiful Market Square with historic tenement houses. Under No. 12 there is the National House - an impressive building in eclectic style, which houses the Cieszyn Cultural Center "National House". At the Market Square, there is also the historic Town Hall, but not in the middle, but in the southern frontage. The first town hall was built here at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. Many fires consumed the Cieszyn Town Hall, so it was rebuilt many times. The current shape dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. In the middle of the market square, a fountain with a stone, tall statue of St. Florian attracts attention.

Well of the Three Brothers in Cieszyn

As I have already written, the legend says that in this place three sons of the Polish king Leszek III met after a long separation and for this joy they built a city called Cieszyn. This supposedly took place 1,200 years ago, which the guides are happy to emphasize, adding seriousness to such an old town with a very long tradition. And is that true? Historical sources say nothing about it, and the legend itself was supposedly created after the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the city in 1810, but it is said that it was repeated by the local people forever.

The well was actually built a long time ago, above the source, on the slope running down to Olza. The first mention of it comes from 1434. It appeared in a document in which the Duchess of Cieszyn Ofka and her son Wacław allow the marriage of Jan and Dorota Pagan to use a meat bench, i.e. a butcher's shop near the Bratsk well. Bracka did not refer to the brothers from the legend, but to the fact that the well belonged to the Dominican monastery, founded in Cieszyn in the second half of the 13th century. For centuries, it served the inhabitants of the city as a water intake.

Venice of Cieszyn

This is a unique district of Cieszyn, popularly known as Venice. It is located on the Olza "Młynówka" canal, in the historical part of the city. Venice in Cieszyn is full of charm and atmosphere, but the place remains a bit neglected and does not use its full potential. The small cottages squeezed nicely over the canal, but only a few of them look really nice. Restaurants and a gallery were created here. You'd like more 🙂

Historically, it was an important and strategic place. The beginnings date back to the 16th century, when the Mill performed important defensive functions against the Cieszyn Castle Hill. Local craftsmen settled along the stream, creating a native industry over time. A sawmill, a power plant and a mill powered by the waters of Młynówka were built here.

See also the original, that is, the Italian Venice and its attractions by the water

Museum of Cieszyn Silesia

The Museum of Cieszyn Silesia in Cieszyn is the oldest public museum in Poland and one of the oldest in Central Europe. It was founded in 1802 by priest Leopold Jan Szersznik. Since 1931, the museum has been housed in a large tenement house with a palace character, standing at Regera Street, near the Market Square. This valuable museum is open every day except Mondays, the entrances are at full hours. 

In the interiors of the curiosities you will see, among others, a cabinet or an interesting piece of furniture of the last Cieszyn Piastówna, Princess Elizabeth Lucrezia, astronomical instruments with a unique seventeenth-century globe of the sky, an exotic weapon with a shield of turtle shell at the head, the jaw and tooth of a mammoth or a unique egg. At the Museum, you can find beautiful magnolias lying on the Trail of Blooming Magnolias in Cieszyn.

Trail of the Blooming Magnolia in Cieszyn

The blooming magnolia trail is a route of about 1 km, the crossing lasts up to 30 minutes. Individual stops are marked with a special stamp with a beautiful magnolia. You can find them here:

• Church Square 8 – star magnolia in the garden from the 19th century villa in front of the Evangelical church
• Church Square 4 – magnolia "Alexandrina" in front of the Evangelical parish building
• 6 Sienkiewicza St. – two magnolia trees "Alexandrina" behind a beautiful forged fence, next to an eclectic villa with a round corner tower
• 12 Sienkiewicza St./Miarki St. – a rare Soulange magnolia in the garden adjacent to a tenement house faced with yellow glaze
• ul. 3 Maja 17 – star magnolia in front of a modernist villa
• ul. 3 Maja 16 – magnolia "Alexandrina" in front of the Art Nouveau house
• ul. 3 Maja 13 – young magnolia "Rustica Rubra" by a villa from the 1920s
• ul. Miarki 2 – visible from ul. 3 Maja a tree of a very rare Lenné magnolia
• ul. 3 Maja 10 – magnolia "Alexandrina" in front of a representative villa in the style of Viennese geometric Art Nouveau
• Peace Park – three magnolia trees "Alexandrina"

Kornel & Friends Café & Bookstore

A café and a bookstore, or vice versa, is a great place in Cieszyn. Very atmospheric and popular with locals and tourists. It's so cozy here that you don't want to leave, and the smell of coffee and cakes stays even longer 🙂

Church of the Holy Cross in Cieszyn

The Church of the Holy Cross was built at the beginning of the 18th century, after the expansion of the 17th-century prince's chapel, donated to the Jesuits. It is a beautiful baroque temple.

After the dissolution of the Jesuit Order in 1773, the church became a junior high school temple and served students from the Cieszyn junior high school. In the years 1781-82, thanks to Father Leopold Szersznik, the building was expanded and a tower was added. After the fire in 1789, the temple was restored. Then a new main altar in the classicist style was created, with bas-reliefs depicting the scenes of the Crucifixion and the Last Supper.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cieszyn 

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene was founded in the 13th century. Initially, in the place of the current church, there was a Dominican monastery with the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The current temple is built on the plan of a Latin cross, with an elongated presbytery and a short nave. The main entrance to the building is decorated with impressive, early Gothic portals from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries.

Brewery in Cieszyn

The historic brewery in Cieszyn was founded in 1846. Today, it is the longest continuously operating brewery in Poland. The brewery is open to the public and is located opposite the Castle Hill.

Holy Trinity Church in Cieszyn

The church was created thanks to the Duchess Catherine of Sidonia and the Protestant community of Cieszyn. Originally, it was a wooden chapel (funeral), which in 1594 was transformed into a brick temple. Until 1653, it remained in the hands of Protestants. It is a beautiful Gothic-Renaissance temple, with gothic portals.

Old cemetery in Cieszyn

Old Kirkut dates back to the 17th century and is extremely atmospheric. Burials were practiced here until the beginning of the 20th century, which makes it, after the Remu cemetery in Kazimierz, the longest-running cemetery in Poland. This Jewish cemetery, although very valuable due to its records, is available to everyone, free of charge and at any time, because although it is fenced, you can enter its area without obstacles. Walking along a narrow path, you pass dozens of matzevot, inclined by the tooth of time. Ivy is invading them and the surrounding trees, making the place so mysterious and unusual that you don't want to leave.

Nowy Kirkut in Cieszyn

On the same street, a bit further away, there is the so-called Nowy Kirkut in Cieszyn. It dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. A magnificent gate leads to its area, and further you will find large monuments and modest matzevot.

Castle in Kończyce Małe

Cieszyn Wawel is a beautiful castle in Kończyce Małe, located on the route from Jastrzębie Zdrój to Cieszyn. And rightly so, the castle makes quite an impression on tourists. Lost among the trees, by a beautiful pond, inconspicuous at first glance, but very interesting.

The beginnings of the Gothic castle, or rather the defensive manor house, date back to the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, when it was built by the Golasowski family. In 1560, the castle was expanded by Jerzy Sedlnicki, which is what the stone portal with the Odrowąż Sedlnicki coat of arms tells us. Currently, the castle houses the Gościniec U Noszaka with good food.

Map of Cieszyn attractions

We have prepared a map of Cieszyn for you. I think it will help in planning a walk around this beautiful city. You can find our suggestion for a walk below.

You can leave your

If you want to see the beautiful magnolias (if they are blooming now), you can get to the Church Square, and then along Sienkiewicza Street and Raszki Avenue, you will reach Cieszyn Venice. It is Przykopa Street. It will take you to the parking lot, although we recommend visiting the Promenade on the Olza River. There you can sit comfortably by the water. 

Our video about Cieszyn

See our impressions of this age-old and thriving city.

Where to eat in Cieszyn?

In Cieszyn, you can eat at almost every step and on every budget. Totally budget, and at the same time delicious and fresh, are the Cieszyn sandwiches in the Społem store by the market, from the side of the pedestrian street. There are tables where sandwiches can be eaten in peace. Fajna Plackarnia u Janka is located in Cieszyn Venice (Przykopa 30). You can also eat well and inexpensively in Zapieck at Sejmowa 4. A bit from the Market Square is also the interesting Winwajcy Restaurant (Srebrna 3).

I already mentioned the café in the text - Cornel and Friends is a fantastic place for something sweet. It is also worth visiting the Presso Café at Zamkowa 3 or the Museum Cafe at Regera 6.

Accommodation in Cieszyn?

Unfortunately, we did not spend the night here, so we cannot recommend any accommodation from our own experience, but below you will find a list of accommodation in Cieszyn for booking.

Access to Cieszyn

Cieszyn is located in the south of Poland near the border with the Czech Republic. Although the S52 expressway runs in the north of Cieszyn, you will probably more often choose the A1 motorway (about 50 km from Cieszyn) by car and in Mszana you will go down to Jastrzęba Zdrój to reach Cieszyn on provincial roads. S52 leads only to Bielsko-Biała, although its route to Krakow is planned. 

In Cieszyn, there is a paid parking zone in the center. The map is shown below. The first hour costs PLN 3 (2022). We parked in a paid car park in front of the Castle Hill, at Zamkowa Street. Not far from the Bridge of Friendship, leading to Cesky Cieszyn. You can also park for free at Liburnia Street, also near the Castle Hill, but a little further from the Cieszyn promenade. However, we cared about time and wanted to park as close to our attractions as possible🙂

You can get to Cieszyn by train, although you can't do without a change. The easiest way is from Katowice - there are direct connections here. You can also get to Czechowice-Dziedzice. From the railway station to the market square in Cieszyn, it is a 5-7 minute walk.

See the list of the most beautiful cities of the Silesian Voivodeship

What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• The castle in Tworków, distance: 40.8  km
• Castle in Żywiec, distance: 41.3  km
• Pławniowice Palace, distance: 71.6  km
• Gródek Park in Jaworzno, distance: 72.1  km
• Black Trout Adit in Tarnowskie Góry, distance: 76.4  km
• Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry, distance: 76.8  km
• Błędowska Desert, distance: 91.6  km
• Krakowskie valleys, distance: 92.2  km
• Moszna Castle, distance: 98.6  km
• Ojców National Park, distance: 99.1  km