CIESZYN

'Cieszyn' (, ) is a town in southern Poland with 37,300 inhabitants (1995), situated in the Silesian Voivodeship and seat of powiat of Cieszyn (since 1999), previously in Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship (1975-1998). Cieszyn lies on the Olza, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín (). The town combines both Polish and Austrian peculiarities in the style of its buildings. Because of several major fires and subsequent reconstructions (the last one in the late 18th century), the picturesque old town is sometimes called ''Little Vienna''. The only relic of the ancient castle is a square tower, dating from the 12th century and 10th century romanesque chapel.

Contents

History

Culture

Industry

Sites of interest

Sister towns

Gallery

Further reading

External links

History

Main articles: History of Cieszyn and Těšín

Cieszyn was the capital of the Duchy of Cieszyn and shared its history throughout the ages. It was at Cieszyn that Maria Theresa and Frederick II signed on May 13, 1779, the Teschen Peace Treaty, which put an end to the War of the Bavarian Succession.
The city was divided in 1920, by the Conference of Ambassadors, a body formed by the Versailles Treaty, leaving a sizeable Polish minority on the Czechoslovakian side. Its suburb of Saska Kępa became what is now the town of Český Těšín in the Czech Republic.
On July 19, 1970, five Polish firefighters from Cieszyn died, when a bridge they were on fell into the Olza River, due to heavy flooding.

Culture

Since 19th century the Cieszyn Silesia has been an important centre of Polish Protestantism. Currently Cieszyn is also the site of the Cieszyn Summer Film Festival, one of the most influential film festivals in Poland.

Industry

Cieszyn is an important centre of the electromechanical industry. It is also the site of the Olza Cieszyn sweets factory (where the famous Prince Polo wafers are made) and a brewery. The main source of income for most of the population is trade with the nearby Czech Republic and transit through three nearby bridges at the Olza.

Sites of interest

★ Romanesque St. Nicholas' Chapel (''Kaplica św. Mikołaja'', a rotunda from the 11th century)

★ Remnants of the Piast dynasty castle

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★ Castle tower (''Wieża piastowska'', mostly 14th century)

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★ Gothical St. Mary Magdalene Church (''Kościół Marii Magdaleny'', 13th century)

★ Old Town Square (''Rynek'')

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★ bourgeoisie houses (15th-19th centuries)

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★ Town Hall (''Ratusz'', early 19th century)

★ Former minting house (18th century)

★ Museum of Cieszyn Silesia in the former Larish family palace (''Pałac Laryszów'', ''Muzeum Śląska Cieszyńskiego'', the first museum in Poland)

★ Castle Brewery (''Browar zamkowy'', 1846)

★ There are also plans of restoration of the 1840 Habsburg palace

★ The protestant Church of Jesus (''Kościół Jezusowy''), with a baroque tower and statues of the Four Evangelists above the altar that liven up the plain interior.

Sister towns

★ Genk

★ Luzerne

★ Puck

★ Rožňava

★ Teuva

Gallery

Further reading

★ Tajny front na granicy cieszyńskiej. Wywiad i dywersja w latach 1919-1939, , Edward, Długajczyk, Śląsk, , ISBN 83-85831-03-7

External links

★ Official Website of Cieszyn

★ Museum in Cieszyn (Muzeum Śląska Cieszyńskiego)

★ Cieszyn - Photo Gallery