Cieszyn - border town in southern Poland and the administrative seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship
Cieszyn is a medieval town of 33,500 people (2021) in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. It is one of the principal border crossing points between Poland and Czech Republic. The town on the other side of the river Olza (which forms the border between the two countries) is called Český Těšín. Both towns were Cieszyn until they were divided by a Versailles Treaty change in borders in 1920.
Get in
Bus services depart Kraków and Katowice regularly from the main bus stations in those cities.
Trains run hourly from Frýdek-Místek in the Czech Republic via Dobratice pod Prasiv, Horni Tosanovice, Hnojnik and Ropice to Český Těšín, 40 min. Here alternate trains either terminate, or sit for 5-10 min before trundling across the border to Cieszyn. So it's usually quicker to get off at Český Těšín and walk over the river bridge. Trains further into Poland are replaced by buses in 2021.
Trains also run every 30 min from Ostrava via Bohumin to Český Těšín, 35 min, and continue to various destinations including Kosice in Slovakia.
Cieszyn railway and bus stations 📍 are together on the north side of old town.
Český Těšín railway station 📍 is on Nádražní in that town's centre.
Get around
The centre is close to transportation hubs and small enough to be covered on foot.
See
- Old Town Square (Rynek), Rynek, 49.74875°, 18.63338°. Surrounded by bourgeois houses and the beautiful Town Hall (Ratusz).
- Cieszyn Castle, Zamkowa 3, 49.750499°, 18.627291°. Su-F 09:00—17:00, closed on Sa. Remnants: Piast Castle Tower, Gothic St. Mary Magdalene Church, Romanesque St. Nicholas' Chapel (11th century rotunda)
- Old Jewish Cemetery, Hażlaska 39, 49.756389°, 18.628611°.
- Museum of Cieszyn Silesia, ul. Tadeusza Regera 6, 49.74792°, 18.63394°. In the former Larisch palace (Pałac Laryszów, Muzeum Śląska Cieszyńskiego). The oldest continuously working museum in Poland, opened in 1802. 16 zł 2017-03-27
- Museum of Typography (Muzeum Drukarstwa), ul. Głęboka 50, 49.75000°, 18.62875°, +48 338511630, muzeumdrukarstwa@o2.pl. Tu-F 10:00-17:00, and May-sep: also on Sa Su 14:00-18:00. 10 zł including tour 2017-03-27
- Rotunda of Saint Nicholas, Zamkowa, 49.751153°, 18.625711°. A Romanesque rotunda built in the 12th century. It used to be a castle chapel and a stronghold church. This rotunda is also the one that can be seen on the 20-zł banknotes.
Do
- Polish Theatre (Teatr im. Adama Mickiewicza), Plac Teatralny 1, 49.749964°, 18.630391°, +48 33 857 75 90.
- Czech Theatre, Ostravská 1326/67, 737 01 Český Těšín, 49.745965°, 18.613011°, +420 558 746 022.
Events
- No Border Festival.
- Cinema On The Border. Film festival.
Buy
Eat
- Strudel
- Easter Murzin - brown bread pastry with ham and bacon inside.
Drink
- Brackie and other beers brewed locally in the Castle Brewery.
- Browar Zamkowy Cieszyn, ul. Dojazdowa 2, 49.7521°, 18.6263°, +48 338516402. Opened in 19th century and still brewing using classic methods despite being part of huge Heineken/Żywiec group. 2017-03-27
Sleep
- 3 Bros’ Hostel, ul. Mennicza 14 (across from Bożnicza str), +48 539 064 539. 2019-02-19
- Two campings: IOT Styl (dead link: January 2023) and OLZA; several hotels and private rooms.
Go next
Cieszyn
um.cieszyn.plPowiat cieszyński
2nd-order administrative division
Silesian Voivodeship
Primary administrative division