Cieszyn
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Divided city. Cieszyn (left), Olza (centre) and Český Těšín (right). |
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Cieszyn Coat of Arms |
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Rotunda in Cieszyn |
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Wieża Piastowska in Cieszyn |
Cieszyn (;
Czech:
Těšín) is a town in southern
Poland with 37,300 inhabitants (1995), situated in the
Silesian Voivodship and seat of
powiat of Cieszyn (since
1999), previously in
Bielsko-Biała Voivodship (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.
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.
Following the Czech invasion of
Cieszyn Silesia in January
1919, 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 Czechoslovak side. Its suburb of Saska Kępa became what is now the town of
Český Těšín in
Czech Republic.
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' Church (
Kościół św. Mikołaja,
11th century)
* Remnants of the
Piast dynasty castle
** Castle tower (
Wieża piastowska, mostly
14th century)
**
Gothical St.
Mary Magdalene Church (
Kościół Marii Magdaleny,
13th century)
* Old Town Square (
Rynek)
**
bourgeoisie houses (
15th-
19th centuries)
** 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
External links
*
Municipal Website (English)
*
Museum in Cieszyn (Muzeum Śląska Cieszyńskiego)
*
History of trams in Cieszyn 1911-1921 (Polish)
*
Official Website of Cieszyn 
