Bielsko-Biała is one of the largest cities in the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland with a population of about 170,000 in the city itself and over half a million if its metro area taken into account. Aside from various festivals throughout the year and impressive examples of Viennese architecture (the city has been described as 'Little Vienna') Bielsko attracts many tourists through its position as a gateway to the Beskidy mountains.
The city is situated by the intersection of S1 motorway, main road going north-to-south through Poland. It is situated 50 km south of Katowice and 75 km west of Kraków. The city was once renowned for its magnificent linen, but now its main industries are strictly mechanical. The average relative height difference between places in the city goes as big as 900 meters, as in the city borders there are several mountain peaks - that generates magnificent view. Bielsko-Biała is place of tourism, people from all over the country visit the city as it is logistical and cultural center for nearby ski-sport towns, such as Szczyrk, Wisła, Ustroń and Żywiec.
The today's center of the town was probably developed as early as in the first half of the 13th century. It was then when a castle was built on a hill still used for this purpose today. Sometime in the 13th or 14th century the town was granted a town charter; the exact date is unknown because the document is now lost.
The town of Bielsko was first mentioned in a letter by a Duke of Cieszyn in 1312. For centuries, Bielsko belonged to the Duchy of Cieszyn. From 1457 the Biała river was the border between Silesia and Lesser Poland. Silesia belonged to Austria, Little Poland to Poland. In 1723 on the opposite bank of the river the city of Biała came into being.
In 1772 Biała was annexed by Austria and included in the crownland of Galicia. In 1918 both cities became part of reborn Poland, though a significant part of the population was ethnic German. During World War II the city was annexed to the Third Reich and its Jewish population sent to Auschwitz Nazi German concentration camp. After the liberation of the city by the Red Army in 1945, the ethnic German population was expelled. The city of Bielsko-Biała was created on January 1, 1951 when the adjacent cities of Bielsko and Biała were unified.
- Bielsko-Biała Museum and Sulkowski Dukes’ Castle, Wzgórze 16, +48 33 811 10 35. Tu, Sa: 9:00—15:00. W-F: 9:00—16:00. Su: 10:00—18:00. 15 zł.
- City Hall.
- Weaver’s House, Jana III Sobieskiego 51, +48 33 811 74 06. Tu, Sa: 9:00—15:00. W-F: 9:00—16:00. Su: 10:00—18:00. 10 zł.
- House of Frogs, Łukowa 12. One of the finest art nouveau examples in the city.
- Polish Theatre, ul. 1 Maja 1. Built in 1890.
- Cathedral of St. Nicholas, plac Świętego Mikołaja. One of the most dominating churches in the city, with a tower which is 60 meters high.
Cathedral of St. Nicholas, plac Świętego Mikołaja. One of the most dominating churches in the city, with a tower which is 60 meters high.
Bielsko-Biała Museum and Sulkowski Dukes’ Castle, Wzgórze 16, +48 33 811 10 35. Tu, Sa: 9:00—15:00. W-F: 9:00—16:00. Su: 10:00—18:00. 15 zł.
City Hall.
Weaver’s House, Jana III Sobieskiego 51, +48 33 811 74 06. Tu, Sa: 9:00—15:00. W-F: 9:00—16:00. Su: 10:00—18:00. 10 zł.
House of Frogs, Łukowa 12. One of the finest art nouveau examples in the city.
Polish Theatre, ul. 1 Maja 1. Built in 1890.
Easily accessible by bus number 8 from the railway station is the Szyndzielnia cable car taking passengers up to above 1000m with excellent views of the city, and visible from the city are many ski runs, operational during the winter season.