Welcome to Bielsko-Biala - Welcome to mountains!
31 Jul 2017
WELCOME TO BIELSKO-BIAŁA!
Bielsko-Biała is an exceptional, exquisitely situated town, surrounded by mountains, at the intersection of important communication routes. Bielsko-Biała is not only the capital of the Beskidy Region, but also an important tourist center. This is a city where charming 19th century secession-style buildings alternate with green squares and parks.
Bielsko-Biała was once a seat of weavers and wealthy factory owners, lying closer to Vienna than to Warsaw. It was often called the Silesian Manchester because of the cloth produced here and recognizable all over the world, Little Vienna because of its architectural similarity to the capital of Austria, Little Berlin due to fact that German was the only language spoken in the offices of factories and in suburban houses, and finally Little Turin, because it was just here that Italian manufacturer Fiat founded its subsidiary – today’s Fiat Auto Poland.
While walking round the town’s center, market squares and narrow, old streets, one cannot help being impressed by the monuments of the past.
History has left here magnificent buildings: charming churches, castles, traces of the old city, numerous statues, and many old stone and wooden townhouses from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
Bielsko-Biała is among the most prosperous cities in Poland. At the same time the cultural development of the town has never been neglected. The Wooden Weaver House conceals the stories of Bielsko clothiers, the 14th century castle is the seat of the Town Museum, the town’s art galleries are famous and crowds of people attend concerts performed at the Bielsko-Biała Centre of Culture. The theatres can also be proud of their success: the one-hundred-year-old Teatr Polski (Polish Theatre) and Teatr Lalek (Puppet Theatre) “Banialuka.” Also located here is the Studio Form Rysunkowych (Cartoon Studio), in which such famous cartoon characters as “Bolek,” “Lolek” and “Reksio” were created.
Another great advantage of the town is its proximity to the Beskidy Mountains, which offers the opportunity of appreciating the beauty of the mountain landscapes and encourages one to enjoy outdoor activities all the year round.
The multitude of sport and recreational facilities; the excellent conditions for water sports – sailing, canoeing, windsurfing – on Żywiec Lake and Międzybrodzie Lake; the glider school on the slope of Żar Mountain; the numerous hiking trails; the cosy hostels; the tobogganing runs; the network of ski lifts and the cable railway – all this makes for a town and region of exceptional beauty and interest.
