Cieszyn is a town and the seat of
Cieszyn CountyCieszyn County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Czech and Slovak border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998...
,
Silesian VoivodeshipSilesian Voivodeship is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centring on the region known as Upper Silesia...
, southern
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It has 36,109 inhabitants (2004). Cieszyn lies on the
Olza Riveris a river in Poland and the Czech Republic, the right tributary of the Oder River. It flows from the Silesian Beskids through southern Cieszyn Silesia in Poland and Frýdek-Místek and Karviná districts of the Czech Republic, often forming the border with Poland. It flows into the Oder River north...
, a tributary of the
OderThe Oder is a river in Central Europe. It begins in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
river, opposite
Český TěšínČeský Těšín is a town in the Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is commonly known in the region as just Těšín . It lies on the west bank of the Olza River, in the heart of the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia...
.
It is situated in the heart of the historical region of
Cieszyn SilesiaCieszyn Silesia or Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered around the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic...
. Until the end of
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
in 1918 it was a seat of the Duchy of Teschen. In 1920 Cieszyn Silesia was divided between the two newly created states of
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and
CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and the smaller western suburbs of Teschen were joined to Czechoslovakia as a new town of
Český TěšínČeský Těšín is a town in the Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is commonly known in the region as just Těšín . It lies on the west bank of the Olza River, in the heart of the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia...
.
Cieszyn is a town and the seat of
Cieszyn CountyCieszyn County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Czech and Slovak border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998...
,
Silesian VoivodeshipSilesian Voivodeship is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centring on the region known as Upper Silesia...
, southern
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It has 36,109 inhabitants (2004). Cieszyn lies on the
Olza Riveris a river in Poland and the Czech Republic, the right tributary of the Oder River. It flows from the Silesian Beskids through southern Cieszyn Silesia in Poland and Frýdek-Místek and Karviná districts of the Czech Republic, often forming the border with Poland. It flows into the Oder River north...
, a tributary of the
OderThe Oder is a river in Central Europe. It begins in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
river, opposite
Český TěšínČeský Těšín is a town in the Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is commonly known in the region as just Těšín . It lies on the west bank of the Olza River, in the heart of the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia...
.
It is situated in the heart of the historical region of
Cieszyn SilesiaCieszyn Silesia or Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered around the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic...
. Until the end of
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
in 1918 it was a seat of the Duchy of Teschen. In 1920 Cieszyn Silesia was divided between the two newly created states of
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and
CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and the smaller western suburbs of Teschen were joined to Czechoslovakia as a new town of
Český TěšínČeský Těšín is a town in the Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is commonly known in the region as just Těšín . It lies on the west bank of the Olza River, in the heart of the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia...
. Larger part of the town was joined to Poland as Cieszyn.
The town combines both Polish and
AustrianAustria–Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the k.u.k. Monarchy, or Dual State, was a monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in Central Europe...
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
romanesqueRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe, characterised by semi-circular arches, and evolving into the Gothic style, characterised by pointed arches, beginning in the 12th century...
chapel.
History
The area has been populated by Slavic peoples since at least the
7th centuryThe 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era.-Overview:The Muslim conquests began after the death of Muhammad in 632. Islam expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula under the Rashidun Caliphate and the Umayyad Caliphate...
. According to the legend, in
810-Byzantine Empire:* October 1—A man with a sword makes an attempt on emperor Nicephorus I's life. In the following trial, the assassin claims insanity as his defense.-Asia:* China demands the return of territory by Tibet....
three sons of a prince – Bolko, Leszko and Cieszko, met here after a long pilgrimage, found a spring, and decided to found a new settlement. They called it Cieszyn, from the words "
cieszym się", "I'm happy". This well can be found at the ulica Trzech Braci ("Three Brothers Street"), just west of the town square.
The town was the capital of the Duchy of Teschen and shared its history throughout the ages. It was in Teschen where
Maria Theresa
and Frederick II signed on 13 May, 1779, the
Teschen Peace TreatyThe Treaty of Teschen was signed on May 13, 1779 in Cieszyn between Austria and Prussia, which officially ended the War of the Bavarian Succession. The accord dictated that Austria would receive the Innviertel, a strip of land stretching from Passau to the northern border of the Archbishopric of...
, which put an end to the War of the Bavarian Succession. Teschen was known for its national, religious and cultural diversity, comprising mostly of German, Polish, Jewish and Czech communities. There was also a small but lively
HungarianHungarians are an ethnic group primarily associated with Hungary. There are around 10 million Hungarians in Hungary . Hungarians were the main inhabitants of the Kingdom of Hungary that existed through most of the second millennium...
community in the town comprised mostly of officers and clerks.
According to the
AustrianAustria–Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the k.u.k. Monarchy, or Dual State, was a monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in Central Europe...
census of 1910 the town had 22,489 inhabitants. 13,254 (61.5%) were German-speaking, 6,832 (31.7%) were Polish-speaking and 1,437 (6.7%) were Czech-speaking. Jews were not allowed to declare
YiddishYiddish is a non-territorial High German language of Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world...
, most of them thus declared German as their native language. The most populous religious groups were Roman Catholics with 15,138 (67.3%), followed by Protestants with 5,174 (23%) and the Jews with 2,112 (9.4%).
The town was divided in July 1920, by the
Spa ConferenceThe Spa Conference was a meeting between the members of the Entente, and of Poland, Germany, and Czechoslovakia that took place in the town of Spa, Belgium between 5 July, 1920 and 16 July, 1920....
, a body formed by the Versailles Treaty, leaving a sizeable Polish community on the Czechoslovak side. Its smaller westerns suburbs became what is now the town of
Český TěšínČeský Těšín is a town in the Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. The town is commonly known in the region as just Těšín . It lies on the west bank of the Olza River, in the heart of the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia...
in the
Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe that is sometimes considered to be Eastern European. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east. The capital and largest city is Prague...
. Both towns were joined together again in October 1938 when Poland annexed the
ZaolzieZaolzie is the Polish name for an area now in the Czech Republic which was disputed between interwar Poland and Czechoslovakia. The name means "lands beyond the Olza River"; it is also called Śląsk zaolziański, meaning "trans-Olza Silesia". Equivalent terms in other languages include Zaolší in...
area together with Český Těšín. In 1939 whole Cieszyn Silesia was annexed by German forces and during the
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was a part of
Nazi GermanyNazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany between 1933 and 1945, while it was led by Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Worker's Party . The name Third Reich refers to the state as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle Ages and the German...
. After the war, the border between Poland and Czechoslovakia was restored to the one from 1920.
After Poland and the Czech Republic joined the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 Member States, located primarily in Europe. Committed to regional integration, the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community...
and its passport-free Schengen zone, border controls were abolished and residents of both the Polish and Czech part can move freely across the border.
On 19 July 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 SilesiaCieszyn Silesia or Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered around the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic...
has been an important centre of Polish
ProtestantismProtestantism is a branch within Christianity, containing many denominations with some differing practices and doctrines, that principally originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the major divisions within Christianity, together with the Roman...
. Currently Cieszyn is also the site of the Cieszyn Summer Film Festival, one of the most influential
film festivalA film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. The films may be of recent date and, depending upon the focus of the individual festival, can include international releases as well as films produced by...
s in Poland. There is also a longer established Czech-Polish-Slovak film festival.
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 PoloPrince Polo is a Polish chocolate bar. It is sold in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania and Ukraine under the name Siesta, and is also sold in Iceland, where it’s known as “Prins Póló”. It was for many years one of the few chocolate bars available in the country...
waferIn cooking, a wafer is a crisp, often sweet, very thin, flat, and dry biscuit, too often used to decorate ice cream. Wafers can also be made into cookies with cream flavoring sandwiched between them...
s are made) and a
Brackie brewery. The main source of income for many citizens is trade with the nearby
Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe that is sometimes considered to be Eastern European. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east. The capital and largest city is Prague...
and retail trade associated with transit across the two bridges over the
Olzais a river in Poland and the Czech Republic, the right tributary of the Oder River. It flows from the Silesian Beskids through southern Cieszyn Silesia in Poland and Frýdek-Místek and Karviná districts of the Czech Republic, often forming the border with Poland. It flows into the Oder River north...
to Český Těšín.
Sites of interest
- Romanesque St. Nicholas' Chapel (Kaplica św. Mikołaja, a rotunda
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, often covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
from the 11th century)
- Remnants of the Piast dynasty castle
- Piast castle tower (Wieża piastowska, mostly 14th century)
- Gothic
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
al St. Mary MagdaleneMary Magdalene or Mary of Magdala is described, both in the canonical New Testament and in the New Testament apocrypha, as one of the most important women in the movement of Jesus. As a follower, Mary was one of many women who accompanied Jesus and the twelve apostles during his travels...
Church (Kościół Marii Magdaleny, 13th century)
- Old Town Square (Rynek)
- bourgeoisie
Historically, the bourgeoisie were a social class of people, characterized by their ownership of capital and the related culture. They were a part of the middle or merchant classes of European feudalism, where their power came from employment, education, and wealth, as distinguished from those...
houses (15th-19th centuries)
- Town Hall (Ratusz, early 19th century)
- Former minting house (18th century)
- Museum of Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia or Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered around the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic...
in the former Larisch family palace (Pałac Laryszów, Muzeum Śląska CieszyńskiegoThe Muzeum Śląska Cieszyńskiego is a museum in the town of Cieszyn, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. It was founded in 1802 by Leopold Szersznik, a Jesuit priest, and it is one of the oldest public museums in Central Europe...
, the first museum in Poland)
- Castle Brewery (Browar zamkowy, 1846)
- The protestant Church of Jesus
Jesus Church or Grace Church is a Lutheran Church located in Cieszyn, Poland. It is one of the largest and most important Protestant churches in Poland....
(Kościół Jezusowy), with a baroqueBaroque is an artistic style prevalent from the late 16th century to the early 18th century. The popularity and success of the Baroque style was encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church, which had decided at the time of the Council of Trent that the arts should communicate religious themes in...
tower and statues of the Four EvangelistsIn Christian tradition the Four Evangelists refers to the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark*Gospel according to Luke...
above the altarAn altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religious purposes, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place. Altars are usually found at a shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
that liven up the plain interior.
People
- Herbert Czaja
Dr. Herbert Czaja was a German Christian Democratic politician and advocate for Germans expelled after World War II...
(born November 5, 1914), German politician (CDU)
- Magdalena Gwizdoń (born August 4, 1979), Polish female biathlete
- Hermann Heller
Hermann Heller is the name of:*Hermann Heller *Hermann Heller...
(born July 17, 1891), jurist
- Ireneusz Jeleń
Ireneusz Jeleń is a Polish footballer who plays as a right-winger or striker for AJ Auxerre and the Polish national football team.-Club career:...
(born April 9, 1981), Polish footballer
- Carl Friedrich Kotschy
Carl Friedrich Kotschy was an Austrian Protestant theologian and botanist who was born in Teschen . He was the father of botanist Theodor Kotschy ....
(born January 26, 1789), botanist and theologian
- Inge Mahn (born 1943), German female sculptor, professor
- Rudolf Ramek
Rudolf Ramek was an Austrian politician.Ramek was born in Teschen in Austrian Silesia . A member of the Christian Social Party, he served as Chancellor of Austria from 20 November 1924 to 20 October 1926. He died in Vienna....
(born April 12, 1881), Austrian politician, Chancellor of Austria
- Max Rostal
Max Rostal was a violinist. He was Austrian-born, but later took British citizenship.He was born in Cieszyn and studied with Carl Flesch. From 1930-33 he taught at the Berlin Hochschule, from 1944 to 1958 at the Guildhall School of Music, and then at the Musikhochschule Köln and the Conservatory...
(born August 7, 1905), violinist and educator
- Tomisław Tajner (born May 14, 1983), Polish ski jumper
- Jiří Třanovský
Jiří Třanovský , was a Czech hymnwriter, sometimes called the father of Slovak hymnody and the "Luther of the Slavs." His name is sometimes spelled Juraj or is anglicized to George...
(born March 27, 1592), theologian and composer
- Friedrich Uhl (born May 14, 1825), journalist, writer
- Viktor Ullmann
Viktor Ullmann was a Silesia-born Austrian composer, conductor and pianist.- Biography :Viktor Ullmann was born on 1 January 1898 in Teschen, the modern Cieszyn...
(born January 1, 1898), a Jewish musician
External links