Żywiec

Żywiec is a town in southern Poland that sits between valleys of the Soła River and the foothills of the Beskid range. The northern edge is bordered by the Żywieckie reservoir, while the built area extends south along the riverbank.

After severe floods forced relocation in 1448, the settlement was moved to its present site and granted new town rights. The first partition of Poland in 1772 transferred control to the Kingdom of Galicia under Austrian rule.

The town name comes from a Slavic word meaning fertile or living, reflecting the green surroundings that still define the area. Residents and visitors use the lakeside promenade for walks, while the old town center becomes a meeting point on market days.

The central railway station connects travelers to Kraków and Katowice, with bus lines running throughout the Silesian region. The town sits roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Katowice and provides access to nearby mountain hiking trails.

The brewery founded in 1856 still uses its original copper kettles and draws water from mountain springs for beer production. The Habsburg palace displays regional folk costumes and farming tools from past centuries.