Cieszyn

Cieszyn is a town in Silesian Voivodeship on the Polish-Czech border, sitting directly on the banks of the Olza River. The old center lies on the Polish side, while Czech Český Těšín occupies the opposite riverbank.

The settlement emerged in the 10th century as a trading post and grew into the capital of a duchy under Piast rule. The present division dates from 1920, when the border river split the town after a dispute between Poland and Czechoslovakia.

The town takes its name from the Slavic word for the Golensizens who settled here and shaped the early community. Visitors notice bilingual street signs and markers that reflect daily life bridging Polish and Czech traditions.

The compact old center is easy to explore on foot, and the bridge across the Olza allows simple passage into the Czech part. Visitors should carry a valid passport, even though border checks within the Schengen area are absent.

The historic market square with its 14th-century tower stands exactly where the main trade route between Kraków and Wrocław once ran. A few steps away begins the pedestrian bridge, which counts as one of the shortest international border crossings in Europe.

Location: Cieszyn County

Inception: 1155

Elevation above the sea: 378.5 m

Shares border with: Český Těšín, Chotěbuz, Gmina Hażlach, Gmina Goleszów, Gmina Dębowiec

Website: http://um.cieszyn.pl

GPS coordinates: 49.74886,18.63343

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:31