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Cieszyn? Anyone been there?

Thinking of spending a day in Cieszyn. I like the fact that you can walk across the border to Czchecia. Any info appreciated.

Posted by
14481 posts

The area used to be called Teschen, a real bone of contention between Poland and Czechoslovakia in the inter-war years due to its population nationalities. If you saw the movie, "The Illusionist" Jessica Biel had the title of "Duchess of Teschen."

Posted by
2487 posts

Have you used Wikipedia to see what's on offer and Google Streetview to get a impression of how it looks like? I find them wonderful resources.

Posted by
27 posts

Yes I have used google and street view. Thanks. Youtube also. I'd much rather hear some first hand accounts of the area from people who've been hear recently to determine if its a fitting use of my limited time. I prefer less touristy areas. The travel publications and forums have very little info about Cieszyn.

Posted by
113 posts

I actually lived there for two years (2010-2012) and would recommend it depending on your overall trip plans. There is a very nice town square with restaurants that set up outdoor tables in the warmer months, the Castle Hill is lovely, and if you want an "authentic" experience, you won't find a lot of English spoken :-). It is also not too far from Ustron, which is in the foothills of the Silesian Beskidy range and has many outdoor recreation opportunities. You could do both "Polski Cieszyn" and "Czech Cieszyn" in a day or two and then spend a few days in the mountains. My opinion is that the Polish side is the more picturesque side, and the Czech side is more the "suburbs" of the whole Cieszyn region that now happen to be split by an international border. However, the train station is on the Czech side, so it can connect you to places like Prague, Vienna, and Budapest.

Where else are you planning on going during this trip?

Posted by
4637 posts

Cieszyn is indeed less touristy area. About two thirds of the town are in Poland, one third called Cesky Tesin in the Czech Republic. Nothing remarkable about Cesky Tesin. It has important railroad station on the main rail line Prague to Kosice. The town is near Beskydy mountains. Nice hikes there.

Posted by
27 posts

Thanks for the reply but we decided on Lower Silesia Klodzkow Valley area instead. Maybe next time we will visit Cieszyn. Thank you again

Posted by
202 posts

I go there every year b/c we stay in another town about 15 minutes from there. The churches are beautiful, you can walk along the river, and as one other post said, the town square is lovely with some nice shops, delicious Polish bakery and great restaurants. Not a lot of English there and I think a few hours or afternoon would suffice. My friend's family owns a lovely cake shop, Cukrárna na Nábřeží, the Czech side and it has wonderful and beautiful treats and drinks.

Posted by
14481 posts

Hi,

That valley is right in the Lower Silesia area, you are not so far from the former capital, the present Wroclaw.

In 2001 after departing from Krakow on a train ride that took close to 10 hours (day) and after leaving Upper Silesia, ie the town of Katowice, the train proceeded to Wroclaw after having stopped at the other towns (all historical ) en route in Lower Silesia. I found the landscape and scenery from Krakow onward very interesting.

"...have very little info about Cieszyn." I am not at all surprised. Those are places you read in books.