The Zebrzydowice district lies in the southern part of Cieszyn Silesia on the river Piotrówka. Its history as a district reaches back to the 14th century, and it is first mentioned in the records of 1305. During the period of Czech and, later, Habsburg rule, it existed as part of the Duchy of Cieszyn. In 1918, it found it itself in the new Polish Republic.

Since 1998 it has been part of Cieszyn Silesia’s Euroregion, which also includes some Czech areas. One of the area’s advantages is its position on the border as well as its picturesque hilly countryside with lakes and forests. A cycle route, REGIOTOUR, runs through the region, encircling the entire Euroregion, and there are also footpaths for tourists. Indeed, the whole region has much to offer tourists. The district local authorities place much emphasis on caring for the environment, and there is continual growth in recreational activities. Besides the network of cycle paths, there is also a cross-border information system called INFOREG, founded with the assistance of the European Union. Local schools are also making use of European Union programmes and running their own European clubs.

Situated close to Cieszyn is the area of Kaczyce. Kaczyce’s wooden church of 1620 is well worth seeing. It was moved there in the 1970s from Ruptawa near Jastrzębie Zdrój.

The next place to visit in the district is Kończye Małe. Here you will find the biggest tourist attraction in the area, the 16th century Renaissance castle. In the 1990s it underwent thorough restoration, thanks to the efforts of the local authorities, and is now one of the sights on the Via Dualis tour, which takes in the most interesting monuments in the Cieszyn area. The courtyard hosts numerous cultural events. The seasonal Musical Meetings at the Castle (Muzyczne Spotkanie Zamkowe) take place in July and August. In the courtyard you can also see the sanctuary of Kończyce’s Virgin Mary, which contains a unique picture of the Holy Virgin holding a dandelion.

In Zebrzydowice, the castle and parish church are worthy of a visit. The castle was erected in the 16th century and rebuilt in the middle of the 18th century by the family of Baron Mattencloit. The church contains the tombs of Jerzy Liszka and his wife Anna Czela of Czechowice, both fine examples of Renaissance tombstone sculptures. In front of the castle there is an area which hosts numerous concerts and cultural events featuring local traditions in the ‘Golden Ear of Corn Festival’ (Złoty Kłos). The festival has been organised for several years with the help of the European Union to promote local culture. On the main road there is the Hotel Zebrzydowice with its restaurant and discotheque, and also the Kończanka inn. Along the road to the border crossing in Marklowice Górne there is the restaurant La Mirage.

Marklowice Górne has a shopping centre by the border near the crossing to the Czech Republic, and on the other side it is worth seeing the listed wooden church of 1739 with its unique multicoloured interior. You may also find some charming roadside chapels and windmills.

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