Węgierska Górka – a village with the Gmina Office – is located in the Silesian Voivodeship, Żywiec County, Gmina Węgierska Górka. It covers an area of 725,19 hectares which constitutes 9% of the whole area of the gmina. Between 1975 and 1998 the village belonged to the Bielsko Voivodeship.
The village lays on the hillsides of Silesian Beskids and Żywiec Beskids near Żywiec and the Gmina Office is located there.
Geography
Węgierska Górka lays in the valley of the Soła between the hillsides of the Silesian Beskids and the Żywiec Beskids. In the north-west it is surrounded by the ridge from Barania Góra to Glinne (1024 meters above seal level). In the north east by it is surrounded by massive ridges of Romanka (1366), Lipowska (1324) and theirs branches Magura Cięcińska (891), Abramów (857) and Prusów (1010).
Węgierska Górka functions as a „capital city” of the gmina. The village was first mentioned in 1477, when there were disputes between the king of Poland Casimir IV Jagiellon and an aggressive king of Hungary Matthias Corvinus. There is a legend that is related to the situation. Hungarians, who claimed their right to reign over the Żywiec Region, did not want to commit perjury and belittle their knight honour and they said that the land where they were kneeling belonged to them. They had put the soil from Hungary to their cuffs. Therefore, they were kneeling on the Hungarian land.
The ruse was a failure and two mounds of the soil from the cuffs were made (a mound – górka). Since the event the village has been called Węgierska Górka (Hungarian Mound). There is also the other side of the story. Węgierska Górka lays is a very narrow defile in the Soła valley, what was a decisive fact to built defensive fortifications against Hungarian attackers.
The landform features, the location near the Soła River, the presence of iron ore in the Żywiec region, large areas of forest – a source of charcoal production as a basic fuel to iron-cast stoves encouraged count A. Wielkopolski, who was the owner of Żywiec lands at that time, to built the foundry in Węgierska Górka. On 15th ,May, 1938, a cornerstone was set into the foundations. The foundry was launched in 1840 by Archduke Charles of Austria. It was not until 1905, when the foundry was closed due to unprofitability. After the reconstruction an iron foundry was launched, that is still working but in a limited scope.
The same circumstances took place almost 500 years later. In 1939, the defensive fortifications were built against hitlerian attackers. The defensive barrier “Węgierska Górka” was made, which heroically repulsed the attacks of the 7th Bavarian Infantry Division during three days in September. Hence the destruction of the Cracow Army was delayed. Due to the events in September, 1939, Węgierska Górka was awarded the Grunwald Cross of 3rd class and received the name ’The Westerplatte of the South’.
The best asset for the development of tourism in Węgierska Górka are natural resources. Clean springs, climate conditions, unpolluted soil, well-maintained and care for wildlife encourage tourists to spend their time here. The most important part in Węgierska Górka regions are forests. The Forest Range of Węgierka Górka covers the area of 9 372 hectares and the forest covers about 40% of the whole gmina. A considerable rise in pollution of the Żywiec Valley and pollution coming from Upper Silesia forced people to take necessary steps to improve the condition of natural resources. The step towards successful wildlife conservation was made by founding the Forest Complex Promotion in 1994 by Chief executive of State Forests. The complex covered the forests of the Silesian and Żywiec Beskids and included the Forest Range of Węgierska Górka.
55% of the gmina region, 92% if the surrinding counts, are the part of the Żywiec Lanscape Park, which was founded in 1986. There are almost 140 natural monuments in the area. The most important include: 200 years old limes in the centre of Węgierska Górka, 250 years old sycamore and 350 years old wych elm. There is a trapezium boulder 227 wide and 195 tall on the Glinne spring and the alley of 27 Weymouth pines about 25 meters tall along the Emperor Route. The valuable nature areas include the springs and the drainage basin of the Żabniczanka stream. It is an area where indigenous natural ecosystems exist. These are raised bog and spots with lush flora. There are also many protected animal species. On the Żabniczanka stream, there are waterfall steps from 2 to 7 meters tall. The springs and the drainage of the Cięcinka stream is the area of water retention.
The transport in Węgierska Górka is well developed. Gmina Węgierska Górka has a direct railway and road links with big cities such as Bielsko-Biała and Katowice. These certainly contribute to the appeal of tourist destination in terms of accessibility. The gmina lays on the important international communication route to Slovakia and the Czech Republic and to the south of Europe. From Węgierska Górka lead routes to road border crossing in Korbielów, Zwardoń, Glinka and Istebna. The shortest railway link from the center of Poland to Vienna also goes through Węgierska Górka. The public transport also includes four railway stations in Cięcina Dolna, Cięcian, Węgierska Górka and Cisiec and 19 bus stops. Bus and railway links are good.
In Węgierska Górka there are about 60 private lodgings, resorts and households providing agritourism. They altogether offer almost 2000 accommodations of various standards. Their offer includes the organization of group holidays (summer camps, winter camps, field schools for children and youth) and individual holidays (vacation, trips). Therefore, the level of provided services is diversified. Most of the resorts are open for the whole year. The most intense tourist periods are in the summer, winter and during public and church holidays.
In Węgierska Górka there are a dozen eating places. Several of the most important are:
- „Melaxa” Restarunat
- „Casablanka” Restarunat
- „Szałas pod Baranią” Inn,
- „Przystanek” Pizzeria,
- „Harnaś” Eating place,
- „Halina” Inn,
- „Agawa” Cafe,
- „Kwadrat” Cafe,
- „Modrzew” Cafe,
- „Indianka” Cafe,
- „Beata” Cafe,
- „Kaskada” Cafe,
- „Mini Max”DrinkBar,
- „Alaska”.
There are many mountain trails in Węgierska Górka:
- a red trail from Węgierska Górka across Abrahamów and Pawlusia Pass to Hala Rysianka,
- a red trail from Węgierska Górka across Glinne to Barania Góra.
Aforesaid trails are the part of the Main Beskids Trail named after Kazimierz Sosnowski, that runs from Ustroń in the Silesian Beskids as far as the Wołosaty in the Bieszczady.
- a black trail from Żabnica-Skałka to Hala Boracza,
- a black trail from Żabnica-Skałka to Słowianka,
- a green trail from Żabnica-Skałka to Rysianka i Hala Lipowska,
- a green trail from Węgierska Górka across Czerwińska Grapa to Barania Góra (a black trail runs from Fajkówka),
- a blue trail from Żabnica Dolna (Myce) przez Prusów to Hala Boracza,
- a blue trail from Bystra across Słowianka to Romanka.
Węgierska Górka – a village with the Gmina Office – is located in the Silesian Voivodeship, Żywiec County, Gmina Węgierska Górka. It covers an area of 725,19 hectares which constitutes 9% of the whole area of the gmina. Between 1975 and 1998 the village belonged to the Bielsko Voivodeship.
The village lays on the hillsides of Silesian Beskids and Żywiec Beskids near Żywiec and the Gmina Office is located there.
Geography
Węgierska Górka lays in the valley of the Soła between the hillsides of the Silesian Beskids and the Żywiec Beskids. In the north-west it is surrounded by the ridge from Barania Góra to Glinne (1024 meters above seal level). In the north east by it is surrounded by massive ridges of Romanka (1366), Lipowska (1324) and theirs branches Magura Cięcińska (891), Abramów (857) and Prusów (1010).
Węgierska Górka functions as a „capital city” of the gmina. The village was first mentioned in 1477, when there were disputes between the king of Poland Casimir IV Jagiellon and an aggressive king of Hungary Matthias Corvinus. There is a legend that is related to the situation. Hungarians, who claimed their right to reign over the Żywiec Region, did not want to commit perjury and belittle their knight honour and they said that the land where they were kneeling belonged to them. They had put the soil from Hungary to their cuffs. Therefore, they were kneeling on the Hungarian land.
The ruse was a failure and two mounds of the soil from the cuffs were made (a mound – górka). Since the event the village has been called Węgierska Górka (Hungarian Mound). There is also the other side of the story. Węgierska Górka lays is a very narrow defile in the Soła valley, what was a decisive fact to built defensive fortifications against Hungarian attackers.
The landform features, the location near the Soła River, the presence of iron ore in the Żywiec region, large areas of forest – a source of charcoal production as a basic fuel to iron-cast stoves encouraged count A. Wielkopolski, who was the owner of Żywiec lands at that time, to built the foundry in Węgierska Górka. On 15th ,May, 1938, a cornerstone was set into the foundations. The foundry was launched in 1840 by Archduke Charles of Austria. It was not until 1905, when the foundry was closed due to unprofitability. After the reconstruction an iron foundry was launched, that is still working but in a limited scope.
The same circumstances took place almost 500 years later. In 1939, the defensive fortifications were built against hitlerian attackers. The defensive barrier “Węgierska Górka” was made, which heroically repulsed the attacks of the 7th Bavarian Infantry Division during three days in September. Hence the destruction of the Cracow Army was delayed. Due to the events in September, 1939, Węgierska Górka was awarded the Grunwald Cross of 3rd class and received the name ’The Westerplatte of the South’.
The best asset for the development of tourism in Węgierska Górka are natural resources. Clean springs, climate conditions, unpolluted soil, well-maintained and care for wildlife encourage tourists to spend their time here. The most important part in Węgierska Górka regions are forests. The Forest Range of Węgierka Górka covers the area of 9 372 hectares and the forest covers about 40% of the whole gmina. A considerable rise in pollution of the Żywiec Valley and pollution coming from Upper Silesia forced people to take necessary steps to improve the condition of natural resources. The step towards successful wildlife conservation was made by founding the Forest Complex Promotion in 1994 by Chief executive of State Forests. The complex covered the forests of the Silesian and Żywiec Beskids and included the Forest Range of Węgierska Górka.
55% of the gmina region, 92% if the surrinding counts, are the part of the Żywiec Lanscape Park, which was founded in 1986. There are almost 140 natural monuments in the area. The most important include: 200 years old limes in the centre of Węgierska Górka, 250 years old sycamore and 350 years old wych elm. There is a trapezium boulder 227 wide and 195 tall on the Glinne spring and the alley of 27 Weymouth pines about 25 meters tall along the Emperor Route. The valuable nature areas include the springs and the drainage basin of the Żabniczanka stream. It is an area where indigenous natural ecosystems exist. These are raised bog and spots with lush flora. There are also many protected animal species. On the Żabniczanka stream, there are waterfall steps from 2 to 7 meters tall. The springs and the drainage of the Cięcinka stream is the area of water retention.
The transport in Węgierska Górka is well developed. Gmina Węgierska Górka has a direct railway and road links with big cities such as Bielsko-Biała and Katowice. These certainly contribute to the appeal of tourist destination in terms of accessibility. The gmina lays on the important international communication route to Slovakia and the Czech Republic and to the south of Europe. From Węgierska Górka lead routes to road border crossing in Korbielów, Zwardoń, Glinka and Istebna. The shortest railway link from the center of Poland to Vienna also goes through Węgierska Górka. The public transport also includes four railway stations in Cięcina Dolna, Cięcian, Węgierska Górka and Cisiec and 19 bus stops. Bus and railway links are good.
In Węgierska Górka there are about 60 private lodgings, resorts and households providing agritourism. They altogether offer almost 2000 accommodations of various standards. Their offer includes the organization of group holidays (summer camps, winter camps, field schools for children and youth) and individual holidays (vacation, trips). Therefore, the level of provided services is diversified. Most of the resorts are open for the whole year. The most intense tourist periods are in the summer, winter and during public and church holidays.
In Węgierska Górka there are a dozen eating places. Several of the most important are:
- „Melaxa” Restarunat
- „Casablanka” Restarunat
- „Szałas pod Baranią” Inn,
- „Przystanek” Pizzeria,
- „Harnaś” Eating place,
- „Halina” Inn,
- „Agawa” Cafe,
- „Kwadrat” Cafe,
- „Modrzew” Cafe,
- „Indianka” Cafe,
- „Beata” Cafe,
- „Kaskada” Cafe,
- „Mini Max”DrinkBar,
- „Alaska”.
There are many mountain trails in Węgierska Górka:
- a red trail from Węgierska Górka across Abrahamów and Pawlusia Pass to Hala Rysianka,
- a red trail from Węgierska Górka across Glinne to Barania Góra.
Aforesaid trails are the part of the Main Beskids Trail named after Kazimierz Sosnowski, that runs from Ustroń in the Silesian Beskids as far as the Wołosaty in the Bieszczady.
- a black trail from Żabnica-Skałka to Hala Boracza,
- a black trail from Żabnica-Skałka to Słowianka,
- a green trail from Żabnica-Skałka to Rysianka i Hala Lipowska,
- a green trail from Węgierska Górka across Czerwińska Grapa to Barania Góra (a black trail runs from Fajkówka),
- a blue trail from Żabnica Dolna (Myce) przez Prusów to Hala Boracza,
- a blue trail from Bystra across Słowianka to Romanka.