Szczyrk

Szczyrk
Town panorama
Coat of arms
Szczyrk within Bielsko County
Szczyrk
Coordinates: 49°42′58″N 19°1′37″E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Silesian
County	Bielsko
Gmina	Szczyrk (urban gmina)
City rights	1 January 1973 (1973-01-01)
Government
• Mayor	Antoni Byrdy
Area
• Total	39.07 km2 (15.09 sq mi)
Highest elevation	600 m (2,000 ft)
Lowest elevation	500 m (1,600 ft)
Population  (2019-06-30)
• Total	5,734
• Density	150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	43-370
Car plates	SBI
Website	http://www.szczyrk.pl

Szczyrk [ʂt͡ʂɨrk] (German: Schirk) is a town in the Beskid Śląski mountains of southern Poland, situated in the valley of the Żylica river. It is part of the Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously being part of the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship (1975–1998). It has a population of 5,734 people (2019).

History

First permanent human settlements in the area of present-day Szczyrk were reported in 16th century. According to chronicles, the village was inhabited by around 100 people in the 1730s. Initially, the majority of inhabitants were exclusively engaged in agriculture and sheep farming. Over the course of time, they began producing cloth from sheep's wool. Timber felling was also carried out in the area.

In the 19th century, the process of timber felling expanded rapidly and numerous water mills and sawmills started to be constructed. In the early 20th century, Szczyrk slowly bagan transforming into a resort town by attracting more and more tourists. In the 1920s, the area was popular with industrialists who erected villas and mountain hostels in the town. In 1927, mountain shelters on Mount Klimczok and Sampolska Pass were built. In 1933, the popular shelter on Skrzyczne was opened.

After World War II, the town experienced a tourist boom. Thanks to its picturesque location and Silesian Beskids mountains, it became a popular and well-known resort town and a winter sports center. In 1959, a chairlift leading to Mount Skrzyczne was opened becoming one of the top tourist attractions of the town. In 1973, Szczyrk was granted city rights.

Tourism and geography

The town is a popular winter sports centre, with over 60 km of ski runs served by 30 ski lifts. Poland's Winter Olympics athletes train in Szczyrk for events such as skiing and ski jumping.

The two mountain ranges that surround the valley are dominated by the peaks of Skrzyczne at 1,257 metres (4,124 feet) and Klimczok 1,117 metres (3,665 feet), both of significant interest to tourists since they have commanding views from either peak. Moreover, both peaks are accessible to most people in one day's hike via the tourist routes. Skrzyczne is also accessible via a chairlift.

To the west of Szczyrk is Wisła, a town where the source of the Vistula (Wisła) river can be found (around the Barania Góra mountain).

The town is home Mercure Szczyrk Resort, Europe's longest hotel, which opened in 2024 and measures 330 meters (1,082 ft) in length. Situated 660 meters above sea level, the 447-room four-star hotel is also the highest altitude hotel in Poland.

Gallery

• 
  Square in the town centre
• 
  Hotel Alpin
• 
  Ski lift
• 
  A ski jumping hill in Szczyrk

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Szczyrk is twinned with:

• Ciorăşti, Romania (2004)
• Mikołajki, Poland (2007)
• Zetel, Germany (2008)

External links

• Official website
• Skiing in Szczyrk
• TrekEarth - photos from Szczyrk
• Detailed site about Szczyrk
• Photo gallery from Szczyrk