Wisła

Wisła (Polish: [ˈviswa] ⓘ; German: Weichsel; Czech: Visla) is a town in Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland, with a population of about 11,132 (2019), near the border with Czech Republic. It is situated in the Silesian Beskids mountain range in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia and ethnic region of the Silesian Gorals. Wisła is the Polish name for the Vistula River, which has its source in the mountains near the town. It is the only town in Poland with a majority Lutheran population (as of 2006 roughly two-thirds of the population were Protestant,[2] which is a drop from 94,4% in 1900[3]).[4]

This article is about the Polish town. For the river, see Vistula. For other uses, see Vistula (disambiguation).
Wisła
Presidential Castle in Wisła in August 2013
Presidential Castle in Wisła in August 2013
Coat of arms of Wisła
Coat of arms
Wisła is located in Silesian Voivodeship
Wisła
Wisła
Wisła is located in Poland
Wisła
Wisła
Coordinates: 49°39′17.69″N 18°51′34.23″E
Country Poland
Voivodeship Silesian
CountyCieszyn
GminaWisła (urban gmina)
First mentioned1615
City rights1962
Government
 • MayorTomasz Bujok
Area
 • Total110.26 km2 (42.57 sq mi)
Elevation
513 m (1,683 ft)
Population
 (2019-06-30[1])
 • Total11,132
 • Density100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
43-460
Car platesSCI
Websitewww.wisla.pl

Wisła is a popular year-round tourist destination, being home to Malinka, a ski jumping hill. It is also known for being the home town of ski jumper Adam Małysz. Wisła is also the home of the Beskid Museum displaying agricultural tools, folk costumes and goatskin bagpipes from the surrounding region.

History

The first people to settle in Wisła in the late 16th or early 17th century came from two directions: from Ustroń up the river Vistula and Gorals searching for new pastures in the mountains (see also: Vlachs). It was first mentioned in 1615. Politically the village belonged then to the Duchy of Teschen, a fee of the Kingdom of Bohemia, which after 1526 became part of the Habsburg monarchy. It was first recognized as a developed village of the Teschener Kammer, named na Wisłach, in 1643.[5]

The majority of its inhabitants were Lutherans. After issuing the Patent of Toleration in 1781, they subsequently organized a local Lutheran parish as one of over ten in the region.[6]

After Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire, a modern municipal division was introduced in the re-established Austrian Silesia. The village as a municipality was subscribed to the political district of Bielsko and the legal district of Skoczów. In the second half of the 19th century it became increasingly popular as a tourist destination.

According to the censuses conducted in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 the population of the municipality grew from 4261 in 1880 to 4685 in 1910 with a majority being native Polish-speakers (98.5%-99%) and a small minority German-speaking (at most 64 or 1.5% in 1880) and at most 4 people Czech-speaking (in 1910), in terms of religion majority were Protestants (94.9% in 1910), followed by Roman Catholics (232 or 5% in 1910) and 6 Jews.[7] The village was also traditionally inhabited by a specific subgroup of Silesian Gorals, speaking Cieszyn Silesian dialect.

After World War I, fall of Austria-Hungary, Polish–Czechoslovak War and the division of Cieszyn Silesia in 1920, it became a part of Poland. It was then annexed by Nazi Germany at the beginning of World War II. After the war it was restored to Poland. It gained town rights in 1962.

Tourism

In the winter Wisła is known for its skiing: Malinka, a ski jump hill, is located here and hosts international competitions. In the summer, hiking through its many mountain trails is popular. To support its recent growth in tourism, many hotels have been built, the largest of which is Hotel Gołębiewski.

Wisła is also home to Wisła Castle – one of the official residences of the President of Poland.

In Wisła a trail starts that leads to the Stożek Wielki, a mountain on the border with the Czech Republic that reaches a height of 978 meters.

Notable residents

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

Wisła is twinned with:[8][9]

  • Panorama of Wisła in 1939
    Panorama of Wisła in 1939
  • Nowa Osada skiing station
    Nowa Osada skiing station
  • Lutheran church of the Apostles Peter and Paul
    Lutheran church of the Apostles Peter and Paul
  • Lutheran rectory
    Lutheran rectory
  • Former Habsburg Hunting Palace
    Former Habsburg Hunting Palace
  • Gołębiewski Hotel
    Gołębiewski Hotel
  • Crystal Mountain Hotel
    Crystal Mountain Hotel

References
  1. "Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June". stat.gov.pl. Statistics Poland. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  2. Kiereś, Malgorzata; Cienciala, Zbigniew; Spyra, Janusz (2008). Monografia Wisły. 3 Kościoły i wspólnoty religijne Wisły (in Polish). Wisła: Galeria „Na Gojach". pp. 255–256. ISBN 978-83-60551-12-7. OCLC 643020117.
  3. Gemeindelexikon der im Reichsrate vertretenen Königreiche und Länder, bearbeitet auf Grund der Ergebnisse der Volkszählung vom 31. Dezember 1900, XI. Schlesien (in German). Wien. 1906.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. Rumpel, Artur (2009). Religie w Polsce (in Polish). Łódź: Księży Młyn Dom Wydawniczy. p. 88. ISBN 978-83-61253-19-8.
  5. Kiereś, Malgorzata; Cienciala, Zbigniew; Spyra, Janusz (2007). Monografia Wisły. 2 Wisła: Dzieje beskidzkiej wsi do 1918 roku (in Polish). Wisła: Galeria „Na Gojach". p. 29. ISBN 978-83-60551-04-2. OCLC 259925233.
  6. Michejda, Karol (1992). "Dzieje Kościoła ewangelickiego w Księstwie Cieszyńskim (od Reformacji do roku 1909)". Z historii Kościoła ewangelickiego na Śląsku Cieszyńskim (in Polish). Katowice: Dom Wydawniczy i Księgarski „Didache". p. 144. ISBN 83-85572-00-7.
  7. Piątkowski, Kazimierz (1918). Stosunki narodowościowe w Księstwie Cieszyńskiem (in Polish). Cieszyn: Macierz Szkolna Księstwa Cieszyńskiego. pp. 261, 279.
  8. "Main Page: Partnerzy". wisla.pl (in Polish). Wisła. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  9. "Partnerské mestá". turciansketeplice.sk (in Slovak). Turčianske Teplice. Retrieved 2020-03-12.

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