One day is not enough to visit as interesting a city as Bielsko-Biała. But let’s have a go. There will be some stuff about cartoons, a bit of history and some moments of culture. Some places we’ll pass almost without seeing and there’ll be others where it’s worth stopping for a while. And we’re bound to find time for a rest in some charming little corner of the city. So let’s go!

I must tell you that our city is called Little Vienna. This is because of its architecture which is similar to that of the Austrian capital. One of the buildings constructed in this Viennese style is the main PKP railway station. So, let’s start our walk from here because the building is really impressive, both inside and outside. I would say that the route we follow next depends very much on whether you’ve got children with you or not.

A ROUTE FOR THE CHILDREN

If you have children with you, let’s follow the cartoon route. This should also bring back happy childhood memories for the adults. It was actually in Bielsko-Biała that such great mini animated heroes as Bolek and Lolek, Reksio and Baltazar Gąbka (Sponge) were born. They were drawn over half a century ago in the Bielsko Animated Film Studios, and, as befits their celebrity, they have their own statues.
The first of these stands on Mostowa St on the small square in front of Sfera Shopping Centre. Cast in bronze, Bolek and Lolek are the same size as a five- or six-year old. That’s why children love to stroke their heads, say hello to them or look at the globe where Bolek is pointing to Bielsko-Biała.
Reksio, the dog with the drooping ear who has eagerly plastered his face for almost fifty years across screens in Polish households, has just as many fans. To see him you have to walk past Sfera and get to 11 Listopada St. This is Bielsko’s main pedestrianised street and was once the road between Bielsko and Kraków used by horse-drawn postal carriages.

Sculpture of Bolek and Lolek

THE CITY OF CARTOONS

This tour can only finish in one place, and that is in the Animated Film Studios which I mentioned earlier. It’s very important to book ahead as you can then arrange a tour of the studios during which the children will learn how the stories came about and the complicated process of film animation. They’ll also watch the animators at work and see other interesting things. To finish off, there’s a short film to watch in the cinema.
However, you have to get to the studio first. This will involve a short and pleasant walk with several attractions along the way. You leave Reksio and walk along the pedestrianised street towards the Sułkowski Dukes’ Castle. This is the largest and oldest historical building in Bielsko-Biała, first built in the 14th century. There’s a museum in it now, so if you want to and have the time, you could make it a part of your itinerary and pay it a visit as well.

Sułkowski Dukes’ Castle

A STOP AT “PIGAL” SQUARE

Speaking of the Castle, on the other side of Zamkowa (Castle) St you’ll find Pigal Square (an allusion to Place Pigalle in Paris). At least, that’s what the Bielsko townsfolk call Chrobry Square. To be fair, you won’t spot any chestnut trees here but you will see a huge, colourful stained glass window depicting a panorama of the city, above which rises the figure of a woman holding the Horn of Plenty. Apparently it’s the biggest stained glass window with a lay theme in Europe.
From here it’s just a few steps to Bielsko Rynek (Market Square). We can get there along the cobbled Podcienie St. Visitors and locals alike are fond of this place because of its specific atmosphere. Our Market Square is small but it’s cosy. In the summertime it pulsates with life from morning till night. This is a good place for a short break. Here, you can enjoy an aromatic coffee, have an ice cream, a cake or something more substantial.
Feeling re-energised? We can carry on then. We leave Rynek for Cieszyńska St which will take us right up to the Studios. Someone else will look after you there. Have fun!

Fountain on Chrobry Square

A ROUTE FOR THE ADULTS

If you’ve managed to get here – even without children in tow – then that’s great because this is where you can make an alternative start to your tour. Instead of going back towards Bolek and Lolek, I suggest you head for the Bielsko BWA Gallery. You might see an exhibition of hand-crafted dolls, a display of paintings by local artists or pictures by world-renowned photographers. Whatever is on display you’ll always find something worth seeing.
If you want to carry on with the cultural vibe, once you’ve left BWA, head for “Pigal”. Unfortunately, once again, you won’t find any chestnut trees but the stained glass window and Castle will surely be there, so spare them a moment of your time. Next, you must turn into Orkana St, along which Borys Szyc once ran! This actor had a role in the film “Kret” (Mole) which was part-filmed in Bielsko-Biała. Because you’ve a somewhat slim chance of meeting Mr Szyc, let’s focus on Mr Reymont instead. For here, just round the corner, through a gloomy gateway leading into Pankiewicz St, you’ll come across the Władysław Reymont Literary Museum. The museum was founded in 1989 and has been run as a private concern ever since. Tadeusz Modrzejewski hand-copies classic works of Polish literature. To date the Bielsko scribe has copied and illustrated over one hundred works which include ”Chłopi” (The Peasants by Władysław Reymont), “Pan Tadeusz” (Sir Thaddeus by Adam Mickiewicz), Henryk Sienkiewicz’s “Trylogia” (The Trilogy) and many others.
That’s probably enough for today. You’re entitled to feel tired because Bielsko-Biała is a hilly city and its centre is 300m above sea level.

In any case, there is always something worth seeing for you here