Żywiec Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Żywiec

Top left: Market square with cathedral bell tower
Top right: Holy Cross Church
Middle left: Beskid Wyzsza University
Middle right: Zamkowy Park
Bottom left: Saint Mark Church
Bottom middle: Monument of Pope John Paul II
Bottom right: Old Castle

Coat of arms

Żywiec

Location in Silesian Voivodeship

Żywiec

Location in Poland

Country

Poland

Voivodeship

Silesian

County

Żywiec

Gmina

Żywiec (urban gmina)

Area

• Total

50.57 km² (19.53 sq mi)

Highest elevation

400 m (1,300 ft)

Lowest elevation

344 m (1,129 ft)

Population

(2019-06-30)

• Total

31,194

• Density

616.85/km² (1,597.63/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

34-300 to 34-330

Car plates

SZY

Highways

Voivodeship roads

Żywiec (pronounced ZHI-vyets) is a town in southern Poland. It sits by the River Soła and had about 31,000 people living there in 2019. The town is located in the Silesian Voivodeship, which is like a state or province in Poland.

Żywiec is close to Żywiec Lake and the Żywiec Landscape Park. This park is one of eight special protected areas in the region. Historically, Żywiec was part of a larger area called Lesser Poland. It is also the main town of the Żywiecczyzna region, which is home to the Gorals, a mountain people. A small planet, 551231 Żywiec, is even named after the town!

History of Żywiec
Economy
Sports in Żywiec
Notable People from Żywiec
Twin Towns – Sister Cities
Gallery
See also

History of Żywiec

Żywiec was first mentioned in official papers in 1308. At that time, it was a Catholic parish. The town was originally in a different spot, which is now called Stary Żywiec (meaning "Old Żywiec").

Early Beginnings and Moving the Town

Żywiec was part of the Duchy of Cieszyn at first. Later, it became part of the Duchy of Oświęcim. In 1327, this duchy became a "fief" of the Kingdom of Bohemia. This means it was controlled by the Bohemian king but had some local rule.

The town was important for developing the Żywiec Basin area, which didn't have many people living there before. Because the original location of Stary Żywiec often flooded, the town was moved in 1448 to where it is today.

Becoming Part of Poland

In 1457, the Duchy of Oświęcim was bought by the Polish Crown. This made Żywiec officially part of Poland. It was a "private town," meaning it was owned by a person or family, not directly by the king. It was part of the Kraków Voivodeship.

In 1624, the Komorowski family sold Żywiec to Constance of Austria. She was the queen of Poland, married to King Sigismund III Vasa. During a time called the Deluge, Swedish troops attacked and destroyed Żywiec in 1656. Later, in 1672, a Polish official named Jan Wielopolski owned the town.

Old Castle and Churches

The Old Castle was built in the mid-14th century. It has been repaired and changed many times over the years. Because of this, you can see different building styles like Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. The castle is surrounded by a large park, which was started in the 1600s.

The historic Old Castle in Żywiec

The Church of the Holy Cross was built in the late 1300s. It was made bigger in 1679 and again in 1690. Today, a Baroque-style church stands on that same spot. Another important church is the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary's Birth. It was built and expanded in the early 1400s. After a fire in 1711, it was also rebuilt in the Baroque style.

Żywiec in the 1800s and Early 1900s

In 1772, Poland was divided by other countries. Żywiec became part of the Austrian Kingdom of Galicia. In 1810, Prince Albert of Saxony bought the town. When he passed away in 1822, it went to Archduke Charles from the Austrian royal family.

The famous Żywiec Brewery was started in 1852 by Archduke Charles's son, Archduke Albert. Today, the brewery is owned by Heineken International. A museum about the brewery opened in 2006.

Polish Legions taking an oath in Żywiec during World War I

At the start of World War I, over 1,000 soldiers from the Polish Legions marched from Żywiec. They fought for Poland's independence, and 167 of them died. After the war, in 1918, Poland became independent again, and Żywiec was back under Polish control. Eight people from Żywiec died in the Polish–Soviet War between 1919 and 1920.

Żywiec During World War II

In 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II. Żywiec was then occupied by the Nazis. The last Habsburg owner, Archduke Karl Albrecht of Austria, refused to join the German side. Because of this, he was removed from his position and arrested.

In 1940, 26 Poles from Żywiec were killed by the Russians in the Katyn massacre.

During Action Saybusch, Polish people who were forced to leave their homes wait for transport at a railway crossing.

Between September and December 1940, the Nazi authorities forced many Polish people to leave their homes. This event was called "Action Saybusch". About 17,000 to 20,000 Polish people were expelled from the Żywiec area. A temporary camp for these people was set up at the local school. The expelled Poles were sent to a different part of Poland that was also under German military rule. This was part of the Nazis' plan to make room for German settlers in the eastern territories. In 1941, a Nazi official said that there would be no Poles left in the county in five years. The German occupation of Żywiec ended in 1945.

Economy

The famous Żywiec Brewery is located in the town. You can visit a museum there to learn about how beer is made and the history of the brewery.

Sports in Żywiec

Żywiec has several football (soccer) clubs.

Koszarawa Żywiec (men's team)
Czarni-Góral Żywiec (men's team)
Soła Żywiec (men's team)
TS Mitech Żywiec (women's team)

While the men's teams play in lower leagues, the women's team, Mitech, used to play in the Ekstraliga, which is Poland's top women's football division, until 2020.