Life in Oświęcim – practical information
Oświęcim is about 40 thousand attractive and friendly town situated in the valley of the River Sola. Convenient location between Malopolska and Silesia makes it an important transport route connecting the two regions. Galician town atmosphere creates a turbulent 800-years history, the traces of which can be seen walking around the castle hill and the Old Town. The nature and climate of ancient history dating back the thirteenth century.
Visting Oświęcim
On the portal Tourist Information Centre in Oświęcim you will find practical and useful information about:
– history of the Town,
– monuments,
– life,
– accomodation (hotels, agroturism, other sleeping objects),
– transport,
– tourism,
– medecine
– attractions of Oświęcim Land,
– events.
Virtual Walk/Mobile App
Before you visit Oświęcim you can go for a virtual walk: oswiecim.wkraj.pl
Mobile App: http://treespot.um.oswiecim.pl/en
Informations
THE MAIN MARKET SQUARE IN OŚWIĘCIM WELCOMES THE VISITORS
Visit the city of Oświęcim. Learn about over 800-year history, visit the Castle Museum and the Synagogue, take a stroll through the streets of the Old Town, relax on the Soła River Boulevards and in the Main Market Square. The city also offers a variety of interesting cultural events.
The City of Oświęcim is located on the border of the regions of Małopolska and Silesia. It is a place where you can stay and relax a little during your travel, spending your time in an active and attractive way. Lovers of history can take a walk through the charming streets of the Old Town and visit the Piast Castle – currently the Castle Museum. During a visit to an interactive exhibition you can literally touch the 800-year history of the city. From the gothic 40-meter castle tower you can admire the magnificent panorama. Every year in May, the Castellan Fair is organized here by the Castle Museum, with historical shows, entertainment activities and workshops for the youngest participants.
As you descend from the castle hill, you must stop at the picturesque Father Jan Skarbek Square with the restored Synagogue and the Jewish Museum and discover the fascinating traces of the coexistence of Polish and Jewish culture in Oświęcim. In the heart of the city you will be surprised by a modern arrangement of the Main Market Square with preserved traces of the past – the relics of the 16th-century town hall and the well from pre-war times. Along the way you will encounter unusual mural paintings, signed by famous artists. In the vicinity of the castle you can see the “Double-Bass Players” by Edward Dwurnik, and a bit further, on the wall of a tenement house at the corner of Dąbrowskiego and Plebańska streets – a scene from „The Cathedral”, the famous animated movie by Tomasz Bagiński.
During your walk you can relax with aromatic coffee and a delicious cake or dine in one of the restaurants near the Main Market Square. Here you are only a few steps away from the scenic Soła River Boulevards. Nature lovers will be delighted to spend some time here as the area belongs to the „Natura 2000” network of protection sites. It is also a perfect spot for those who are keen on active leisure, offering them an opportunity to rollerblade, ride a bike, exercise on the outdoor gym. You can also indulge in the contemplation of nature, the Outdoor Gallery and … pure idleness.
For those who like to be entertained there are many attractive events held in the city every year: in May – the Castellan Fair and the Night of Museums; June – Tauron Life Festival Oświęcim; July and August – Summer Festival in the Main Market Square, featuring the open-air cinema, Street Theatre Festival and concerts as well as the Patron Saint of the City Festival; in September – City Festival and Oświęcim Autumn Festival, and in winter – Santa’s Village with real reindeer and Christmas Fair in the Main Market Square.
You can use your spare time to visit the modern city indoor swimming pool with two swimming pools as well as the fun and relaxation zone, or the Nasze Kino cinema in the Oświęcim Cultural Centre.
Information prepared by: Urząd Miasta Oświęcim, Wydział Promocji Miasta
