Jaworze and its surroundings Jaworze near Bielsko-Biała – one of the oldest settlements in Cieszyn Silesia distinguishing itself by a rich variety in respect of climate and spa values. The first mention on Jaworze comes from the list of the Duke’s villages of the Cieszyn Duchy from 1302. In respect of historical documentation, only the note from 1305 is important. It is in the description of villages supposed to give the Wrocław bishop Henryk from Wierzbno a corn tithe.
From the moment of being founded, Jaworze had many owners. However, the biggest role in its development played aristocratic families of Laszowski barons of Nałęcz coat of arms (2 generations) and earls Saint-Genois d’Anneaucourt (4 generations) distantly related with each other, in whose hands Jaworze was for a period of 154 years. There are many historic mementos after them left to this day. The remains of those families rest at the local Catholic cemetery. However, the 40s of 19th century are the real boom of the therapeutic tourism. In 1862 Maurycy – earl Saint-Genois founded the first resort in Cieszyn Silesia
(in so-called Austrian Silesia) in Jaworze, which enjoyed enormous popularity for many years, especially amongst Poles from Galicia, for whom, above all, the freedom to use Polish existing here was priceless.
In no less degree, the commitment in the development of Jaworze is owed to the Larisches, especially manifesting itself in the support and aid when the hydrotherapeutic establishment was founded by Dr Zygmunt Czop after the First World War. The earl himself put rooms in the castle to the Bielsko starost’s disposal, where many celebrities from political and cultural circles of interwar Poland stayed, which was of importance for Jaworze. Many famous figures were patients at the hydrotherapeutic establishment. And thus, like in the spa season the resort earned a reputation thanks to, i.a. Wincenty Pol writing commendations on its subject to Cracow journals, in the interwar period
a writer Maria Dąbrowska contributed to the publicity of Jaworze staying at treatments at the hydrotherapeutic establishment in Jaworze, where i.a. a part of her work “Noce
i dnie” (Nights and days) and other smaller pieces came into being. Here Jan Parandowski was creating his „Dysk Olimpijski” (Olympic disc), Julian Tuwim, resting in Jaworze, was finishing i.a. his piece “Lokomotywa” (Locomotive) and a painter Julian Fałat, visiting Jaworze,was admiring the beauty of the nature and of the location.
The far-reaching works connected with restoring the status of a resort to Jaworze was thwarted by the outbreak of the Second World War and the passing war front left valuable buildings in charred ruins. After the war, Jaworze, destroyed by several months’ front fights, has restored its existence long and with effort. However, to this day there survived:the classicistic palace of earl Arnold St Genois d’Anneaucourt from 1793,
in the vicinity of the centre towers the Catholic church of God’s Providence from 1802 built in a similar style, - the Evangelic church from 1782 and the old Evangelic school.
Jaworze today – is a natural enclave of greenery and it has got a microclimate that makes the air here clear and the nature – intact. The neighbourhood of the Beskidy mountains, which are not high, is also an opportunity to get acquainted with numerous tourist routes to Błatnia, Klimczok, Szyndzielnia. Anyway, the gondola cable-railway is led to this last one, which makes these surroundings also attractive for race and downhill skiers and mountain cyclists.
Climate and natural values of Jaworze have made it systematically become the proverbial Mecca for enthusiasts of agrotourism and active leisure for many years. In this place everybody can find something for himself, something special and unusual where else.
