This border town shares its streets with Polish Cieszyn, divided by the Olza River. The 1920 split created two city centers with shared cultural ties.
Český Těšín stretches along the Czech-Polish border, where you can walk across the Olza River bridge to enter Poland. In the town center, you'll find the Neo-Gothic Sacred Heart Church with 72-meter spires reaching into the sky. Stop at the former border checkpoint, now a riverside café, or watch a bilingual performance at the Těšín Theatre, where Czech and Polish acting ensembles share the stage.
Crossing the Czech-Polish Border
Three pedestrian bridges connect Český Těšín with Polish Cieszyn across the Olza River. The main crossing point, Friendship Bridge, leads directly to both town centers. The former border checkpoint building now houses a café where you can sit on the terrace overlooking the river. Local residents often cross between the countries for daily shopping at the Polish market or to visit the Czech shopping center.
Cultural Institutions
At the Těšín Theatre, you can watch performances by two professional companies - one Czech and one Polish - who alternate their shows throughout the week. The theater runs about 300 performances annually. The Museum of Cieszyn Silesia, located in a 19th-century building, displays regional artifacts including traditional costumes, historical maps, and documents from both sides of the border. The museum's permanent exhibition explains how the town was divided between two countries in 1920.
Architectural Landmarks
The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus dominates the town skyline with its 72-meter Neo-Gothic spires. Inside, you can see detailed stone carvings and stained glass windows from 1894. The railway station, built in 1889, welcomes travelers with its yellow Neo-Renaissance façade, decorated with original carved window frames and ceiling frescos in the main hall. The 1928 town hall spans the length of the main square, with its symmetrical wings and central clock tower typical of 1920s administrative buildings.
Local Life
The town maintains both Czech and Polish schools, from kindergarten through high school. You'll hear both languages spoken in cafés and shops, and street signs appear in both Czech and Polish. Local newspapers publish in both languages, and the town's main library maintains separate Czech and Polish sections. This bilingual character makes Český Těšín unique among Czech border towns.
