Bielsko-Biala is a city in Southern Poland which is located at the foot of the Beskids [Polish Beskidy], and upon the Biała River, which for centuries separated the historical Silesia region from Lesser Poland s It is the capital of the region called Podbeskidzie [a region at the foot the Western Beskids] with 175 thousand inhabitants.
As the name of the city suggests, initially Bielsko-Biala was not one city, but two different cities, Bielsko, and Biala, which were separated by the Biala river. The two cities were adminstratively connected in 1951, forming Bielsko-Biala. During the 20th century, the city was mainly associated with the automobile and electro-technical industries, and was the 2nd textile centre after Łódź. According to a report by the Arcadis company, Bielsko-Biala, in terms of social, economic, and environmental development, is the 6th best city to live in, in Poland!
The city of Bielsko-Biała has the potential to become an important cultural, economic, and transport hub in Central Europe, being located in an almost equal distance from the capital of Poland (Warsaw), the capital of Czechia (Prague), and the capital of Austria (Vienna), as well being quite close to the capital of Slovakia (Bratislava) and the capital of Hungary (Budapest). For many people Bielsko-Biała is just a place they go through when travelling to Slovakia, Hungary, Czechia, Austria, or further into Southern Europe. Whereas others, particularly the inhabitants of Upper Silesia [Polish: Górny Śląsk], pass by it during their holiday trips to the Beskids. However, those who stay in Bielsko-Biala for longer learn the true history of the city, not a grand history which can be read about in textbooks, but a history which is still equally interesting, one which many may find surprising, and one which inspires reflection on the transience of life and fate. Read more
Bielsko-Biala is located right next to the powiat (district) Bielski. The Bielski district has a good turistic and recreational offer for international students who are studying at Bielsko-Biala. You can read more here.
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