Brzeźce: Memorial Sites, the Pszczynka and Trails

Brzeźce can be explored through several points of interest: war graves and local history, the Pszczynka and its connection to fishing, and trails for active recreation. If you are looking for a hotel, this mix may help you choose a destination. Consider whether you would prefer to focus your stay on memorial sites, the river or outdoor activities.

War Graves and Local History

Around twenty Auschwitz prisoners were buried in the parish cemetery in Brzeźce, near the local church. SS men shot them on 19 January 1945. The war grave of rifleman Euzebiusz Cichy is also in Brzeźce; its date is given as 1 September 1939. The war grave of Czech pilot Michał Minek is dated 20 April 1945. Brzeźce is therefore home to both a memorial to a group of Auschwitz prisoners and the graves of two named individuals.

The Pszczynka, Trails and Local Points of Interest

The Pszczynka, which flows through Brzeźce, attracts anglers with its abundance of fish. For travelers interested in fishing, the river is a distinctive feature of the town; this nature-focused attraction also differs from the memorial sites.

A local description from 2012 mentions numerous cycling and walking trails in the area of the reservoir, suitable for active recreation. If a particular trail is important to your plans, check its current condition in advance. A car park was built in front of the church in Brzeźce. If you plan to use it when arriving, check before your visit whether it is currently open for use.

A local culinary attraction is Restaurant Zacisze in Brzeźce, a member of the Śląskie Smaki Culinary Trail. Since memberships can change, it is worth checking its current status if this designation is important to your plans.

Regional Context: Pszczyna

In the wider destination of Pszczyna, the Historic Park offers a distinct point of interest. It covers 156 hectares and includes the Castle Park, Dworcowy Park and Dziką Promenada. A well-maintained golf course is located in Dziką Promenada, as is the Pokazowa Zagroda Żubrów. The site covers 10 hectares, with enclosures and paths from which visitors can observe fallow deer, red deer, roe deer and pheasants.

Pszczyna’s Old Town retains an urban layout dating back to the Middle Ages. Piastowska Street is Pszczyna’s main pedestrian street. The Castle Museum also offers a glimpse into the city’s history: it is an example of a residence once inhabited by European nobility. Around 80 percent of the original furnishings from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries have been preserved.

The Silesian Press Museum in Pszczyna presents the history of the Silesian press from its beginnings to 1939 and collects historic printing presses and equipment. Izba Telemanna displays historic musical instruments, including an 18th-century positive organ. The two collections focus on different subjects: the history of the press and its technology, and historic musical instruments.

Architecture and events are also part of the Pszczyna experience. The Zagroda Wsi Pszczyńskiej open-air museum in Pszczyna is included in the Silesian Wooden Architecture Trail, specifically its Pszczyna loop. The complex of the Prince’s Stables in Pszczyna, taken over by the Castle Museum in June 2013, regularly hosts exhibitions on various subjects. Baroque concerts have been held in the Mirror Room of the Castle Museum since 1979; they are known as “Wieczory u Telemanna.”

Discover more destinations: Studzienice, Suszec, Bad Gottschalkowitz, Łąka, Kobior, Warszowice, Piasek, Pszczyna.

Go to the wider travel overview: Pszczyna.