Day twenty - Bielsko-Biala

Thursday 23rd July - Having spent yesterday recovering in excellent surroundings from our 630 mile drive, we are still in the campsite on the southern side of the city of Bielsko-Biała. We spent this morning exploring the city which was created in January 1951 when the adjacent cities of Bielsko and Biała were unified. Bielsko, which for centuries belonged to the Duchy of Cieszyn, was founded in 1312. From 1457 the Biała river was the border between Silesia and Little Poland. Silesia belonged to Austria, Little Poland to Poland. In 1723 on the opposite bank of the river the city of Biała came into being. In 1772 Biała was annexed by Austria and included in the crownland of Galicia. In 1918 both cities became part of reborn Poland, though a significant part of the population was ethnic German. During World War II the city was annexed to the Third Reich and its Jewish population sent to Auschwitz. After the liberation of the city by the Red Army in 1945, the ethnic German population was expelled.

Towering in the Bielsko-Biała city centre, the Castle is the oldest and largest construction of historical importance, erected in the old town of Bielsko. A legend says that in its place there used to be a settlement of robbers who attacked traveling merchants. The Opolski Prince, Casimir (1229/30) of the Piasts is said to have conquered that fort, wiped out the robbers and had the hunting palace erected in its place, which over the years grew into a magnificent castle around which the city of Bielsko developed. The oldest part of the Castle dates back to 14th century. Over the next centuries the Castle gradually developed and transformed. It is a city castle in its nature, incorporated into the system of Bielsko fortifications from the beginning, at the same time providing their strongest section.

The campsite where we are staying has lovely views across the valley and down the terraced gardens

Today's selfie was taken in front of the Biala River (White River) Silesia's border with Lesser Poland, it used to divide the kingdom of Bohemia of Poland. Until 1950 it divided Bielsko from Bial. The trouble with our selfies is that Tracy is a good foot shorter than Richard and getting our heads level and trying to take a photo at the same time can prove interesting, today Tracy stood on the wall to bring her up to the right height.