Wisła is beautifully located in the heart of the Silesian Beskids (Beskid Śląski), among picturesque gentle hills, covered by mixed forest, in the valley of thirteen streams.
A town of 14 thousand inhabitants, Wisła is multi-confessional, with a predominance of the Protestants (50% of the population are members of the Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession, and 30% are Catholics). This is shown by a classicistic church of 1838 in the central part of the town.
It is a paradise for enthusiastic mountain trekkers and nature lovers. There are interesting trekking trails leading to the Stożek Mountain (978 m [3209 ft] above sea level) and to the Sampolska Pass, with hairpin turns of the road leading from Wisla to Szczyrk. The most spectacular attraction are the Rodło Cascades (Kaskady Rodła) on the White Little Vistula (Biała Wisełka). It is a part of a trail to the Barania Mountain (1220 m [4003 ft] above sea level), where trekkers may observe the White Little Vistula joins the Black Little Vistula (Czarna Wisełka) and the Malinka stream to form the ‘Queen of the Polish Rivers’ – the Vistula proper. Less keen visitors may choose a trip to the Czantoria Mountain in Ustroń (a chair-lift is available in both directions). There is also a summer toboggan run on the mountain slope, enjoyed by both children and grown-up visitors.
The town also offers a number of opportunities to stay fit. These include an outdoor swimming pool with a slide, tennis courts, playing fields, and a stadium.
Lately, the Wisła’s fame and growth has been spurred on mostly by the excellent ski jumper Adam Małysz. In his hometown, the ‘Małyszomania’ is still in its prime. Małysz is everywhere – on pens, key rings, T-shirts, scarves, postcards. He smiles from posters and from pictures displayed by street vendors. Małysz is what rings the bell about Wisła with most tourists. Some of them come here from distant places in Poland just to track down their idol.
In late July and early August, Wisła starts singing, dancing, playing and having fun. All this to the rhythm of highlander music from various parts of the world. The town also has a Beskid Highlanders’ Week of Culture, one of Europe’s largest folklore events. The participants include highland people not only from the nearby Slovakia and Czech Republic, but also from such exotic places as Mexico, Turkey or Angola. The festival attracts crowds of visitors, not only folklore lovers.
www.wisla.pl /English/
