Cieślar, Silesian Beskids

Cieślar is the most common surname in Wisła: as early as 1621, just after the village was founded, four Cieślar families lived here. They gave their name to this grassy summit on the Czech border, about 920 m above sea level (sources give 918–921 m). Unlike most Beskid peaks it is not wooded, so the summit meadows offer an almost all-round view of the Silesian Beskids and the ranges on the Czech side.

On the ridge between Soszów and Stożek

Cieślar lies on the main ridge of the Stożek–Czantoria range, between Soszów Wielki (886 m) to the north and Mały Stożek to the south. The Polish side belongs to the town of Wisła and drops into the Dziechcinka valley; the Czech side belongs to the municipality of Nýdek. The national border runs along the ridge, followed by two trails: the Polish red Main Beskid Trail, which runs from Ustroń all the way to Wołosate in the Bieszczady Mountains (about 500 km), and a Czech blue trail. The ridge is also the watershed between the Vistula and Oder basins.

What to see

• The summit panorama: the Silesian and Żywiec Beskids and, when the air is clear, the Tatra Mountains.
• The view into Czechia: between Soszów and Cieślar, step a few metres onto the Czech side to see the Moravian-Silesian Beskids beyond the Olza valley and, in good weather, the Malá Fatra range in Slovakia.
• A boundary stone inscribed "Góra–Hora Cieślar" (Polish and Czech for "mountain") at the trail junction.
• Wielki Stożek (978 m), just to the south and the natural next goal.

Tripto tip

The nicest option is a loop round the Dziechcinka valley described by the Cieszyn Silesia tourism portal: start at the Oaza roundabout in Wisła, take the green trail over Józefula to Soszów, follow the red ridge trail to Cieślar, then go down on the yellow and blue trails past the Krzakoska Rock with its view over central Wisła. The loop is about 15.5 km with 603 m of ascent and takes around 5 hours 40 minutes. For a shorter walk, take the Soszów lift up and stroll along the ridge to Cieślar. You can eat at the Soszów mountain hut and at inns along the way. The summit is free to visit all year; wear good boots after rain and microspikes in winter.