Reservoir of the Porąbka-Żar Power Plant on Góra Żar

The Góra Żar reservoir (pronounced roughly "GOO-rah ZHAR") is an artificial lake on top of a mountain in southern Poland's Little Beskids, above the village of Międzybrodzie Bialskie. It is the upper reservoir of the Porąbka-Żar pumped-storage power plant, the only underground power station in Poland. Instead of a forested summit you find a huge embanked basin of water with sweeping views over Lake Międzybrodzie and the mountains, reached by a funicular railway. It is a rewarding day trip from Kraków or Katowice.

A power station inside a mountain

The plant was built between 1971 and 1979. It works like a giant battery: when there is surplus electricity, pumps push water up from Lake Międzybrodzie to the summit; at peak demand the water rushes down through pipes to turbines hidden inside the mountain. The head (height difference) is about 440 m (1,440 ft), and installed capacity is 540 MW, making it Poland's second-largest plant of its kind. It is run by PGE, Poland's largest energy group.

The reservoir is an ellipse measuring roughly 650 by 250 m and holds about 2.3 million cubic meters of water. To build it, engineers sliced off the original summit, which stood at 761 m above sea level.

Modernization: what to know in 2026

A major upgrade is under way. In 2024 the reservoir was drained and relined, and the four turbine units are now being replaced one by one, with completion planned for 2028. Tours of the underground power station are suspended until April 1, 2028, according to the operator. Access right next to the reservoir may also be restricted, but the mountain and its other attractions remain open.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, for the views and the engineering curiosity. On top you can:

• take in panoramas of Lake Międzybrodzie and the Beskid ranges,
• watch paragliders and gliders launching from the slopes,
• ride the mountain bike trails or let kids loose in the play zone,
• hike up a marked trail instead of taking the funicular.

Allow 1–2 hours at the summit.

Funicular tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, according to the operator PKL (prices in Polish zloty):

• Hours: daily 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. until October 11; check PKL for later dates.
• Round trip (low season): PLN 37 at the ticket office or PLN 32 online; reduced PLN 29 / PLN 25; family tickets from PLN 79 online.
• Dogs cost PLN 5 one way, bikes PLN 10.
• The line is about 1,300 m long and the ride takes around 5.5 minutes. Lower station: ul. Górska 21, Międzybrodzie Żywieckie.

How to get there

Góra Żar is about 20 km from Bielsko-Biała. From Kraków or Katowice (both with international airports), allow roughly 1.5 hours by car. There is parking at the lower funicular station. Nearby you can see the historic Porąbka dam, Lake Żywiec and the town of Żywiec, famous for its brewery and castle park.