Cieszyn is a town of Silesia in southern Poland on the border with the Czech Republic. Cieszyn is situated on the banks of the river Oldza. In 1920 the city was divided between the two newly created States of Poland and Czechoslovakia so that part of the city on the left Bank of the river was ceded to Czechoslovakia and was named český těšín and the rest of Cieszyn was joined to Poland. The city combines both Polish and Austrian features in the architectural style of the buildings. Because of several major fires and subsequent reconstructions (the latter in the late 18th century), the picturesque Old town is sometimes known as little Vienna.

The area around modern Cieszyn were inhabited by Slavs in the 7th century. According to the legend, in 810 three brothers - Bolko, Legco and Czech met here after a long pilgrimage and decided to found a new settlement. They called him Cieszyn, from the words "cieszym się", which means "I am happy".

Cieszyn was known for its ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, living German, Polish, Jewish and Czech communities.

The city was divided in July 1920, after the conference held in the Belgian town of Spa. In 1939 the whole of Cieszyn was captured by German forces, and during the Second world war was a part of Nazi Germany. In the postwar years, the border between the Polish and Czech sides was restored. Only in 2007, when both countries joined the Schengen agreement, border controls were abolished and residents can safely navigate.

Currently the city hosts one of the most influential film festivals in Poland. The most significant attractions of the city include castle hill rotunda of St. George of the eleventh century, Habsburg Palace, the parish Church of St. Peter is one of the city's oldest churches. Also of interest is the Church of the Holy Trinity, built at the turn of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the monastery and hospital of the sisters of St. Elizabeth, and, of course, the Market square with the town Hall, a fountain with a statue of St. Florian and historical buildings.