Mount Żar

Żar (761m) – a mountain full of attractions in the Beskid Mały range (Bielsko-Biała). At the foot of Żar lies the navigable Międzybrodzkie Lake, which connects with the Żywieckie Lake. In 1936, a glider airport was established on the slope, which operates to this day, hosting the Mountain Gliding School "Żar" and paragliding activities. For around 400 PLN, one can take a half-hour scenic glider flight with a pilot.

At the summit of the mountain, there is a water reservoir for a pumped-storage power station, opened in 1979, measuring 250 m in width and 650 m in length with a maximum depth of 28 m. The embankments are over 30 m high. It is the highest water reservoir of its kind in Poland. It is impressive. You can reach the summit of Żar by the 1300 m long cable car. In the summer, the cable car is used by enthusiasts of cycling sports (downhill), and in winter by skiers. During the season, there is a service on site and a ski and snowboard school, and a ski equipment rental is also available. Near the lower station of the cable car, there are dining options, a ropes park, and a paid parking lot, from where an asphalt road leads to the top of the mountain; however, since the cable car was opened, only authorized vehicles can use it. It is also possible to hike to the top on foot, either via the asphalt road or two hiking trails. At the upper cable car station, there are dining points, a restaurant, a grill, binoculars, and a sledding track on rails. Żar is an excellent viewpoint, offering a panorama of the Żywiec Basin with the Żywieckie Lake, the Międzybrodzkie Lake, the peaks of the Żywiec Beskids and the Silesian Beskids, as well as the Magurka Wilkowicka Group.

Author of the photos and text:

Katarzyna Krajewska

Author's website - www.fotofiszka.eu