Mount Żar is one of the many charming places in the Little Beskids. From the peak, which rises to a height of 761 meters above sea level, a beautiful view of the surroundings unfolds: the Silesian, Żywiec and Little Beskids as well as the Międzybrodzie Lake.

How to get to Mount Żar?

Mount Żar is located in Międzybrodzie Żywieckie near Żywiec in the Silesian Voivodeship. It is an excellent place for excursions, both for the active and for those... a bit lazier. You can take a cable car (similar to the one that goes to Gubałówka in Zakopane or to Parkowa Mountain in Krynica Zdrój) to the top of the mountain. Thus, Mount Żar is also a great option for people with small children in strollers or for those with mobility issues. But that's not all!

Walking and cycling trails

You can also reach the summit on foot. From the top, trails lead to Hrobacza Łąka, Kozubnik, Złota Górka, Kocierz Pass and many other places. Mountain hiking enthusiasts should not forget about a map. Moreover, Mount Żar is also a paradise for cycling enthusiasts. Several routes of varying difficulty levels have been designated on the slope of the mountain, so both beginners (for example, on the family trail), intermediate riders, and professionals can have fun here. An additional advantage is the cable car, which can also be used with a bicycle.

What to do on Mount Żar?

At the foot of Mount Żar, there is a rope park, and at the top, in addition to the beautiful views, there are food points, telescopes, a toboggan run, and the Pumped Storage Power Plant Porąbka-Żar. It is the only underground power plant in the country. Furthermore, it can be visited, but it is better to look for information beforehand on the hours it is available for tourists. There are countless attractions here, and one of the curiosities is a place where bottles and cars roll... uphill. It seems like a gravitational anomaly, however, scientists explain this phenomenon as a simple optical illusion, where the descending slope is perceived as an uphill path. Nonetheless, it's more pleasant to think of this place as a "magical hill" ????

Author of the photos and text: Agnieszka Soszka