PTTK Mountain Hut Stożek

The PTTK Stożek mountain hut stands in the Silesian Beskids, just below the summit of Stożek Wielki, on the ridge of the Stożek and Czantoria range, on the Polish-Czech border. It is the oldest surviving Polish hut in the Silesian Beskids and also one of the longest continuously operating Polish huts in the Beskids. It is in Wisła, at ul. Turystyczna 19.

Where the hut stands

The building lies at an altitude of 957 m above sea level, not far from the summit of Stożek Wielki, which according to the hut's website is 978 m above sea level. The Czantoria and Stożek range marks the Polish-Czech border here, and is also the westernmost part of the Polish Silesian Beskids. Until 21 December 2007, when Poland joined the Schengen area, a border crossing Stożek-Velký Stožek existed near the hut.

Hiking trails cross at the hut, and the Main Beskid Trail passes through here. The hut's website lists approaches from the Vistula Valley, along the ridge from the Czantoria side, from the Kubalonka pass and from the Czech side. According to the hut's website, hikers visit it both in summer and in winter. Not far away, about 800 m from the hut, lies the Stożek Ski Resort in Wisła.

Where the hut came from

The idea of building a Polish hut on Stożek was put forward in 1910 by Jan Galicz, a board member of the Cieszyn Polish Tourist Society “Beskid”. The plans were thwarted by pressure on the landowners, and the matter reached as far as the parliament in Vienna, where it was raised by the deputy Fr Józef Londzin. The outbreak of the First World War, however, put an end to construction.

The idea was returned to after the war: the board of the Cieszyn branch decided to build on 31 May 1919. The building was designed by Stanisław Chorubski, who according to the hut's website used elements of local and Podhale architecture. The foundation stone was laid on 30 May 1920, and the official opening took place on 9 July 1922. Fitting out the building lasted until 1932.

The war years and post-war renovations

During the occupation the hut was run by Germans, and after the war the building was badly devastated: in May 1945 the dining room was covered with a thick layer of manure from horses stationed here. The caretaker prevented the building from being looted, and the following year the hut returned to service. For over 36 years, from 1949 to 1986, it was run by Jan Cięgiel. In 1962-1965 a thorough renovation was carried out, in which electricity, water and central heating were installed. According to the hut's website, its appearance has practically not changed since then. In 2022, on the hundredth anniversary of the opening, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on the building.

Views and surroundings

From the hut one can see, to the east, the Vistula Valley, the ridge of the Wisła Range and Skrzyczne (1,257 m above sea level), as well as the Barania Góra massif. The hut's website assures that in good weather even the Tatras can be seen from here. In this part of the Beskids lies also the Mountain Hut on Soszów Wielki, about 4 km from Stożek.

In Wisła, a few kilometres from the hut, is the “Sports Trophies of Adam Małysz” Gallery in Wisła.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Turystyczna 19, Wisła. The hut is run by PTTK.
• On site are rooms for 2 to 8 people and a restaurant with a short menu, and the hut's website also presents offers for families, skiers, cyclists and organised groups.
• Check the rules of stay and dates on the stozek.com.pl website before setting out into the mountains.