The Castle Brewery in Cieszyn is a facility located along the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Voivodeship. It is the oldest brewery in Poland with uninterrupted operation. The historic building has been used to brew beer since 1846.
In 1654, a brewery was established in the castle. When a park was created on the Castle Hill, the brewery was moved to its current location. It was built by Archduke Charles Louis Habsburg, Duke of Cieszyn. The high, three-storey, four-wing, rectangular building with a courtyard in the centre was fitted with modern equipment. Under the brewery and the Castle Hill, spacious cellars were dug for the purpose of storing beer. The brewery continued to grow and expand until World War I, which is why it is currently a complex of buildings in various architectural styles from Biedermeier to Gothic Revival. Following the end of World War I and the collapse of Austria-Hungary, the Castle Brewery was nationalised in 1920 and transformed into the National Castle Industrial Plants in Cieszyn. During and after World War II, it was not liquidated and did not cease production. It brews beer using the traditional method of bottom fermentation in open vats. Unique machinery from the turn of the century, such as a grant or dark malt crusher, is still used in the production process to this day. Apart from producing beer, the Castle Brewery also serves as a “living museum of brewing”. On the premises, there is a museum exhibition which shows the history of the brewery and brewing in Cieszyn Silesia. Particularly noteworthy are the authentic machines and tools, as well as unique breweriana exhibits.
