..:: KOZY ::..

   The Kozy Commune, with its centuries-old history of 700 years, welcomes and invites you.

   A legend on foundation of the village has it that on two glades at the feet of Hrobaczą Łąka, there existed two villages of a similar name Kozy Górne [Upper Kozy] and Kozy Dolne [Lower Kozy]. Till the end of 18th century each of the villages was administered by an independent commune head and had a different owner, although they constituted one parish, mentioned for the first time in the year 1326 on a list of visited parishes in Poland, as „Duabuscapris seu Siffridivilla”, which means Two Goats. The Kozy village invites visitors not only for the purposes of tourism, but it is also an interesting offer for those, who wish to settle down far away from an urban turmoil. The village that has been agricultural once, has acquired a more attractive nature of a suburban town with clustered development and rich infrastructure.

   The growth of Kozy is owed first of all to its location within the borders of Beskid Mały, at the feet of the Chrobacza Łąka peak, in the neighborhood of the city of Bielsko – Biała. A true wealth of the commune is its inhabitants (over 12 000) – people of an unrepeatable culture and invention.

   Chrobacza Łąka

   On the north, a forested slope of Chrobacza Łąka (828 m above sea level) ascends over Kozy. In the year 2002 it was crowned with a 35-metre metal cross frame, a thanksgiving vote for a God’s care provided for inhabitants of the neighbouring villages.
   A yellow hiking trail leads from the train station in Kozy to the peak of Chrobacza Łąka. While passing through the Kozy downtown, down the Beskidzka street, we arrive at the feet of Chrobacza and then, following a wide track through the woods, we reach the „U Panienki” Pass ( 741 m. above sea level). The pass was named after the stony shrine of the Holly Mother, founded in the year 1884, which still stands there. From this place, we follow a yellow and red trails heading towards the peak. After about 300 metres from the pass, we can go down to the „Maryjne” (Mary’s) springlet, cool water from which will make us fit for our further hike.
   After about two hours from the departure we reach the peak of Chrobacza Łąka. A beautiful view terrace situated next to the cross, with a beautiful view spreading out towards Bielsko – Biała, Czechowice Dziedzice, Oświęcim and, at the feet of the peak – towards Kozy, where we can visually trace our route, invites us to relax and feast our eyes on a beautiful panorama.
   The feet of Chrobacza Łąka, like the Kozy village, is the place where poetry and music are born from a foehn wind...
   Here, the Youth Brass Band has played for years. The band, due to the age of musicians and their great skills, gives a sense of pride for the commune inhabitants. The tradition of the band is 70 years long, and the current shape of the Youth Brass Band was formed in the year 1992.

   Every year, on first days of June a feast of the Kozy Commune takes place. Numerous cultural, sports and recreation events temp with their attractions. The permanent item in the events’ timetable is presentation of brass bands, which has already turned from a local parade into the International Festival of Brass Bands ZŁOTA TRĄBKA (A GOLDEN TRUMPET). Festival concerts take place simultaneously in several communes of the Bielsko and Bielsko – Biała districts. It is worth seeing – an unrepeatable experience. You are invited – come and check it out.

Herb Czeczów

History

   The legend on the village foundation has it that on two glades at the feet of Chrobacza Łąka, there existed two villages of similar names Kozy Górne [Upper Kozy] and Kozy Dolne [Lower Kozy]. Till the end of 18th century each village was administered by an independent commune head and had a different owner, although they constituted one parish, mentioned for the first time in the year 1326 on a list of visited parishes in Poland, as „Duabuscapris seu Siffridivilla”, which means Two Goats – a landed estate of Siegfrid. Already at that time the village possessed a parish church and a small castle surrounded by a rampart and a moat, the remnants of that survived till the year 1935. The castle was a seat of knights of the Prince of Oświęcim, so-called raubritters – brigands, who used to rob merchants. Oświęcim and Zator Land was included into the Polish Crown in the year 1457, and earlier, from the year 1327, it was ruled by a Czech king.

   Kozy was a village of nobility. It was owned in turn by: the Kornicas (from ca.1425), the Gierałtowskis (from ca.1536). In the year 1559 Jakub Gierałtowski transformed a Catholic church in Kozy into a Calvinistic chapel. The Calvinists destroyed all books and documents belonging to the parish. The church was brought back to the Catholics only in the year 1658.
From the year 1636 the Gierałtowskis were heirs to Kozy Dolne, and Kozy Górne belonged to the Russockis.

   In the period between 1650 – 1687 Kozy Dolne was a heritage of the Rej from Nagłowice family. In the 18th century the Jordans become the owners of Kozy. Introduction of house numbers in 1776 created a monolithic nature of an administration unit of Kozy. During the reign of the Jordans most of the brick buildings were erected, among others: buildings of medium and lower manor house, the tavern and most of the building for court servants. In the 19th century Kozy was administered by the Kluckis, and then by Barons Czecz de Lindenwald. Marian Czecz was a host to commanding officer Józef Piłsudski in February 1915, (first headquarters of the Legions First Brigade was located in Kęty). Kozy was one of the richest villages of the Oświęcim Land. It was famous for many excellent carpenters, bricklayers and looms.