The Ondráš bandit trail

The famous Silesian bandit Ondráš, from the village of Janovice, lived from 1680 to 1715. A hero of many folk tales that became popular in Silesia and Moravia after his death, Ondráš’s story inspired writers, artists and musicians from three nations – Czechs, Poles and Germans.

Now a special educational trail celebrating the Ondráš story has been created by the Regional Council for Development and Cooperation in Třinec, Czech Republic, together with the Cieszyn county in Poland, Tomáš Kočko and Renata Putzlacher. The trail is unusual in that it is not a continuous route – rather it consists of information panels at selected locations in the Těšín Beskydy mountains (both on the Czech and Polish sides of the border) which are connected with Ondráš’s life. In the nearby chalets you are sure to find typical bandit-style specialities to eat and drink. We particularly recommend the Hotel Grůň in Mosty u Jablunkova, the Hotel Ondráš in Komorní Lhotka, or the traditional ‘miodula’ (honey spirit drink) that can be found at many places throughout the region. So come and enjoy a tour through the fascinating life story of the famous Silesian bandit Ondráš: on the Czech side of the border you can visit Skalka, Gírová, Velký Stožek, Godula or Čantoryje, while on the Polish side you can go to Ochodzita, Skoczów or Cieszyn.