For centuries, the building at Kościelna 1 served as a gathering place and a brief refuge for travelers. It was here that the famous “Gospoda Pod Złotym Lwem” (“Under the Golden Lion Inn”) operated—at one time the only inn within Bielsko’s city walls, existing at least until the 1860s. Later, it also housed a post office, among other things. Today, we continue this tradition of hospitality, opening the space to new ideas and initiatives as part of our Institute’s activities.
Right beside our offices, you’ll find a small courtyard located between Kościelna 1 and the building at Plac św. Mikołaja 7. It’s a welcoming spot amid greenery, where you can catch your breath and check out our nano-gallery “W bramie lwa”. Meanwhile, in the cellars, volunteers from the “Spleceni z kulturą” (“Interwoven with Culture”) group are actively shaping Bielsko’s cultural scene and occasionally transform their underground space into an extra exhibition venue.
We invite you to stop by, share ideas, and help us develop new initiatives. Here, the history of old inns intertwines with our contemporary projects, while the spirit of free exchange of thought still lingers in the air.
