Lake Żywiec (Jezioro Żywieckie)

Lake Żywiec (Jezioro Żywieckie), also known as the Tresna Reservoir, is a large artificial lake on the Soła river beside the town of Żywiec, on the boundary of the Żywiec Basin and the Little Beskids (Beskid Mały). The southern part of the lake almost reaches the centre of Żywiec and has gentle shores, while the northern part runs into a narrow valley between the steep wooded slopes of the Little Beskids. From the shores there are views of the surrounding ranges, including Skrzyczne in the Silesian Beskids.

The reservoir was created in 1966 by damming the Soła with an earth dam at Tresna — 310 m long and 39 m above the valley floor. Several villages or parts of them disappeared under water, including Tresna, Zadziele, Stary Żywiec and part of Zarzecze. Next to the dam stands a 21 MW hydroelectric power station, and the lake protects the valley from floods and regulates the flow into the upper Vistula.

According to Polish Wikipedia, the lake covers about 10 km²; at its normal water level it is 6.6 km long, up to 3.1 km wide and has a shoreline of 33.7 km. The maximum depth is 26.8 m, the average 8.6 m, and the normal water level is about 342.5 m above sea level. River sediment is gradually silting the reservoir up. The water level varies: during the 2015 drought it fell by about 2 m, exposing parts of the bed.

What to do

• Relaxing on the shore. In summer the most popular spots are the town beach in Moszczanka Bay in Żywiec and the pebbly shore at Zarzecze, which is a favourite with families with children.
• Sailing, kayaks, SUP. Yachts sail on the lake, and there are marinas and equipment rentals; every August a regatta in memory of Adam Banaszek is held here.
• Walking and cycling. The shores and embankments in Żywiec are pleasant for a walk, and from the surrounding slopes of the Little Beskids you can see the whole lake — a good choice both for an easy stroll and for a hike.
• The Tresna dam. From the dam you can see the narrow Soła valley open out into the wide expanse of water.

Practical information

Getting there. Żywiec is a county town with a railway station; from the centre you can walk to the southern shore of the lake. By car it is easy to drive around the lake: roads lead from Żywiec to Zarzecze, Tresna and Oczków. Parking is available near the beaches and in the lakeside villages.

Swimming. Swim only at marked places and in the season when lifeguards are on duty. We could not find an official list of bathing sites on Lake Żywiec for the 2026 season, so check current information with the local authorities before you travel. Remember that this is a reservoir with a changing water level and steep banks in its northern part.

Access to the lake is free; charges may apply for parking, equipment hire or some developed beaches. The best time for water activities is June to September, while spring and autumn are quiet and lovely for walks. In winter the lake is sometimes used for winter swimming. Information as of October 2026.

Nearby

In Żywiec itself, a few kilometres from the shore, stand the Old Castle and the Habsburg Palace with its park. Above the neighbouring Lake Międzybrodzie, north of the dam, rises Mount Żar (761 m) with its funicular. To the east, in Sucha Beskidzka, the Renaissance "Little Wawel" is worth a visit, and further on the Orava Ethnographic Park.

Photos: Dragon77S, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Marsilar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Krytar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Lesnydzban, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Marek Mróz, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Aqalexor, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.