Ustroń spa: brine, peat and brine pools

Ustroń is the only spa of the Silesian Beskids: the town lies where the Vistula valley leaves the mountains, between the ridges of Równica (884 m) and Czantoria Wielka (995 m), its centre at about 360 m. The main spa district is Zawodzie on the slopes of Równica, with the recognisable stepped "pyramids" of its sanatoria, built from 1967. The history of treatment here is closely tied to the local ironworks: in the 19th century bath water was heated with sulphur-rich blast-furnace slag, peat deposits were found in 1888, and in 1901–1902, on the initiative of the works doctor Roman Pasek, the first balneological establishment in Silesia was built; from 1905 it was run by the Silesian Peat Baths Ustroń company. Ustroń has held spa status since 1967. Today the Uzdrowisko Ustroń complex belongs to the American Heart of Poland medical group.

Mineral waters and natural resources

Ustroń's two main natural resources are brine and peat (borowina). The brine is drawn from two wells on the spa grounds; according to research by the AGH University, it is a highly mineralised thermal brine from Devonian rocks with iodine and iron as its therapeutic components. For pools and baths it is used at a concentration of 3–4%; it is rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine and bromine. Peat was originally dug locally, and when the local deposits ran out in the early 1930s it began to be brought from elsewhere; the spa even makes its own cosmetics from brine and peat. Drinking water is a separate matter: the pump room serves water from the Zygmunt spring – slightly acidic (pH 6.6), very soft to soft, of the hydrogencarbonate-calcium type.

Pump room and graduation tower

The pump room (Pijalnia Wód, ul. Sanatoryjna 9) is a glazed pavilion in the spa park whose architecture echoes the Ustroń "pyramids". In front of it stands Ustroń's fountain-shaped graduation tower: brine sprays from a dozen nozzles, and walking around it you breathe mineral-rich air. Another brine graduation tower stands in the park by the Vistula.

What is treated

The spa's treatment profiles were confirmed by the Minister of Health in 2008 on the basis of certificates for its natural resources and climate. According to the list of Polish spas, they are orthopaedics, neurology, rheumatology, cardiology, angiology (vascular diseases), otolaryngology, pulmonology and osteoporosis. The spa itself writes that balneotherapy helps with joint diseases, rheumatism, back pain and neuralgia, as well as obesity, diabetes and skin problems; there are separate programmes for psoriasis and vitiligo, urorehabilitation and pain therapy, and under public insurance early cardiac, neurological and pulmonary rehabilitation. The brine-pool hall has a special microclimate that benefits the airways. Treatments are prescribed by a doctor or physiotherapist.

Pools and wellness

The main treatment base is the Spa Health Institute (Uzdrowiskowy Instytut Zdrowia, ul. Sanatoryjna 7): it delivers over six thousand treatments a day, and they are open not only to the spa's own guests but also to patients from other Ustroń sanatoria and to tourists. Two modern brine pools and a jacuzzi are filled with brine at 3–4%; a single entry (70 minutes) costs 40 zł, four entries 140 zł, with discounts for children, students and people over 60. Single treatment prices: brine bath 70 zł, peat bath 80 zł, peat wrap 70 zł, pearl bath in brine 80 zł, ultrasonic brine inhalation 35 zł, exercises in the brine pool 45 zł, partial therapeutic massage 80 zł. For relaxation there are Day Spa packages from 470 zł.

Practical information

Ustroń is easy to reach by train from Katowice or Bielsko-Biała to Ustroń Zdrój station, about a kilometre from Zawodzie. Medical & SPA is open Monday to Saturday 8:30–19:00 and Sunday 10:00–16:00; the brine pools on weekdays 15:00–21:00, Saturday 12:00–21:00 and Sunday 10:00–21:00. On 1 November 2026 the facility is closed, and on 11 November it keeps shortened hours. There are paid car parks by the buildings.

Nearby: trails, peaks, sights

The short Sanatorium Trail and Źródlany Trail start right by the spa – walks to the old springs – and higher up, over Równica and Czantoria, runs the Main Trail of Beskidy.

Official website: uzdrowisko-ustron.pl

Photos: Qasinka, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Evidamii019, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Luther77, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; D T G, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.