President Hotel in Bielsko-Biała

Hotel President, formerly known as Kaiserhof, is a historic building located in Bielsko-Biała at 3 Maja Street 12. It was constructed between 1892 and 1893 in the Neo-Renaissance style. The design was created by architect Carl Korn on behalf of Heinrich Hochstim. It was the first hotel in Bielsko with a cinema hall, opened in 1896, and also featured a restaurant, the Renaissance café, and a summer veranda. In 1922, the hotel was renamed President in honor of Gabriel Narutowicz. In the 1930s, the hotel underwent several changes: a new banquet hall replaced the summer garden, and in 1938, it came under the administration of the Mortgage Joint-Stock Bank in Lviv. During World War II, it served as a military command headquarters and later functioned as a hospital and a cultural center. In 1962, it returned to its original function as a hotel, and subsequent renovations significantly improved its service standards. After numerous ownership changes and refurbishments, the hotel received a four-star rating in 2010. Unfortunately, in 2019, the hotel ceased operations due to multi-million debt, with the only remaining operational facility being a casino run by Casinos Poland. The hotel remains an important landmark in the history of Bielsko-Biała, notable for its rich architecture and diverse functions over the years.