Skoczów (German: Skotschau, Czech: Skočov) is a town and the seat of Gmina Skoczów in Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland with 14,783 inhabitants (2004). It lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia. Situated in the Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship (1975-1998).
Skoczów is the oldest town in the area of the upper Vistula river. The very first settlement had been established in a place called grodzisko about 2 km south-east of the town centre. Grodzisko was set up around the 5th century, and was inhabited until the 9th century. Settlement was situated at first on a naturally defensive hill over the valley of the river Bładnica. Later on the settlement was surrounded by an earth bank and moat. The settlement was destroyed in the end of the 9th century by Prince Świętopełek II and wasn't rebuilt again. (more)
Fot thanks to www.strykowski.net