Summary:

The study shows the uncommon combination of the curative function with the industrial function as exemplified by the Ustroń spa. Ustroń is a small town with 15 588 residents. It is located in the southern part of the Silesia voivodeship, in the Cieszyn powiat. It is part of the Silesian Beskids and is also located in the valley of the Vistula river and its Jaszowiec tributary, at the foot of Równica. In the last couple of centuries Ustroń was subject to significant spatial and developmental changes. This involves the succession of functions from agriculture, herding, wagoning, iron mining, steel-work, activities related to metal and machine industry to the tourist function, especially curative and recreational tourism. The coexistence of the two functions can be referred to as uncommon as usually they are mutually exclusive and do not exist alongside. Research conducted in Ustroń allowed to conclude that it is an example of a town in which these two very different functions may in fact complement each other. The coexistence of the industrial function with the curative-recreational function has been possible for many years due to the location's numerous tourist values, especially environmental ones.
A great role in the development of Ustroń as an industrial-curative centre was also played by socio-political determinants.