Jablunkov Pass

Jablunkov Pass (Czech: Jablunkovský průsmyk , Polish: Przełęcz Jabłonkowska ) is a mountain pass in the Beskids, located in the elevation of 553 m above sea level, in the Czech Republic, near the border with Poland and Slovakia.

Map of Jablunkov Pass, 739 98 Mosty u Jablunkova, Czechia

It separates the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and the Silesian Beskids mountain ranges. It is one of the most important transport routes in the Western Carpathians. Road from Žilina to Těšín runs here. Košice-Bohumín railway line also runs here. It was an important route from the Middle Ages, connecting Upper Hungary with Silesia, more precisely Cieszyn Silesia.

Archaeological researches suggest it was an important route long before the Middle Ages. Travelling caravans were frequently attacked by bandits, so some fortifications were built in the place of today's Mosty u Jablunkova. Archaeologists presume they were built in the 13th century. Importance of this trade route grew over time and in 1529 in the fear of Turkish attack, new fortifications (pl: szańce, cs: šance) were built. It played an important role during the Thirty Years' War. After war it was renovated and new larger one were built nearby by Elżbieta Lukrecja, Duchess of Cieszyn. It eventually became a station with permanent garrison. Fortifications were last time renovated in 1808. It dilapidated from that time and locals picked up its parts as a construction material. Remains of this fortifications are today a popular tourist spot.

In October 1938 the whole Zaolzie area, including this mountain pass, was captured by Poland. On the night of 25-26 August 1939, the Jabłonków Incident occurred here, when a group of armed German Abwehr agents of the Brandenburg Regiment attacked the rail station in Mosty. The Jabłonków Incident has been named the first commando operation of the Second World War.

The village of Mosty u Jablunkova lies in the pass.