Tourist attractions

Katowice conservation area, which is one of the most atmospheric places on the map of the city. It was established in the years 1908-1924, according to the architectural design of Georg and Emil Zillmann. In the mining settlement here, the Neo-Baroque church of St. Anna and the “Wieczorek” Coal Mine create a unique atmosphere, which allows you to move to the beginning of the 20th century. Another tourist attraction is the Wilson Shaft Gallery, which exhibits works of contemporary art. Since 2011 the Nikiszowiec settlement has been entered on the list of Scheduled Monuments.

http://www.slaskie.travel/en-us/Poi/Pokaz/1715/78/nikiszowiec-settlement

The picturesque settlement-garden was set up in the years 1907-1910 and was mainly inhabited by workers of the "Giesche" Coal Mine. The architecture of workers ' cottages, built on the model of the old Upper Silesian country cottage is of particular interest. Another spectacular landmark of the district is the Siesian inn (currently turned into the Szopienice-Giszowiec House of Culture), Gawlikówka Silesian Chamber (an art gallery with an exhibition of Edward Gawlik’s paintings), as well as forestry buildings, schools and shops. Its location in the middle of the forest retreat enhances the uniqueness of Giszowiec.

http://www.slaskie.travel/en-us/Poi/Pokaz/1713/76/giszowiec-settlement

The tourist route, which includes sites that represent the Katowice architecture of the 1920s. and 1930s. It consists of 16 modernist buildings located on the trail with a total length of 5.5 km. The visitors may admire historic villas, residential houses and estates, such as the building of the Silesian Sejm, garrison church of St. Casimir the Prince. The presence of infokiosks enables you to learn the history of these places in an attractive, multimedia way. The hike along the trail takes the walkers to the interwar period and explains why Katowice was considered to be the most American of the Polish regions.

http://www.moderna.katowice.eu/en 

The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra is one of the most distinguished orchestras not only in Poland but also in Europe, and its main building is considered a real architectural pearl. Opened in 2014, the edifice, designed by Tomasz Konior from Katowice in cooperation with Japanese specialists from Nagata Acoustisc, stands out not only for its visual beauty but also for its excellent acoustics. The main concert hall, which has a capacity of 120 orchestra seats and 100 choir seats on the stage as well as 1800 seats for music lovers in the auditorium, is one of the world's top concert venues. What is important, the brick elevation of the building refers to the mining past of the place where coal was  extracted only three decades ago. The original design of the seat surrounding, with an interesting arrangement of greenery and specially selected elements of small architecture, encourage visitors to stroll around the entire Culture Zone.

Established in 1929, Muzeum Śląskie in Katowice is the largest museum institution in the region. Closed at the outbreak of World War II and re-established in the middle of the 1980s, in 2015 it was given a new site which is unique on a global scale. Situated on the grounds of a former coal mine, the architectural complex combines industrial tradition with modernity. Exhibition spaces with a surface area of over six thousand square metres are located in revitalised former mine buildings as well as in underground halls.
The Museum’s activity is focussed on the widely-understood historical relations of multi-cultural Silesia with Poland and the rest of the world. In the permanent exhibitions, visitors may view Polish art from the 19th and 20th centuries, amateur art and sacral art, among other subjects. Of particular interest is the narrative exhibition “Light of history” dedicated to the history of Upper Silesia. However, Muzeum Śląskie is not only about the past, but also the present: there are presentations of modern art, installations, artistic ventures, performance art, workshops and close cooperation with the local community.
https://muzeumslaskie.pl/en/

The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice is the oldest higher education institution located in Upper Silesia and the venue for numerous artistic, cultural and educational events. Its beginnings are connected with the State Music Conservatory, established in 1929. The main seat of the Academy is a neo-Gothic building erected in 1898. It used to house the Royal School of Construction Crafts, and during the first years following the First World War there used to be the Silesian Voivodeship Office.

In 2005-2007, the complex of the Academy of Music was enlarged with a modern edifice of the "Symphony" Science and Music Education Centre. It houses a multifunctional Concert Hall with a variable arrangement and acoustics, a sound laboratory, a library and a reading room, as well as the rooms for eurhythmics and therapeutic activities and specialist studios.

In the Polish People’s Republic (PRL) Katowice was regarded as Polish Las Vegas – the most illuminated city in the country. At the end of the 1960s nearly 800 neon signs illuminated the city streets. Many of them were designed on a grand scale, numerous were original and aesthetically sophisticated. Some of them gave the impression of being mobile thanks to a sequence of lighting elements. Those enjoyed particularly great popularity among Katowice residents, especially children.  The most liked ones included the Monkeys at 13, 3 Maja street, the neon sign of the Randia tea room with a cloud of steam raising above the pot, or the jumping Filipek at Stawowa street. Although the 1990s marked the twilight of Katowice neon signs splendor and a lot of them disappeared for ever  giving way to more modern, cheaper but more ordinary forms of outdoor advertising, the recent years brought a kind of neon signs renaissance. It resulted in dozens of new and reconstructed forms of illuminated advertising appearing outdoors. In 2021, the Neon Trail was created in Katowice. In the very centre of the city there are display units, made specially for this purpose, where interested people can see a reconstruction of the former neon signs, archive photographs, and an outline of their history.

Large-format paintings, often extremely colorful. Street art allows you to observe the rhythm of the city, presents its history and development over the years. In Katowice streets, you can see paintings inspired by the art of Waldemar Świerzy, an outstanding Polish poster artist, illustrations by Jean Giraud or the works of the local Janów Group. The mural trail will take you on an incredibly colorful journey through the less obvious corners of the city. Several kilometre - long routes from the north to the south or from the east to the west of the city, which can be planned independently, will allow you to learn more about local significant individuals as well as to see the city from another perspective.

Blues is one of the genres that have influenced the musical landscape of Upper Silesia. Simple melodies, flowing from the depths of the heart, seasoned with a pinch of melancholy, but also a specific sense of humour, turned out to be a perfect means of expression of a Silesian soul. It is here, in Katowice and in the neighbouring cities, where the greatest artists of the Polish blues scene were active.

The Silesian Blues Route is a unique project in the world, where history of music is told by the people who took part in its creation. Here, you will find out, among others, where the idea to create the Dżem band was born, which club Lemmy Kilmister escaped from and who gave the first harmonica to Irek Dudek.

It is possible to plan a touring route thanks to a special mobile application which being started in the place where a club used to be, shows you a film with memories of musicians connected with the place.

Among tasks of Silesian Freedom and Solidarity Centre is conducting the exhibition in the Commemoration Museum of ‘Wujek’ Coal Mine as well as propagating freedom and anti-totalitarian ideas. Our institution was established as a result of an agreement between Silesian Voivodship and Katowice City.

The exposition is placed in a former coal-mine warehouse. Before the World War II in this building miners’ lamps were filled with carbide, later it was used as a warehouse of workers’ clothes and on 16 December 1981 it became a silent witness to tragic incidents of martial law. It is probably from the ramp of this building where the deadly shots were fired at the miners of Wujek Coal Mine.

https://scwis.pl/en/ 

The Museum of the History of Katowice is one of the most important institutions on the cultural and scientific map of Katowice. Its core are permanent exhibitions in the main building: middle-class interiors and a historical, multimedia exhibition "Z dziejów Katowic" in three languages: Polish, English and German. In the Ethnology Department at Nikiszowiec Settlement, you can visit the interior of the working-class apartment, the exhibition "At the Laundry in Nikiszowiec", and also the permanent exhibition of the works of painters from the Janowska Group. In 2014, for the exhibition "At the Laundry in Nikiszowiec", the museum received the award "Sybilla 2013". In the Graphics Department the permanent collection of works by Paweł Steller, a great artist associated with Katowice, is presented. And in the Theater and Film Department - Museum of Barbara and Stanisław Ptak, there is the exhibition showing the activity of both artists in their former apartment.

Every year the Museum of the History of Katowice organizes over 100 events (vernissages, concerts, lectures and meetings, museum lessons and workshops). Our guides speak Polish, English and Czech.

https://mhk.katowice.pl/

 

One of Europe's largest urban parks, located on the border of Chorzów, Katowice and Siemianowice Śląskie. Up to 620 ha of woodland and recreational area makes this place much frequented by walkers, cyclists and inline skaters. Silesian Planetarium, Legendia (formerly Silesian Amusement Park), the modernized Silesian Stadium and the Silesian Zoological Garden is the perfect place to spend a leisure afternoon. In this place, entertainment gets combined with science, providing lots of excitement and unforgettable experiences.

https://parkslaski.pl/en 

Silesian cuisine is one of the most recognisable regional cuisines in Poland. Everyone knows that   rolled meat with dumplings and red cabbage is a dish which originated in Silesia, just as champagne is a product related to the Champagne region. In order to promote our cultural heritage, the Silesian  Tastes’ Culinary Trail was created in 2012 that unites certified restaurants serving traditional regional dishes. Every year the Silesian Tastes’ Festival is organised in various parts of our province, too.

The "Las Murckowski" nature reserve was established in 1953.  It covers an area of over 100 ha, including the slopes of Wanda Hill - the highest point of Katowice. The reserve protects a fragment of a natural beech forest with ancient, majestic beeches and oaks. Nature lovers will discover many protected plants here, they can also count on meeting numerous forest inhabitants, such as wild boar, roe deer and fallow deer.

Last year's sensation was the appearance of the Ural Owl - a rare and exceptional bird. In Europe, the estimated number of the species is only a few hundred pairs, which means that they have been under strict protection for years.

The tourist and cultural car trail, which was created by combining dozens of industrial sites within the region of Silesia, leads through 26 towns housing 42 sites associated with mining, the AST plants, power industry, railways, telecommunications, water production and food industry. It represents the most important cultural industrial heritage of the region, including the Gliwice Radio Station and the Silesian Museum. Following the trail allows you not only to learn about the traditions of the region, but also to observe its current transformation.

http://www.zabytkitechniki.pl/en-US 

Pszczyna is a small, cosy town situated about 40 km south of Katowice, at a certain distance from large cities and separated from them by vast forest complexes. Thanks to a well-developed road and railway infrastructure, it is a perfect place for a few hours' trip to see a slightly different face of Upper Silesia and to relax from the hustle and bustle of big cities.

The heart of Pszczyna is the Castle Museum - a former family seat of the Pszczyna Princes, ranked among the most beautiful and valuable residences in Poland. Here you can visit, among others, Prince’s suites, a library, the armoury and the suite of the Prussian Emperor William II. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful English-style park, with a neighbouring European Bison enclosure. Nearby, there is also Zagroda Wsi Pszczyńska - an open-air museum with interesting monuments of wooden architecture.

European bison is a rare animal that is subject to strict protection of species, and therefore, it is quite an uncommon sight. This unique opportunity is offered to the visitors of Pszczyna Historic Park, within which are located two pens for the European bison. On the area of 10 hectares you can encounter other specimens found in the southern part of the country, such as: mouflon, deer, roe deer or fallow deer. The public is presented with an educational path, abundant in exhibits, as well as a video history of European bison in Poland.

http://zubry.pszczyna.pl/en/

Tychy Brewery is one of the oldest in Poland – the beer has been brewed here since 1629. In 2004, to celebrate the 375th anniversary of the plant, the first museum in Poland dedicated to brewing beer was opened. Within the walls of the former chapel, visitors can learn about the technique of brewing this beverage. They can enjoy an extensive beer-related exhibition (including unique 19th-century bottles and cooper's tools), a 3D movie and numerous multimedia attractions. In the basement of the historic building, you can regale a mug of beer.

https://browarytyskie.pl/en/homepage/ 

The only site in Poland, being a remnant of the ancient ore mines of silver, lead and zinc, which has been made available to visitors. The trail of almost 2 km in length, runs 40 m underground. It is worth expanding the tour itinerary to include the Black Trout Adit, that gives you a unique opportunity to travel underground by boat. Both the adit and mine are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites and Scheduled Monuments. The mine is also an anchor point in the European Route of Industrial Heritage network.

https://kopalniasrebra.pl/ 

 

The Zabrze coal mine was founded in the 1850’s and was an expression of the dynamic development of the industry in the Upper Silesia. After several dozen years of operation, extraction of coal finished, and today the former mine serves as the only tourist draw of this kind in Europe. Exploration of the underworld of this unique monument provides the visitors with an insight into the mining technology, allows them to learn about the work of miners and the remarkable story of this place. In addition to the Guido Mine, the Coal Mining Museum also comprises the Queen Louise Adit.

https://kopalniaguido.pl/index.php/en/ 

The Silesian Opera in Bytom is a venue where the first opera performance in post-war Poland was staged. The creator of the opera was the world-famous artist Adam Didur, who gathered a dedicated team of employees and artists, quickly gained the title of the first opera stage in the country. The Silesian Opera was the first to broadcast live on the radio in 1945. Since the beginning of its activity, it has been constantly present on stages all over the country, but it is also the first Polish theatre to perform abroad.

Since its inception, the opera is located in the municipal theatre erected at the turn of the 20th century. The building of the Silesian Opera consists of two combined parts- the Opera House and the Concert Hall, which after the fire in 2000 was restored to its original appearance, from the beginning of the 20th century.