Katowice – a dynamic Polish city that has transformed over the last decade from an industrial center into an important cultural and transport hub of Europe. Thanks to its convenient location in the heart of the continent and developed infrastructure, this city has become a true gateway between Eastern and Western Europe.
City of Katowice (Poland)
Katowice (Polish: Katowice, German: Kattowitz) is a cultural, scientific, commercial, and industrial center located in Upper Silesia in the south of Poland. Unlike its eastern neighbor, Krakow, this city has not been spoiled by the attention of foreign visitors. Moreover, just ten years ago, not many travelers knew of its existence. Today, the situation has changed thanks to the annual ESL One Katowice world cyber sports championship, international trade fairs, and Pyrzowice Airport, from which many regular and charter flights depart to various corners of the globe.
History of Katowice
People have lived in the territory of Upper Silesia long before the advent of writing. According to the earliest preserved documents, it is known that in the 12th century there were small settlements here that were part of local provinces. Soon after the foundation of several villages mentioned in historical chronicles, these lands became part of the Kingdom of Bohemia and were under Czech rule until the mid-18th century.
Although the name of the village Katowice first appears in records dated 1598, experts suggest it actually emerged 18 years earlier. Be that as it may, significant changes in the economy and ethnic composition of the region’s inhabitants occurred much later.
As a result of a military conflict, Silesia passed to Prussia, which allowed representatives of trade, various crafts, and arts from the metropolis to move here. Several decades later, along with all of Western Europe, these lands became a platform for active industrialization. The Industrial Revolution gave Katowice a powerful impetus for development, as new plants and factories required energy, and significant coal reserves were discovered in the surrounding Beskids. By the way, the city remains one of the leaders in coal mining and metallurgy in the country to this day.
The global upheavals of the 20th century did not bypass the Region. After the First World War, the majority of local residents defended the right to remain part of Germany. However, as a result, Upper Silesia gained limited autonomy as part of the Polish Republic and was captured by German troops during the Second World War. During the years of occupation, a significant part of the population of Katowice died or was expelled, and many historical buildings and religious structures were turned into ruins.
In the 1950s, the city expanded significantly by incorporating surrounding settlements, and the restored enterprises attracted new people. In recent decades, it has transformed from a purely industrial city into a major center of business, culture, science, and education. Over 100,000 students, including foreign ones, study at two dozen higher education institutions in Katowice.
Gateway to Europe
Today, Katowice is an important transport hub on the scale of the Old World. This status is facilitated by its convenient geographical location: within a 600-kilometer radius of the city, there are 6 European capitals (Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava). So for travel lovers, a wealth of promising routes open up from here.
The main railway station serves over 12 million people a year. From its platform, you can travel to other regions of Poland and beyond the country’s borders. Many long-distance trains are high-speed, so the travel time to the Czech Republic, France, Austria, and Hungary is noticeably less than it might seem at first glance.
A popular way of ground transportation in Katowice is buses. Modern, comfortable vehicles are equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi. And if you take care of buying tickets in advance, you can get to the aforementioned capitals for less than 10 euros.
Air travel, of course, costs a bit more. However, they may not be too heavy on your wallet either, as a whole list of flights from well-known low-cost carriers, including seasonal flights to popular resorts, start from Katowice. Thanks to this, Pyrzowice International Airport is constantly increasing its performance. In just the first six months of 2018, its three terminals handled 2,680,000 passengers. The airport is located 30 kilometers north of the city and is connected to it by a network of bus routes.
Architecture and Sights
Let’s note right away that you won’t find any special antiquity in Katowice. The historical center was built not in the Middle Ages, but during the period of the city’s rapid growth in prosperity, in the 19th century. At the same time, there is every reason to call the architectural appearance of the main square, which Poles call Rynek Katowicki, eclectic. To the German houses in the Renaissance, Neoclassical, and Modernist styles, typical “socialist” examples were added half a century ago, and modern office buildings and shopping centers are actively growing in the background. However, in the layout of the old town streets, one can distinctly feel an imitation of Paris with its boulevards and pedestrian zones.
Probably of greatest interest to foreign guests are the creations of religious architecture, which are very different from each other. The Stone Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (better known as the Mariacki Church) is visible from afar due to its 70-meter neo-Gothic tower spire. Inside, it’s worth paying attention to the stained glass windows and sculptures. Just a few years later, it became clear that it could not accommodate the large number of parishioners, so the Brick Church of Saints Peter and Paul Apostles appeared in the southern part of Katowice. The Basilica of King Louis and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the neo-Romanesque style attracts attention with its monumental facade. The Cathedral of Christ the King, built in 1927-1955, was named the cathedral for the city’s archdiocese. And the oldest church in Katowice is the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, built of wood back in 1510. Unusually, it was created and for 4.5 centuries received believers in a completely different place. Only in 1938 was the church transported from the village of Syrynia and installed in the regional capital. The decorative elements preserved in the church also represent enormous historical and cultural value.
The most recognizable creation of 20th-century architects is the “Spodek” sports and entertainment complex, construction of which was completed in 1971. The audience hall of the “flying saucer” holds 11.5 thousand spectators, making it the main arena for large concerts and festivals; it hosts sports competitions, economic forums, and achievement exhibitions.
For several generations of local residents, Kościuszko Park, laid out according to English landscape traditions, has been a favorite walking place. One of the large residential complexes in the center boasts its own recreational area – the Valley of Three Ponds, named after the picturesque bodies of water. But the true green lungs of Katowice should be considered its Forest Park, located in the southern part of the city. There are no fountains or garden sculptures here, but there is an abundance of unpretentious Polish flora and fresh air.
Lovers of educational leisure will find the philharmonic, numerous museums, and art galleries, including thematic collections of guitars or musical organs. Visitors especially note the unusual atmosphere and exposition of the Silesia Museum, located underground on the site of an old mine.
Surroundings of Katowice
When all the notable sights within the city have been viewed and recorded in a photo report, it’s time to go on short trips. Very close to Katowice, in Chorzów, the Silesian Park stretches over 620 hectares. To appreciate the scale, you need to understand that it is almost twice the size of the famous New York Central Park. In addition to endless lawns, groves, and picturesque alleys, the territory includes a zoological garden, a planetarium with an observatory, stadiums and sports grounds, an open-air ethnographic museum, and a large amusement park. The latter was recently completely reconstructed and is now called “Legendia”. About 300 thousand people come every year to ride on 40 modern attractions – including the largest “roller coasters” in Central and Eastern Europe.
Those interested in history should visit Oświęcim, or rather, the memorial complex on the site of the German concentration camp “Auschwitz”. It is located 35 kilometers, or 10 train stops, from Katowice. We recommend booking entrance tickets in advance on the official website. And one more piece of advice: carefully weigh all the pros and cons if you are a sensitive person.
For a more relaxed atmosphere, it’s better to go to the city of Tychy, where famous varieties of Polish beer are produced and brewery museum tours with tasting are offered (entry strictly from 18 years old!). You can get there by electric train with a transfer to local bus number 21.
A trip to Krakow will take a little more time, but if you haven’t been to the ancient capital of Polish kings with its cobbled streets, amazing churches, and majestic castle, it’s a sin to miss such a chance. Half an hour’s drive from it is another place worth visiting – the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The underground halls and galleries that arose as a result of centuries of mining development are awe-inspiring. The picture is complemented by sculptures and bas-reliefs skillfully carved from salt blocks.
Local Cuisine
Spiritual food is, of course, wonderful, but how to satiate the body? Katowice has a fairly wide selection of catering establishments of various price categories: from democratic canteens to expensive restaurants. Naturally, there are also branches of international fast-food chains, sushi bars, trendy coffee shops, and pizzerias. However, if you are interested in getting acquainted with the local cuisine, look for smoked meat soup żurek, dumplings with cabbage and mushroom filling or with meat and mushrooms – kartacze, potato dumplings Silesian kluski, beef roulades rolada, smoked sheep cheese oscypek, and modra kapusta (blue cabbage).
How to Get There
The most convenient way is to get to Warsaw, and from there travel by plane, train, or bus towards the capital of Upper Silesia.
Katowice on the Map of Poland
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