Katowice is the capital city of the Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland. It has undergone transformation from a heavy industry city known for coal and steel production to a modern capital with a population of over 2 million in the metropolitan area. Notable attractions include the Silesian Museum located in a former coal mine, the Nikiszowiec historic mining settlement, and the Route of Modernism featuring architecture from the 1920s-1930s. Katowice has a growing business sector focused on new technologies and is known for festivals, parks covering 40% of the area, and traditional Silesian foods like kluski noodles.

1. Katowice
By: Nadim El Ghawi
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2. Flag of the city
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3. About Katowice
• Katowice is the capitol city of Lower Silesian Voivodship and is the heart of it.
• In recent years Katowice has undergone a huge transformation. Not so long ago, the city
stereotyped by many as a symbol of Silesia: the place of heavy industry, coal and steel. The road
that Katowice has travelled, becoming the modern capital of a metropolitan area with 2 million
inhabitants, is also an example of the transformation that has taken place throughout Poland.
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4. History
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• The area around Katowice, in Upper Silesia, has been inhabited by ethnic Silesian tribes from its earliest documented
history. While the name Katowice (Katowicze) is mentioned for the first time in 1598, other villages and settlements
that would eventually become parts of modern Katowice have been established earlier, with Dąb being the oldest,
mentioned in 1299 for the first time in a document issued by Duke Casimir of
Bytom. Bogucice, Ligota, Szopenice and Podlesie were all established in early 14th century. Aside from farming,
people living in the area would also work in hammer mills: the first one, Kuźnica Bogucka, is mentioned in 1397.
• The area which would become Katowice was initially ruled by the Polish Silesian Piast dynasty until its extinction.
From 1327, the region was under administration of the Kingdom of Bohemia under the Holy Roman Empire. As part
of the Bohemian Crown, it was passed to the Habsburg monarchy of Austria in 1526. In 1742, along with most
of Silesia, it was seized by Prussia following the First Silesian War. The two subsequent Silesian Wars left the area
severely depopulated and with economy in ruins. In 1838, Franz von Winckler bought Katowice from Karl Friedrich
Lehmann and in 1841, he made it the headquarters of his estate.

5. Population
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• Katowice has a population of 286,960 according to a 31 December 2021 estimate. Katowice is a central part of
the Metropolis GZM, with a population of 2.3 million, and a part of a larger Upper Silesian metropolitan area that
extends into the Czech Republic and has a population of 5-5.3 million people

6. Tourist Attractions - NIKISZOWIEC
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• 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.

7. Tourist Attractions - SILESIAN MUSEUM
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• 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.

8. Tourist Attractions - SILESIAN FREEDOM AND
SOLIDARITY CENTRE
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• 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.

9. Tourist Attractions - ROUTE OF MODERNISM
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• 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.

10. Click to discover the city
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11. Direction from
Dąbrowa
Górnicza
• The city is a 16 minute drive from Dąbrowa
Górnicza or can take about 30 minutes by train to
reach it.
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12. Monuments
in the city
Silesian Insurgents Monument
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13. Monuments
in the city
Scouts Memorial
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14. Monuments
in the city
Monument of the Polish soldiers
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15. Weather in
Katowice
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16. Map of
Katowice
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17. Information about the city
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18. Industry in the city
• Katowice has made a change and today they are a leader
in innovation and new technologies. It is also at the
forefront of Polish cities that have decided to develop
modern business sectors. One of these sectors is the
development of the regional office space market in
Katowice. Just building office space alone would not
suffice. It must be supported by the modern office
services industry that had to established and is
developing. One of its elements is access to employees.
• Global giants such as Mentor Graphics, Rockwell
Automation, Hewlett Packard, Ernst & Young, Deloite,
Capgemini and IBM opened branches in the city.The
consistent policy of Katowice with regard to the
development of modern office services contributed to a
strong and growing property development market..

19. Events
• The festivals and cyclical events organised in Katowice also include supra-regional and international projects. Music lovers,
theatre fans and enthusiasts of unusual experiences every year visit the capital of the agglomeration to learn about current
trends, listen to world stars and feel the unique atmosphere. The Silesian Jazz Festival, Rawa Blues Festival, Off Festival or the
Tauron Nowa Muzyka festival have become a permanent fixture in the calendar of important music events, and the A PART
International Theatre Festival, the International Summer Theatre Garden and the Festival of Directing Art are significant events
in the theatre community.
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20. Culture Zone
• The Culture Zone is a new part of the city, which came into being recently on the former ”Katowice” mining site. After the coal mine had been closed down, the
following objects were constructed: the International Congress Centre (MCK), the new seat of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Silesian
Museum building complex. The entire structure is complemented by the Spodek i.e. a sport and entertainment arena, which has been Katowice's architectural
icon for nearly 50 years. The Culture Zone is also an extraordinarily arranged space encouraging to spend some time among the greenery and avant-garde
architecture. Therefore, it is worth combining a visit to the museum or a concert in the hall of the NOSPR with a walk along the so-called Green Valley passage
running through the MCK roof. You can admire the city panorama from the top of the former mine shaft, have a meal in one of the best restaurants or relax in
the nearby Bogucice Park.
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21. Video of the city
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22. Nature in
Katowice
• Katowice is one of the greenest cities in Poland. Over
40% of its area is covered with forests, which along with
parks and green squares are an excellent place for
recreation and rest. During the United Nations Climate
Summit COP24, organized in Katowice, the city created
special application wcopdrzewo.katowice.eu. City
residents can indicate where new trees should be
planted.A green oasis in the centre of the capital of the
Silesian Voivodeship is "Las Murckowski". It is a real gem
of Katowice, where we can find even 300-year-old
outstanding natural features and unique species of
plants and animals. Another place, which is very popular
among the residents, is the Valley of Three Ponds. This
complex of gardens and ponds encourages active
sporting activities. You can rent a canoe or spend time
with children on the water playground.
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23. Food in
Katowice
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• Silesian noodles, known locally as
‘kluski śląskie’, are at the top of any
Silesian culinary itinerary. Essentially a
pierogi (dumping) with no filling, these
pillowy potato flour doughballs are
served as a side dish almost
everywhere, often with mushroom
gravy or fried fat and bacon bits on top.
With a chewy texture and typically
bland flavour, kluski literally stick to
your ribs and set like cement in your
stomach.

24. Food in
Katowice
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• A Silesian variation on the national
'kotlety mielone,' karminadle were
once considered a treat only served
during the holidays, and were often
made from rabbit meat due to the
popularity of rabbit rearing. Today,
though often made from pork, you
can also eat pork-beef mixes, either
served cold or hot with potato purée
and bread.

25. Thank You
Please visit this city
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