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Katowice Travel Guide

Travel to Katowice - Home to a Thriving Cultural Scene

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Katowice is the largest city in Silesia in Poland and is located in the middle of Silesia on the banks of the river Rawa. It is home to a thriving cultural scene with numerous concert halls, theatres, festivals and events as well as many fascinating museums and galleries. However, if you prefer to just relax and soak up the atmosphere Chorzowski Park offers the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Katowice dates back to 1397 when there was a small village settlement called Kuznica, then in 1873 it became a town. During the first world war the steel industry developed rapidly in the area and therefore the town became to be of great importance with regards to the mining, steel, electrical machinery, electronics, and chemicals industries. However, these days the area is much more focused on commerce and services.

Attractions in Katowice

In Katowice you’ll find numerous attractions of historical interest from monuments to churches. There’s the 1305 Church of St Michael the Archangel, the neogothic Immaculate Conception Church which was built between 1862 and 1870 and the neogothic church of St Peter and Paul which was built between 1898 and 1902. Monuments that you’ll find in the area include the Silesian Insurgents Monument which has become a landmark of the town and represents the three Silesian uprisings and there’s also the monument of the Polish soldier.

Naturally the city also has a number of museums which provide a cultural and historical insight to the region. Check out the Silesian Museum which was founded in 1929, the Folk Museum containing objects which date back from the 16th century and the Muzeum Slaskie, containing exhibits of art, archeology, ethnography and local history. There is also a less well known art gallery.

Other places of interest to tourists may be the Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory and the zoo, home to over 300 different species.

Activities in Katowice

Katowice is home to a number of festivals and events throughout the year so bear this in mind when planning your trip. For example there is the International Students Festival of Folklore or the International Festival of Military Orchestras. Also here you’ll find Spodek, the biggest sport and concert hall in Poland where you can catch games and musical events.

However, most activities in Katowice will be found in Chorzowski Park. Take a chair lift across the park to get your bearings before opting to walk or skate around the park or perhaps make use of the outdoor swimming pool. Then visit the pond where you can take a small boat cruise or hire boats, kayaks and pedal boats in order to explore at your leisure. Finally for the younger crowd there is also a small amusement park.

Relaxing

Katowice is teeming with theatres and cinemas in which to take in a performance and relax such as the Teatr Slaski or the Silesian Theatre of Stanislaw Wyspanski. However, there are also many parks to chill out in including Chorzowski Park which is home to a zoo, fair and planetarium amongst others or Grunwaldzki Square. Then in the evening check out the variety of bars, cafes, shops, restaurants and clubs for the ultimate way to end a day in Katowice.