Katowice
Encyclopedia
Katowice AUD is a city
in Silesia
in southern Poland
, on the Kłodnica and Rawa
rivers (tributaries of the Oder
and the Vistula
respectively). Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands
, about 50 km (31.1 mi) north of the Silesian Beskids
(part of the Carpathian Mountains
) and about 100 km (62.1 mi) southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.
It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2 million. Katowice is the center of science, culture, industry, business and transportation in southern Poland. It is the main city in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region
and of the 2,7 million conurbation
, the Katowice urban area
, within a Silesian metropolitan area
populated by 4,676,983
people.
Katowice has been the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship
since its formation in 1999. Previously, it was the capital of the Katowice Voivodeship
, before then, of the Silesian Voivodeship and before then Province of Upper Silesia
in Germany
.
The area around Katowice in Upper Silesia
has been inhabited by ethnic Silesians
from its earliest documented history. It was first ruled by the Polish Silesian Piast dynasty (until its extinction). From 1335, it was a part of the Crown of Bohemia
. In 1526 the territory passed to the Austria
n Habsburg Monarchy
after the death of King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia. In 1742, most of Silesia was annexed from Austria by the Kingdom of Prussia
during the First Silesian War.
Katowice gained city status
in 1865 as Kattowitz in the Prussian Province of Silesia
. The city flourished due to large mineral (especially coal
) deposits in the nearby mountains. Extensive city growth and prosperity depended on the coal mining
and steel industries
, which took off during the Industrial Revolution
. Kattowitz was inhabited mainly by Germans
, Silesians
, Jews and Poles
. Previously part of the Beuthen district, in 1873 it became the capital of the new Kattowitz district
. On 1 April 1899, the city of Kattowitz was separated from the district, becoming an independent city
.
According to the Treaty of Versailles
after World War I
the Upper Silesia plebiscite
was organised by the League of Nations
. Though in the city of Katowice the plebiscite resulted 22,774 votes to remain in Germany and 3,900 votes for Poland, following the Silesian Uprisings
(1918–21) Katowice became part of the Second Polish Republic
with a certain level of autonomy (Silesian Parliament
as a constituency and Silesian Voivodeship Council as the executive body).
The city was occupied by Nazi Germany
between 1939-1945.
In 1953 the city was renamed Stalinogród ("Stalin
City") by the Polish communist government
to honor the passing of the Soviet dicatator. However, the new name was never accepted by the city's population and in 1956 the former name of 'Katowice' was restored.
Severe ecological damage
to the environment
occurred during the post-Second World War time of communist governance in the People's Republic of Poland
, but recent changes in regulations, procedures and policies of Polish government since the fall of Communism
have reversed much of the harm that was done.
Due to economic
reforms, there has been a shift away from heavy industry
, and towards small businesses.
, in the eastern part of Upper Silesia
, within the central portion of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. In administrative terms, Katowice is an urban community
in the Silesian Voivodeship
in south-west Poland. It is central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis — metropolis with the population of 2 millions. It borders the cities of Chorzów
, Siemianowice Śląskie
, Sosnowiec
, Mysłowice, Lędziny
, Tychy
, Mikołów, Ruda Śląska
and Czeladź
. In geographical terms, it lies between the Vistula
and Oder
rivers, on the Silesian Highlands
. Several rivers flow through the city, the major two being the Kłodnica and Rawa Rivers. Within 600 km (372.8 mi) of Katowice are the capital cities of six countries: Berlin
, Vienna
, Prague
, Bratislava
, Budapest
and Warsaw
.
. The average temperature is 8.2 °Celsius (average -1.5 °C in January and up to average 18 °C (64 °F) in July). Yearly rainfall averages at 608.5 mm (24 in). The area's characteristic weak winds blow at about 2 m/s from the west — Moravian Gate
.
Katowice lies in the centre of the largest conurbation in Poland and is one of the largest in the European Union
, numbering at about 2.7 million. This urban expansion boomed in the 19th century thanks to the rapid development of the mining and metallurgical industries. The Katowice urban area
consists of about 40 adjacent cities and towns. However, the whole Silesian metropolitan area
(mostly within the Upper Silesian Coal Basin) consists of over 50 cities/town. This metropolitan area
has a population of 5,294,000.
In 2006, Katowice and 14 adjacent cities united under one municipal organism — the union of cities — Upper Silesian Metropolis. Its population is 2 million and its area is 1,104 km². In 2006-2007, the union planned to unite these cities in one city under the name "Silesia"; however, this proved unsuccessful.
Katowice belong to those Polish cities which do not originate from medieval towns. The city centre was formed in the mid-19th century when the city was part of the Kingdom of Prussia
and had a ethnic-German majority. Established at the time the buildings are decorated eclectic (mostly Renaissance
and Baroque
) as elements of Art
Nouveau style (secesja). At the end of the nineteenth century the centre of Katowice, was being referred to as a "little Paris", something which may surprise visitors today,
Katowice embodies a mixture of architectural style
s. Most of the historical buildings were thoroughly reconstructed. However, some of the buildings from the 19th century that had been preserved in reasonably reconstructible form were nonetheless eradicated in the 1950s-1970s. Mass residential blocks were erected, with basic design typical of Eastern bloc
countries.
Public space
s attract heavy investment, so that the city has gained entirely new squares, parks and monuments. Katowice's current urban landscape is one of modern and contemporary architecture
.
Examples of Modernism
(International Style
and Bauhaus
inspired architecture) may be found in the city centre. Central Katowice also contain a significant number of Art Nouveau
(Secesja) buildings along with the Communist Era giants such as Spodek or Superjednostka.
Katowice's Rynek is the old centre and marketplace of the city. Unfortunately many old buildings were demolished in the 1950s to make space for monumental communist modern buildings. Several streets around the Rynek and the Rynek itself are now closed to traffic and have been made into a shopping promenade
s.
Regeneration of the Rynek area should start at 2007-2008 and there was an international architectural competition
in 2006 to find the best design.
Other:
.jpg)
Katowice is a large coal and steel center. It has several coal mines (Wujek Coal Mine, Mysłowice-Wesoła Coal Mine, Wieczorek Coal Mine, Murcki Coal Mine, Staszic Coal Mine) organized into unions — Katowice Coal Holding company (pl: Katowicki Holding Węglowy), two steelworks (Huta Baildon, Huta Ferum), and one foundry of non-ferrous metals
(Huta Metali Nieżelaznych Szopienice).
center. Every year in Katowice International Fair
and Spodek
, tens of international trade fairs are organized. Katowice has the second largest business centre in Poland (after Warsaw Business Centre). Skyscrapers stand along Chorzowska, Korfantego and Roździeńskiego street in the centre of the city. The newest office buildings (A-class) in Katowice are the Chorzowska 50, Altus Skyscraper
and Silesia Towers (under construction).
(Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna).
The unemployment rate
in Katowice is one of the lowest in Poland, at 2% (2008), according to the official figures. The city is still characterized by its working class
strength and thus attracts many people seeking jobs from neighbouring cities (other districts USMU.
The average monthly salary in Katowice is the highest in Poland — about 4222,52 zł ($~1,220), in Warsaw
it's about 4135,93 zł ($~1,200).
Katowice is the third largest scientific centre in Poland (after Warsaw and Cracow). It has over 20 schools of higher education
, at which over 100,000 persons study.
There are also:
The public transportation system
of the Katowice and Upper Silesian Metropolis consists of four branches — bus
es and tram
s united in the KZK GOP and furthermore the regional rail
. Additional services are operated by private companies and the state-owned railways.
Trams
Silesian Interurbans
- one of the largest tram
systems in the World, in existence since 1894. The system spreads for more than 50 kilometres (east-west) and covers 14 districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolis.
Buses
Several important roads in neighbourhoods of Katowice (USMU
):
, located about 30 km (18.6 mi) from the center of Katowice. With over 20 international and domestic flights daily, it is by far the biggest airport in Silesia (~2,5 million passengers served in 2008; 2 terminals: A and B).
Because of the long commute to the airport, there is a proposal to convert the much nearer sport aviation-serving Katowice-Muchowiec Airport
into a so-called city airport, a second international airport for smaller, business-oriented traffic.
The first railroad reached this area in 1846 (the Upper Silesia Railway, in Polish
: Kolej Górnośląska; in German
: Oberschlesische Eisenbahn). Nowadays Katowice is one of the main railway nodes and exchange points in Silesia and in Poland. The Polskie Koleje Państwowe
(Polish State-Owned Railways) in the area of the proposed union constitute one of the main transport hubs in Poland (the most important one being Warsaw
).
The main railroad station
is Katowice Central Station
which has recently been demolished. A new station is currently under construction. Both the domestic and the international connections run from there to almost every major city in Poland and Europe.
Narrow gauge railway
The Silesian Stadium is located between Chorzów and Katowice. It is a national stadium
of Poland, more than 50 international matches of Poland national football team
were played here as well as around 30 matches of UEFA
competitions. There were also a Speedway World Championship
, Speedway Grand Prix of Europe
and a number many concerts featuring international stars.
There are many sports centers in the city as well. Most of these facilities are swimming pool
s and sports halls, mostly built by the municipality in the past several years.
Katowice is a city where you can enjoy active leisure as well. Tourists can relax playing tennis or squash, doing water sports also sailing (for example — in Dolina Trzech Stawów), horse-riding (in Wesoła Fala and Silesian culture and refreshment park), cycling or going to one of numerous excellently equipped fitness clubs. Near the city center are sporting facilities like swimming pools (for example "Bugla", "Rolna") and in neighbourhood — golf courses
(in Siemianowice Śląskie
).
Defunct sports clubs:
with:
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
in southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, on the Kłodnica and Rawa
Rawa River
Rawa , older name Roździanka) is a minor river in Silesia, Poland. It is the largest right tributary of the Brynica, itself a tributary of the Przemsza, which in turn is a tributary of the Vistula. The entire length of the Rawa is within the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union...
rivers (tributaries of the Oder
Oder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
and the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
respectively). Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands are highlands located in Silesia and Lesser Poland, Poland. It is the part of Lesser Poland Highlands Its highest point is the Mountain of St. Anne .-See also:...
, about 50 km (31.1 mi) north of the Silesian Beskids
Silesian Beskids
Silesian Beskids is one of the Beskids mountain ranges in Outer Western Carpathians in southern Silesian Voivodeship, Poland and the eastern Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic.Most of the range lies in Poland...
(part of the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
) and about 100 km (62.1 mi) southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.
It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2 million. Katowice is the center of science, culture, industry, business and transportation in southern Poland. It is the main city in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region
Upper Silesian Industrial Region
The Upper Silesian Industrial Region is a large industrial region in Poland. It lies mainly in the Silesian Voivodeship, centered around Katowice....
and of the 2,7 million conurbation
Conurbation
A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area...
, the Katowice urban area
Katowice urban area
The Katowice urban area, also known as the Upper Silesian urban area, is an urban area/conurbation in southern Poland. It is located in the Silesian Voivodeship and in a small part of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The Katowice urban area is the largest urban area in Poland and one of the largest...
, within a Silesian metropolitan area
Silesian metropolitan area
The Upper Silesian metropolitan area is the metropolitan area in southern Poland and northeast Czech Republic, centered on the cities of Katowice and Ostrava in Silesia...
populated by 4,676,983
people.
Katowice has been the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
since its formation in 1999. Previously, it was the capital of the Katowice Voivodeship
Katowice Voivodeship
Katowice Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975–1998, superseded by the Silesian Voivodeship...
, before then, of the Silesian Voivodeship and before then Province of Upper Silesia
Province of Upper Silesia
The Province of Upper Silesia was a province of the Free State of Prussia created in the aftermath of World War I. It comprised much of the region of Upper Silesia and was eventually divided into two administrative regions , Kattowitz and Oppeln...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
History
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
has been inhabited by ethnic Silesians
Silesians
Silesians , are the inhabitants of Silesia in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. A small diaspora community also exists in Karnes County, Texas in the USA....
from its earliest documented history. It was first ruled by the Polish Silesian Piast dynasty (until its extinction). From 1335, it was a part of the Crown of Bohemia
Czech lands
Czech lands is an auxiliary term used mainly to describe the combination of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. Today, those three historic provinces compose the Czech Republic. The Czech lands had been settled by the Celts , then later by various Germanic tribes until the beginning of 7th...
. In 1526 the territory passed to the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
after the death of King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia. In 1742, most of Silesia was annexed from Austria by the Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
during the First Silesian War.
Katowice gained city status
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
in 1865 as Kattowitz in the Prussian Province of Silesia
Province of Silesia
The Province of Silesia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919.-Geography:The territory comprised the bulk of the former Bohemian crown land of Silesia and the County of Kladsko, which King Frederick the Great had conquered from the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th...
. The city flourished due to large mineral (especially coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
) deposits in the nearby mountains. Extensive city growth and prosperity depended on the coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
and steel industries
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, which took off during the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
. Kattowitz was inhabited mainly by Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, Silesians
Silesians
Silesians , are the inhabitants of Silesia in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. A small diaspora community also exists in Karnes County, Texas in the USA....
, Jews and Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
. Previously part of the Beuthen district, in 1873 it became the capital of the new Kattowitz district
Kattowitz (district)
Landkreis Kattowitz was a rural district of the German-state of Prussia from 1873–1922 and 1939–45. Its capital was the city of Kattowitz .-History:...
. On 1 April 1899, the city of Kattowitz was separated from the district, becoming an independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
.
According to the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the Upper Silesia plebiscite
Upper Silesia plebiscite
The Upper Silesia plebiscite was a border referendum mandated by the Versailles Treaty and carried out in March 1921 to determine a section of the border between Weimar Germany and Poland. The region was ethnically mixed, chiefly among Germans, Poles and Silesians. According to prewar statistics,...
was organised by the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. Though in the city of Katowice the plebiscite resulted 22,774 votes to remain in Germany and 3,900 votes for Poland, following the Silesian Uprisings
Silesian Uprisings
The Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed uprisings of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919–1921, against German rule; the resistance hoped to break away from Germany in order to join the Second Polish Republic, which had been established in the wake of World War I...
(1918–21) Katowice became part of the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
with a certain level of autonomy (Silesian Parliament
Silesian Parliament
Silesian Parliament or Silesian Sejm was the governing body of the Silesian Voivodeship , an autonomous voivodeship of the Second Polish Republic between 1920 and 1945. It was elected in democratic elections and had certain influence over the usage of taxes collected in Silesia...
as a constituency and Silesian Voivodeship Council as the executive body).
The city was occupied by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
between 1939-1945.
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
City") by the Polish communist government
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...
to honor the passing of the Soviet dicatator. However, the new name was never accepted by the city's population and in 1956 the former name of 'Katowice' was restored.
Severe ecological damage
Ecological health
Ecological health or ecological integrity or ecological damage are the symptoms of an ecosystem's pending loss of carrying capacity, its ability to perform ecological services, or a pending ecocide, due to cumulative causes such as pollution. it can also be defined as farming so as to minimize the...
to the environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
occurred during the post-Second World War time of communist governance in the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
, but recent changes in regulations, procedures and policies of Polish government since the fall of Communism
History of Poland (1989–present)
In 1989-1991, Poland engaged in a democratic transition which put an end to the Polish People's Republic and led to a democratic regime, called Polish Third Republic...
have reversed much of the harm that was done.
Due to economic
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
reforms, there has been a shift away from heavy industry
Heavy industry
Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to light industry. It can mean production of products which are either heavy in weight or in the processes leading to their production. In general, it is a popular term used within the name of many Japanese and Korean firms, meaning...
, and towards small businesses.
Location
Katowice lies on Katowice Highlands, as part of the Silesian HighlandsSilesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands are highlands located in Silesia and Lesser Poland, Poland. It is the part of Lesser Poland Highlands Its highest point is the Mountain of St. Anne .-See also:...
, in the eastern part of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
, within the central portion of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. In administrative terms, Katowice is an urban community
Residential community
A residential community is a community, usually a small town or city, that is composed mostly of residents, as opposed to commercial businesses and/or industrial facilities, all three of which are considered to be the three main types of occupants of the typical community.Residential communities...
in the Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
in south-west Poland. It is central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis — metropolis with the population of 2 millions. It borders the cities of Chorzów
Chorzów
Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
, Siemianowice Śląskie
Siemianowice Slaskie
Siemianowice Śląskie aka Siemianowice ; is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions...
, Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a combined population of over two million people located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river .It is situated in...
, Mysłowice, Lędziny
Ledziny
Lędziny is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It borders the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million which is located in the Silesian Highlands....
, Tychy
Tychy
Tychy is a city in Silesia, Poland, approximately south of Katowice. Situated on the southern edge of the Upper Silesian industrial district, the city borders Katowice to the north, Mikołów to the west, Bieruń to the east and Kobiór to the south...
, Mikołów, Ruda Śląska
Ruda Slaska
Ruda Śląska is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river ....
and Czeladź
Czeladz
Czeladź is a town in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with a population of 2 million. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river ....
. In geographical terms, it lies between the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
and Oder
Oder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
rivers, on the Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands are highlands located in Silesia and Lesser Poland, Poland. It is the part of Lesser Poland Highlands Its highest point is the Mountain of St. Anne .-See also:...
. Several rivers flow through the city, the major two being the Kłodnica and Rawa Rivers. Within 600 km (372.8 mi) of Katowice are the capital cities of six countries: Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
and Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
Climate
The climate of the area is oceanicOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
. The average temperature is 8.2 °Celsius (average -1.5 °C in January and up to average 18 °C (64 °F) in July). Yearly rainfall averages at 608.5 mm (24 in). The area's characteristic weak winds blow at about 2 m/s from the west — Moravian Gate
Moravian Gate
The Moravian Gate is a geomorphological feature in the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. It is formed by the depression between the Carpathian Mountains in the east and the Sudetes in the west...
.
Districts
I. Central-City
II. North-City
III. West-City
|
IV. East-City
V. South-City |
Conurbation
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, numbering at about 2.7 million. This urban expansion boomed in the 19th century thanks to the rapid development of the mining and metallurgical industries. The Katowice urban area
Katowice urban area
The Katowice urban area, also known as the Upper Silesian urban area, is an urban area/conurbation in southern Poland. It is located in the Silesian Voivodeship and in a small part of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The Katowice urban area is the largest urban area in Poland and one of the largest...
consists of about 40 adjacent cities and towns. However, the whole Silesian metropolitan area
Silesian metropolitan area
The Upper Silesian metropolitan area is the metropolitan area in southern Poland and northeast Czech Republic, centered on the cities of Katowice and Ostrava in Silesia...
(mostly within the Upper Silesian Coal Basin) consists of over 50 cities/town. This metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
has a population of 5,294,000.
In 2006, Katowice and 14 adjacent cities united under one municipal organism — the union of cities — Upper Silesian Metropolis. Its population is 2 million and its area is 1,104 km². In 2006-2007, the union planned to unite these cities in one city under the name "Silesia"; however, this proved unsuccessful.
Culture
Theater
- Silesian Theater
- Ateneum Theater
- Korez Theater
- Cogitatur Theater
- Rialto Cinetheater
Cinema
- IMAXIMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
Katowice - Cinema CityCinema City PolandCinema City is a brand of multiplex cinemas in eastern and central Europe, run by the Israeli company Cinema City International . In Europe it has cinemas in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. In Poland Cinema City has almost 40% of the multiplex market, with Multikino its major competitor...
- Punkt rozrywki 44 (13 halls) - Cinema CityCinema City PolandCinema City is a brand of multiplex cinemas in eastern and central Europe, run by the Israeli company Cinema City International . In Europe it has cinemas in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. In Poland Cinema City has almost 40% of the multiplex market, with Multikino its major competitor...
- Silesia City CenterSilesia City CenterSilesia City Center is a shopping mall in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. It was opened in 2005 and is one of the three biggest malls in Poland.Its total area covers a few thousand square metres, of which 65 000 sq metres is a trade zone, 100 000 sq metres is a housing estate and 60 000 sq metres is an...
(13 halls) - Helios Cinema Center (9 halls)
- Światowid Cinema (1 halls)
- Rialto Cinetheater (1 halls)
- Cinematographic Arts Center (2 halls)
Music
- Silesian PhilharmonicSilesian PhilharmonicThe Filharmonia Śląska w Katowicach is a music institution in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. The Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice was founded in 1945. The first concert of the orchestra took place on 26 of May 1945. A mixed choir was added in 1973....
- Silesian Estrade
- Scene GuGalander
- Mega Club
- National Symphonic OrchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
of Polish RadioPolskie RadioPolskie Radio Spółka Akcyjna is Poland's national publicly funded radio broadcasting organization.- History :Polskie Radio was founded on 18 August 1925 and began making regular broadcasts from Warsaw on 18 April 1926....
Museums
- Silesian MuseumSilesian MuseumSilesian Museum is a museum in the city of Katowice, Poland.- History :The museum was founded in 1929 by the Silesian Sejm, while the region was recovering from the Silesian Uprisings. In the interbellum, the Silesian Museum was one of the biggest museums in Poland. The Nazis however brought the...
- History of Katowice Museum
- Muzeum Archidiecezjalne
- Muzeum Misyjne OO. Franciszkanów
- Muzeum Biograficzne P. Stellera
- Muzeum Prawa i Prawników Polskich
- Muzeum Najmniejszych Książek Świata Zygmunta Szkocnego
- Izba Śląska
- Centre of Polish Scenography
- Silesian center of refreshment and culture
Media
- TV stations:
- TVP 3 KatowiceTVP 3 KatowiceTVP Katowice Tower is a 90 meter high reinforced concrete telecommunication tower in Katowice, Poland. It is the property of TP EMITEL, and is not accessible by tourists. It started broadcasdting in 1957. TVP 3 Katowice at 6 October 2007 changed name on TVP KATOWICE- External links :* *...
- TVS (TV Silesia)
- TVN24 - department Katowice (TVN24 - oddział Katowice)
- TVP 3 Katowice
- radio stations:
- Radio Katowice
- Radio Roxy FM
- Radio Planeta
- AntyradioAntyradioAntyradio - a Polish radio network broadcasting all genres of rock music. The current owner of the network is Eurozet.Antyradio started broadcasting on 1 June 2005.Programming*Tomasz Kasprzyk - Kasprologia*Aleksander Ostrowski - Ostry Dyżur...
- Radio Eska
- newspapers:
- Dziennik ZachodniDziennik ZachodniDziennik Zachodni is a regional Polish newspaper distributed in Upper Silesia. Its headquarters is located in the city of Katowice. Established in February 1945 by Stanisław Ziemba, it was initially a state-held daily...
- Gazeta WyborczaGazeta WyborczaGazeta Wyborcza is a leading Polish newspaper. It covers the gamut of political, international and general news. Like all the Polish newspapers, it is printed on compact-sized paper, and is published by the multimedia corporation Agora SA...
- Katowice section - Fakt - Katowice section
- Echo Miasta
- Metro InternationalMetro InternationalMetro International is a Swedish media company based in Luxembourg that publishes the Metro newspapers. Metro International's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 41% since launch of the first newspaper edition in 1995. It is a freesheet, meaning that distribution is...
- Katowice - Nowy Przegląd Katowicki
- Dziennik Zachodni
Festivals and events
- Rawa Blues Festiwal - SpodekSpodekSpodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfanty Street under the name Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997.Aside from...
- MetalmaniaMetalmaniaMetalmania is one of the biggest heavy metal music festivals in Central Europe. It has been held annually since 1986. The 2008 edition was held on the 8th of March at Spodek in Katowice, Poland.-Large stage:*Sepultura*Paradise Lost*Testament...
- SpodekSpodekSpodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfanty Street under the name Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997.Aside from... - Metal Hammer Festival - SpodekSpodekSpodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfanty Street under the name Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997.Aside from...
- Off FestivalOff FestivalOFF Festival is alternative music festival held annually since 2006, sponsored by mBank and Lech, and promoted by one of Poland's national radio stations, Program 3 Polskiego Radia. Until 2009 it was held at Słupna Park in Mysłowice, Poland in August and lasts four days...
- Mayday - SpodekSpodekSpodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfanty Street under the name Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997.Aside from...
- International Competition of Conductors by Fitelberg
- International Festival of Military Orchestras
- International Exhibition of Graphic artsGraphic artsA type of fine art, graphic art covers a broad range of art forms. Graphic art is typically two-dimensional and includes calligraphy, photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, lithography, typography, serigraphy , and bindery. Graphic art also consists of drawn plans and layouts for interior...
"Intergrafia" - The all-Polish Festival of the Director's Art the "Interpretations"
- Ars Cameralis Silesiae Superioris
- Tauron New Music Festival
Art galleries
- Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej BWA Al. Korfantego 6
- Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Parnas ul. Kochanowskiego 10
- Galeria Sztuki Atelier 2 ul. Batorego 2
- Galeria Związku Polskich Artystów Plastyków ul. Dworcowa 13
- Galeria Architektury SARP ul. Dyrekcyjna 9
- Galeria Art-DecoArt DecoArt deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
pl. Andrzeja 4 - Galeria Fra AngelicoFra AngelicoFra Angelico , born Guido di Pietro, was an Early Italian Renaissance painter described by Vasari in his Lives of the Artists as having "a rare and perfect talent"...
ul. Jordana 39 - Galeria Akwarela ul. Mikołowska 26
- Galeria Marmurowa ul. Mikołowska 26
- Galeria Piętro Wyżej
- Galeria Sektor I
- Galeria Szyb Wilson
Parks and squares
- Main parks:
- Silesian culture and refreshment park (Wojewódzki Park Kultury i Wypoczynku)
- Kościuszko ParkKosciuszko ParkThe Kosciuszko Park, which has existed since 1925, is one of the most famous and frequented parks in Katowice, Poland. It is situated at the street of the same name....
(Park im. Tadeusza Kościuszki) - Forest Park of Katowice (Katowicki Park Leśny)
- Valley Three Ponds (Dolina Trzech Stawów)
- Zadole ParkZadole ParkThe Zadole Park which used to be a hamlet of Piotrowice, but now it belongs to Katowice districts of Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union there is a park with an amphitheater for 800 persons, a swimming-pool complex, a cafe and a playground for children and walking alleys...
- Bolina Park
- Janina-Barbara Park
- Szopienice-Borki
- Olympic Participants' Park (Park Olimpijczyków)
- Murckowska Valley
- Square:
- Market square (Rynek w Katowicach)
- Wolność Square (Plac Wolności)
- Andrzej Square (Plac Andrzeja)
- Miarka Square (Plac Miarki)
- Council of Europe Square (Plac Rady Europy)
- Alfred Square (Plac Alfreda)
- A. Budniok Square (Plac A. Brudnioka)
- J. Londzin Square (Plac J. Londzina)
- A. Hlond Square (Plac A. Hlonda)
Nature reserves and ecological areas
- Nature reserve Las Murckowski
- Nature reserve Ochojec
- Szopienice-Borki
- Źródła Kłodnicy
- Staw Grunfeld
- Stawy Na Tysiącleciu
- Płone Bagno
General information
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
and had a ethnic-German majority. Established at the time the buildings are decorated eclectic (mostly Renaissance
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
and Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
) as elements of Art
Elements of art
The Elements of Art are a commonly used group of aspects of a work of art used in teaching and analysis, in combination with the Principles of Art.-Space:...
Nouveau style (secesja). At the end of the nineteenth century the centre of Katowice, was being referred to as a "little Paris", something which may surprise visitors today,
Katowice embodies a mixture of architectural style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
s. Most of the historical buildings were thoroughly reconstructed. However, some of the buildings from the 19th century that had been preserved in reasonably reconstructible form were nonetheless eradicated in the 1950s-1970s. Mass residential blocks were erected, with basic design typical of Eastern bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
countries.
Public space
Public space
A public space is a social space such as a town square that is open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic level. One of the earliest examples of public spaces are commons. For example, no fees or paid tickets are required for entry, nor are the entrants...
s attract heavy investment, so that the city has gained entirely new squares, parks and monuments. Katowice's current urban landscape is one of modern and contemporary architecture
Contemporary architecture
Contemporary architecture is generally speaking the architecture of the present time.The term contemporary architecture is also applied to a range of styles of recently built structures and space which are optimized for current use....
.
Examples of Modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
(International Style
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
and Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
inspired architecture) may be found in the city centre. Central Katowice also contain a significant number of Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
(Secesja) buildings along with the Communist Era giants such as Spodek or Superjednostka.
Katowice's Rynek is the old centre and marketplace of the city. Unfortunately many old buildings were demolished in the 1950s to make space for monumental communist modern buildings. Several streets around the Rynek and the Rynek itself are now closed to traffic and have been made into a shopping promenade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
s.
Regeneration of the Rynek area should start at 2007-2008 and there was an international architectural competition
Architectural design competition
An architectural design competition is a special type of competition in which an organization or government body that plans to build a new building asks for architects to submit a proposed design for a building. The winning design is usually chosen by an independent panel of design professionals...
in 2006 to find the best design.
Tourist attractions
- Market square and adjacent streets: WarszawskaWarszawska Street, KatowiceWarszawska Street in Katowice is a street in the centre of Katowice. The street was building in the 19th century. During World War II street called Friedrichstraße, 1926–1939 Marszałka Piłsudskiego .- References :...
, Teatralna, Dyrekcyjna, Staromiejska, Dworcowa, św. Jana, Pocztowa, Wawelska, 3 Maja, Stawowa, Mielęckiego, Starowiejska and Mickiewicza, the so-called "Great Market Square of Katowice" or "Old town of Katowice" — a lot of historic (monumentMonumentA monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
) buildings. This is a group of functional-architectural. On the market square and most of the above-mentioned streets are prohibitions or restrictions on cars. Streets: Staromiejska, Dyrekcyjna, Wawelska, Stawowa and WarszawskaWarszawska Street, KatowiceWarszawska Street in Katowice is a street in the centre of Katowice. The street was building in the 19th century. During World War II street called Friedrichstraße, 1926–1939 Marszałka Piłsudskiego .- References :...
is lined decorative cobblestoneCobblestoneCobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
creating a the pedestrian zone. The authority plans to Katowice — Quarter streets: św. Jana, Dworcowa, Mariacka, Mielęckiego, Stanisława and Starowiejska is to become so "small market square".
- NikiszowiecNikiszowiecNikiszowiec a part of an administrative district Janów-Nikiszowiec of Katowice city.Initially it was coal miners' settlement of Giesche mine built on the land of Gieschewald manor between 1908–1918 on the mining – metallurgical concern initiative Georg von Giesches Erben.On 9 May...
- historical settlement of Katowice, candidate to UNESCO
- Cathedral in KatowiceCathedral of Christ the King, KatowiceArchikatedra Chrystusa Króla w Katowicach is a classicist archcathedral in Katowice-Śródmieście, Katowice, Poland. Constructed between 1927 and 1955, the Archcathedral of Christ the King is the largest archcathedral in Poland....
- St. Mary's Church, Katowice, built in the years 1862-1870
- Church of the Resurrection in Katowice, Evangelical-Augsburg, built in the years 1856-1858
- Church of St. Michael Archangel, the oldest church in the city, built in 1510
- Drapacz ChmurDrapacz ChmurDrapacz Chmur is a historical building in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. It was the first skyscraper built in post-World War I Poland. Finished in 1934 after five years of construction, it made pioneering Polish use of steel frame construction...
, one of the first skyscrapers in Europe
- Silesian ParliamentSilesian ParliamentSilesian Parliament or Silesian Sejm was the governing body of the Silesian Voivodeship , an autonomous voivodeship of the Second Polish Republic between 1920 and 1945. It was elected in democratic elections and had certain influence over the usage of taxes collected in Silesia...
, built in the years 1925-1929. For a very long time it was the biggest structure in Poland
- Modernist Old-Town
- SpodekSpodekSpodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfanty Street under the name Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997.Aside from...
is a large sports centre/concert hall, whose name translates as the 'saucer', from its distinctive shape resembling a UFO flying saucerUnidentified flying objectA term originally coined by the military, an unidentified flying object is an unusual apparent anomaly in the sky that is not readily identifiable to the observer as any known object...
- Silesian Insurgents MonumentSilesian Insurgents MonumentThe Silesian Insurgents' Monument in Katowice, southern Poland, is a monument to those who took part in the three Silesian Uprisings of 1919, 1920 and 1921, which aimed to make the region of Upper Silesia part of the newly independent Polish state. The monument was unveiled on 1 September 1967,...
(Polish: Pomnik Powstańców Śląskich), the largest and heaviest monument in Poland. It is a harmonious combination of architecture and sculpture with appropriate symbolism: the wings symbolize the three Silesian Uprisings 1919 - 1920 - 1921 while the names of places that were battlefields are etched on the vertical slopes. The monument, which was funded by the people of Warsaw for Upper Silesia, is considered Katowice's landmark. - Silesian Theater, built in 1907
- Rialto Cinetheater, built in 1912
- Silesian MuseumSilesian MuseumSilesian Museum is a museum in the city of Katowice, Poland.- History :The museum was founded in 1929 by the Silesian Sejm, while the region was recovering from the Silesian Uprisings. In the interbellum, the Silesian Museum was one of the biggest museums in Poland. The Nazis however brought the...
, built in 1899 - Old train station in Katowice, built in 1906
- The Goldstein PalaceGoldstein PalaceThe Pałac Goldsteinów or Goldstein Palace is neo-renaissance palace, which was built by two brothers, Abraham and Joseph Goldstein. It is located in Katowice, Silesia, Poland, at the west end of the city centre, at ....
- The Załęże Palace
- Parachute Tower KatowiceParachute Tower KatowiceParachute Tower Katowice is a 50 meter tall lattice parachute tower built in 1937 for training parachute jumps. It was used in the first days of World War II by the 73rd infantry regiment as an observation tower....
- 50 m (164 ft) tall lattice parachute tower built in 1937 for training parachute jumps. It was used in the first days of World War II. Parachute Tower Katowice is the only existing parachute tower in Poland.
Other:
- Franciscan Monastery in Panewniki
- Church of St. Joseph in Katowice (Załęże)
- St. Stephen's ChurchSt. Stephen's Church (Katowice)The Kościół św. Szczepana or Saint Stephen's Church is a church in Katowice, Silesian Voivodship, Poland. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen and located at on Leopold Markiefki street....
- Church of Christ Resurrection in Katowice
- The Monument to Marshal Piłsudski by Croatian sculptor Antun AugustinčićAntun AugustincicAntun Augustinčić was a prominent Croatian sculptor. Along with Ivan Meštrović and Frano Kršinić he is considered one of the three most important Croatian sculptors of the 20th century...
, 1937-39. It was commissioned in 1936 but brought to Poland in 1991 - Monopol Hotel in Katowice
- Katowice RondoJerzy Zietek RondoThe Rondo Generała Jerzego Ziętka in Katowice is the roundabout in the center of the city, in the Silesian Voivodship in southern Poland. On that main traffic circle, the Aleja Korfantego and the road 79, part of the Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa, meet....
- is the large squareTown squareA town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
/roundaboutRoundaboutA roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
, which was reconstructed recently, featuring the semi circular Galeria Rondo Sztuki in the centre. - The Altus SkyscraperAltus SkyscraperAltus is a skyscraper in Katowice, Silesia, Poland.The construction started in 2001 and finished in 2003. The building is 125 m high and rises 30 floors above ground. Total floor area is 68,815 m², and volume is 270,430 m³. The building surrounds a four-story atrium...
, tallest City skyscraper
Industry
Ferrous
Ferrous , in chemistry, indicates a divalent iron compound , as opposed to ferric, which indicates a trivalent iron compound ....
(Huta Metali Nieżelaznych Szopienice).
Business and commerce
Katowice is also a large business and trade fairTrade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
center. Every year in Katowice International Fair
Katowice International Fair
Katowice International Fair is an international trade fair in Katowice and one of the largest in Poland...
and Spodek
Spodek
Spodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfanty Street under the name Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997.Aside from...
, tens of international trade fairs are organized. Katowice has the second largest business centre in Poland (after Warsaw Business Centre). Skyscrapers stand along Chorzowska, Korfantego and Roździeńskiego street in the centre of the city. The newest office buildings (A-class) in Katowice are the Chorzowska 50, Altus Skyscraper
Altus Skyscraper
Altus is a skyscraper in Katowice, Silesia, Poland.The construction started in 2001 and finished in 2003. The building is 125 m high and rises 30 floors above ground. Total floor area is 68,815 m², and volume is 270,430 m³. The building surrounds a four-story atrium...
and Silesia Towers (under construction).
General
Katowice is the seat of Katowice Special Economic ZoneSpecial Economic Zone
A Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic and other laws that are more free-market-oriented than a country's typical or national laws...
(Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna).
The unemployment rate
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
in Katowice is one of the lowest in Poland, at 2% (2008), according to the official figures. The city is still characterized by its working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
strength and thus attracts many people seeking jobs from neighbouring cities (other districts USMU.
The average monthly salary in Katowice is the highest in Poland — about 4222,52 zł ($~1,220), in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
it's about 4135,93 zł ($~1,200).
Education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
, at which over 100,000 persons study.
- University of SilesiaUniversity of SilesiaThe University of Silesia in Katowice is an autonomous state university in Silesia Province, Poland.The University of Silesia should not be confused with a similarly named university in Opava, Czech Republic ....
- Krzysztof Kieślowski Faculty of Radio and Television, also named Katowice Film SchoolKatowice Film SchoolThe Katowice Film School is publicly funded film school in Katowice, Silesia Province, Poland. WRiTV belongs to University of Silesia as Krzysztof Kieślowski Faculty of Radio and Television .-History:The Krzysztof Kieślowski Faculty of Radio and Television was set up in 1978...
or Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice - Faculty of Earth ScienceEarth scienceEarth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
- Faculty of ComputerComputer scienceComputer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and Materials ScienceMaterials scienceMaterials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates... - Faculty of PhilologyPhilologyPhilology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
- Faculty of MathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
PhysicsPhysicsPhysics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and ChemistryChemistryChemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds.... - Faculty of LawLawLaw is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and AdministrationAdministration (government)The term administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction.-United States:In United States usage, the term refers to the executive branch under a specific president , for example: the "Barack Obama administration." It can also mean an executive branch agency... - Faculty of BiologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental protectionEnvironmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently... - Faculty of Social SciencesSocial sciencesSocial science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
- Faculty of Pedagogics & PsychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
- Faculty of TheologyTheologyTheology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
- Faculty of ArtArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
- Faculty of EthnologyEthnologyEthnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
and Sciences of EducationEducational researchEducational research refers to a variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of education including but not limited to: “student learning, teaching methods, teacher training, and classroom dynamics”....
- Krzysztof Kieślowski Faculty of Radio and Television, also named Katowice Film School
- University of Economics in KatowiceUniversity of Economics in KatowiceThe University of Economics in Katowice , is the only state university specializing in Economics and Business studies in the region. It has an annual enrollment about 13,500 students, and has 480 teachers. It was founded in 1937 as the College of Social and Economic Sciences, closing because of...
- University of Music in KatowiceUniversity of Music in KatowiceUniversity of Music in Katowice is one of the leading musical schools in Poland. It is located in Katowice, Silesia...
- University of Sports in Katowice
- Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice
- Medical University of SilesiaMedical University of SilesiaThe Medical University of Silesia is located in Katowice, Poland. Established on March 20, 1948, it is reportedly the largest Medical school in Poland....
- Silesian University of TechnologySilesian University of TechnologySilesian University of Technology is a university located in Gliwice, Silesia, Poland. It was founded in 1945 by Polish professors of the Lwow Polytechnic, who were forced to leave their native city and move to the Recovered Territories .The Silesian University of Technology has 12...
- Faculty of Materials ScienceMaterials scienceMaterials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
and Metallurgy and Transport - Polish Academy of SciencesPolish Academy of SciencesThe Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
- International Higher School of Political SciencesPolitical sciencePolitical Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in Katowice - International Higher School of Banking and Finances in Katowice
- Silesian International BusinessInternational BusinessInternational business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...
Higher School in Katowice - Silesian Higher School of Computer science in Katowice
- Silesian Higher School of Management in Katowice
- Uppersilesian Higher School of Trade in Katowice
- Higher School of Banking and Finances in Katowice
- Higher School of Humanistic Science in Katowice
- Higher School of Technical Science in Katowice
- Higher School of Computer Technologies in Katowice
- Higher School the Pedagogical TWP in Warsaw, the Institute of Pedagogy in Katowice
- Higher School of Social SkillsSocial skillsA social skill is any skill facilitating interaction and communication with others. Social rules and relations are created, communicated, and changed in verbal and nonverbal ways. The process of learning such skills is called socialization...
in Poznań (department in Katowice) - Higher School of Humanistic - Economic in Łódź (department in Katowice)
- Higher School of Marketing ManagementMarketing managementMarketing management is a business discipline which is focused on the practical application of marketing techniques and the management of a firm's marketing resources and activities...
and Foreign LanguagesForeign languageA foreign language is a language indigenous to another country. It is also a language not spoken in the native country of the person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in Japan can say that Japanese is a foreign language to him or her...
in Katowice - Higher School of Management the Protection of Work in Katowice
- Silesian Higher Clerical Seminar in Katowice
- Theological Seminar of FranciscanFranciscanMost Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s in Katowice Panewniki - Private Teacher's College of Foreign Languages in Katowice
- Private Teacher's Board of Foreign Languages in Bielsko (department in Katowice)
There are also:
- around 80 high schoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s - around 35 gimnasiaGymnasium (school)A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
- around 55 primary schools
- around 50 librariesLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, including the Silesian LibrarySilesian LibrarySilesian Library , is one of the most modern libraries in Poland, and is located in the south-western city of Katowice, Silesia.-External links:*...
Public transport
Transport network
A transport network, or transportation network in American English, is typically a network of roads, streets, pipes, aqueducts, power lines, or nearly any structure which permits either vehicular movement or flow of some commodity....
of the Katowice and Upper Silesian Metropolis consists of four branches — bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s united in the KZK GOP and furthermore the regional rail
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
. Additional services are operated by private companies and the state-owned railways.
Trams
Silesian Interurbans
Silesian Interurbans
Silesian Interurbans - one of the largest tram systems in the world has been in existence since 1894. The system is spread over more than 50 kilometres and covers thirteen towns in the Upper Silesia metropolitan area and their suburbs Silesian Interurbans - one of the largest tram (streetcar)...
- one of the largest tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
systems in the World, in existence since 1894. The system spreads for more than 50 kilometres (east-west) and covers 14 districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolis.
Buses
Roads
- European route E40European route E40European route E 40 is the longest European route, more than long, connecting Calais in France via Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with Ridder in Kazakhstan near the border to China....
(France - Belgium - Germany - Poland - UkraineUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
- Russia - UzbekistanUzbekistanUzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
- KazakhstanKazakhstanKazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
) - European route E75European route E75European route E 75 is part of the International E-road network, which is a series of main roads in Europe.The E 75 starts from Vardø, Norway in the Barents Sea and runs south through Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Republic of Macedonia to Sitia, Greece on...
(VardøVardøis a town and a municipality in Finnmark county in the extreme northeast part of Norway.Vardø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The law required that all cities should be separated from their rural districts, but because of a low population and very few voters, this was...
, NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
- FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
- PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
- SlovakiaSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
- HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
- SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
- MacedoniaRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
- CreteCreteCrete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) - European route E462 (Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
- Poland) - Motorway A4 (German/Polish border – Wrocław – Katowice – KrakówKrakówKraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
– RzeszówRzeszówRzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
– Polish/UkrainianUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
border) - National road 79
- National road 81
- National road 86
Several important roads in neighbourhoods of Katowice (USMU
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
The Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia or Upper Silesia Metroplex, Silesia Metroplex / Silesia Metroplex is a union of 14 adjacent cities in the Polish province of Silesia....
):
- Motorway A1 (GdańskGdanskGdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
– ToruńTorunToruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
– Łódź – GliwiceGliwiceGliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
– PolishPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
/CzechCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
border) - Expressway S1Expressway S1 (Poland)Expressway S1 or express road S1 is an expressway under construction in Poland with a planned length of , which is located in the Silesian and Lesser Poland voivodeships. It is connecting A1 motorway with A4 motorway and the border of the Czech Republic in Cieszyn-Boguszowice along with the...
- National road 11
- National road 44
- National road 78
- National road 88
- National road 94
Airports
The city and the area is served by the Katowice International AirportKatowice International Airport
Katowice International Airport is an international airport, located in Pyrzowice, north of center of Katowice, Poland. The airport has third biggest passenger flow in Poland....
, located about 30 km (18.6 mi) from the center of Katowice. With over 20 international and domestic flights daily, it is by far the biggest airport in Silesia (~2,5 million passengers served in 2008; 2 terminals: A and B).
Because of the long commute to the airport, there is a proposal to convert the much nearer sport aviation-serving Katowice-Muchowiec Airport
Katowice-Muchowiec Airport
Katowice-Muchowiec Airport is a general aviation airport in the Muchowiec neighborhood of Katowice, Poland.It has one inoperative concrete runway, RWY 05/23 with the dimensions of 1109 x 30 metres . There is a displaced threshold length of 221 meters on both RWY 05 and RWY 23, yielding a...
into a so-called city airport, a second international airport for smaller, business-oriented traffic.
Railways
Standard gauge railwayThe first railroad reached this area in 1846 (the Upper Silesia Railway, in Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
: Kolej Górnośląska; in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Oberschlesische Eisenbahn). Nowadays Katowice is one of the main railway nodes and exchange points in Silesia and in Poland. The Polskie Koleje Państwowe
Polish State Railways
is the dominant railway operator in Poland.The company was founded when the former state-owned operator was divided into several units based on the requirements laid down by the European Union...
(Polish State-Owned Railways) in the area of the proposed union constitute one of the main transport hubs in Poland (the most important one being Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
).
The main railroad station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
is Katowice Central Station
Katowice Central Station
Katowice railway station is a railway station in Katowice, Silesia, Poland and is the biggest and most important railway station in the Górnośląski Okręg Przemysłowy area. Both the domestic and the international connections run from there to almost every major city in Poland and Europe. The...
which has recently been demolished. A new station is currently under construction. Both the domestic and the international connections run from there to almost every major city in Poland and Europe.
Narrow gauge railway
Sports facilities
National stadium
Many countries have a national football stadium, which typically serves as the primary or exclusive home for one or more of a country's national representative sports teams. The term is most often used in reference to an association football stadium. Usually, a national stadium will be in or very...
of Poland, more than 50 international matches of Poland national football team
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
were played here as well as around 30 matches of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competitions. There were also a Speedway World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
, Speedway Grand Prix of Europe
Speedway Grand Prix of Europe
The Speedway Grand Prix of Europe is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.-Winners:-See also:* List of Speedway Grand Prix riders...
and a number many concerts featuring international stars.
There are many sports centers in the city as well. Most of these facilities are swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
s and sports halls, mostly built by the municipality in the past several years.
Katowice is a city where you can enjoy active leisure as well. Tourists can relax playing tennis or squash, doing water sports also sailing (for example — in Dolina Trzech Stawów), horse-riding (in Wesoła Fala and Silesian culture and refreshment park), cycling or going to one of numerous excellently equipped fitness clubs. Near the city center are sporting facilities like swimming pools (for example "Bugla", "Rolna") and in neighbourhood — golf courses
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
(in Siemianowice Śląskie
Siemianowice Slaskie
Siemianowice Śląskie aka Siemianowice ; is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions...
).
Sports clubs
- GKS KatowiceGKS KatowiceGKS Katowice is a Polish football club based in Katowice, Poland. The club currently plays in the Polish First League.-History:In 1963 in Katowice a special organizational committee was called with the purpose of uniting all the clubs and sporting organizations of city into one large club which...
- men's footballFootball in PolandFootball is the most popular sport in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally. The first professional clubs were founded in the early 1900s, and the Polish national football team played its first international match in 1921.There are hundreds of...
, (Polish CupPolish CupThe Polish Cup in football or officially Remes Puchar Polski, is an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs, held continuously from 1950, and is the second most important national title in Polish football after the Ekstraklasa title...
winner: 1986, 1991, 1993; Polish SuperCupPolish SuperCupThe Polish SuperCup in football is an annually held match between the champion of the Ekstraklasa and the Polish Cup winner. To this date the Polish SuperCup has been played out 21 times with the Polish Cup winner taking the trophy 13 times, while the Ekstraklasa champions had won the trophy 8 times...
winner: 1991, 1995; 1st league in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 seasons). ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team Champion :1958,1960,1962 Gòrnik Katowice / GKS 1965,1968,1970. - 1. FC Kattowitz - football club, vice-champion of Poland: 1927; champion of Upper Silesia: 1907, 1908, 1909, 1913, 1922, 1932, 1945
- AZS AWF KatowiceAZS AWF KatowiceAZS AWF Katowice is a Polish women's handball team, based in Katowice, playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League .-2004/2005 season:...
- various sports, women's handballHandball in PolandHandball is a popular team sport in Poland.* Polish Seria A Handball League* Polish Seria B Handball League* Polish Seria A Women's Handball League* Polish Seria B Women's Handball League* Polish Cup in men handball* Polish Cup in women handball...
team playing in Polish Women's Handball SuperleaguePolish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League-History:* 1939 - Znicz Łódź* 1946 - Zryw Łódź* 1947 - Zryw Łódź* 1948 - SKS Warszawa* 1949 - Unia Łódź* 1950 - Spójnia Warszawa* 1951 - Unia Łódź* 1952 - Unia Łódź* 1953 - not held* 1954 - not held* 1955 - Stal Chorzów* 1956 - Stal Chorzów...
, men's basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team playing in Second league, fencing section - a lot of medals in the Polish Championship - Naprzód JanówNaprzód JanówNaprzód Janów is an ice hockey team in Katowice, Poland. They participate in the Polska Liga Hokejowa.The team was founded as Górnik Janów in 1920. In 1962, they were re-named their present name, Naprzód Janów....
Katowice - hockey club playing in Polish Hockey Superleague, vice-champion of Poland (5x): 1971, 1973, 1977, 1989, 1992; bronze medal (7x): 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1987; Polish Cup (1x): 1970. - AZS US Katowice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship in various sports
- HKS Szopienice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish and Europe and World Championship in weightlifting
- Silesia MinersSilesia MinersThe Silesia Miners are an American football team in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. They play in the Polish American Football League.-History:The team was founded in April 2006. In 2009 they won the final of the Polish American Football League against The Crew Wrocław...
- American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
club playing in Polish American Football LeaguePolish American Football LeagueThe Polish American Football League or shortly PLFA is a structured system for the american football competitions in Poland founded in 2006 by Polish federation PZFA. Since 2008 season, PLFA is divided into two leagues between which there is promotion and relegation...
, Polish champion in 2009, vice-champion in 2007 - Jango Katowice - futsalFutsalFutsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
club playing in Polish Futsal Superleague; Polish Cup (1x): 2007; bronze medal Polish Championship (2x): 2001, 2007 - Rozwój Katowice - football club playing in Polish Third LeaguePolish Third LeagueIII Liga is a Polish football league that sits at the 4th tier of the Polish football league system. Until the end of the 2007–08 season III Liga referred to a league at the 3rd tier, although this changed with the formation of the Ekstraklasa as the top level league in Poland...
- MK Katowice - football club playing in Polish Fourth LeaguePolish Fourth LeaguePolish Fourth League lies at the 5th level of the Polish football league system. The clubs can be promoted from it to the III Liga or relegated to the Polish Fifth League. There are many of groups of the League. The League has a regional character....
- Hetman Szopienice - chess club, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship
- Sparta Katowice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship in various sports
- Policyjny Klub Sportowy Katowice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship in various sports
- AWF Mickiewicz Katowice - basketball club
- Silesian Flying ClubFlying clubA flying club or aero club is a not for profit, member run organization that provides its members with affordable access to aircraft.Many clubs also provide flight training, flight planning facilities, pilot supplies and associated services, as well as organizing social functions, fly-ins and...
(Aeroklub Śląski)
Defunct sports clubs:
- Diana KattowitzDiana KattowitzSC Diana Kattowitz was an ethnically German association football club playing in what was Kattowitz, Upper Silesia in Germany during the inter-war period. Established 13 February 1905, it was one of a small number of clubs that made up the Kattowitzer Ballspiel-Verband alongside Preussen Kattowitz...
- football club - Germania KattowitzGermania KattowitzGermania Kattowitz was an ethnically German association football club playing in what was Kattowitz, Upper Silesia in Germany before the First World War and shortly afterwards. It was one of a small number of clubs that made up the Kattowitzer Ballspiel-Verband alongside Preussen Kattowitz and...
- football club - KS Baildon Katowice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship in various sports
- Pogoń Katowice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship in various sports
Sports events
- FIVB World League 2001FIVB World League 2001The FIVB World League 2001 was a volleyball tournament played by 16 countries from May 11 to June 30, 2001. The Final Round was held in Katowice, Poland.-Competing nations:The following national teams have been invited:-Pool A:-Pool B:-Pool C:...
- FIVB World League 2007FIVB World League 2007The FIVB World League 2007 was an international men's volleyball tournament played by 16 countries from May 25 to July 15, 2007. This is the second time that the FIVB World League Final Round has been hosted in Poland.-Pools composition:...
- Eurobasket 2009EuroBasket 2009The EuroBasket 2009 was the 36th EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Poland, began on 7 September 2009 and concluded with the final on 20 September 2009...
- Tour de Pologne 2010
Notable residents
- Hans SachsHans Sachs (serologist)Hans Sachs , was a German serologist.-Education:Sachs studied at the universities of Freiburg, Wrocław and Berlin. In 1900, he received his doctorate from the University of Leipzig. From 1905, he taught and conducted research at the University of Frankfurt...
(1877–1945), serologist - Kurt GoldsteinKurt GoldsteinKurt Goldstein was a German Jewish neurologist and psychiatrist who was a pioneer in modern neuropsychology. He created a holistic theory of the organism based on Gestalt theory which deeply influenced the development of Gestalt therapy...
(1878–1965), neurologist - Franz Leopold NeumannFranz Leopold NeumannFranz Leopold Neumann was a German-Jewish left-wing political activist, Marxist theorist and labor lawyer, who became a political scientist in exile and is best known for his theoretical analyses of National Socialism. He studied in Germany and the United Kingdom, and spent the last phase of...
(1900–1954), politician - Hans BellmerHans BellmerHans Bellmer was a German artist, best known for the life-sized pubescent female dolls he produced in the mid-1930s. Historians of art and photography also consider him a Surrealist photographer.-Biography:...
(1902–1975), surrealist photographer - Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1906–1972), physicist
- Chaskel BesserChaskel BesserChaskel Besser was a well known Orthodox rabbi for much of the 20th and early 21st century, living in Manhattan, New York. He was born in Katowice, Poland and lived there until the dual Nazi and Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939. He was affiliated with Congregation B'nei Israel in New York...
(born 1923), Orthodox rabbiRabbiIn Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah... - Kazimierz KutzKazimierz KutzKazimierz Julian Kutz is a Polish film director, author, journalist and politician, one of the representatives of the Polish Film School and a deputy speaker of the Senate of Poland.- Biography :...
(born 1929), film directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and politician - Wojciech KilarWojciech KilarWojciech Kilar ; b. 17 July 1932 in Lwów, Poland) is a Polish classical and film music composer.-Biography:Wojciech Kilar is one of Poland’s esteemed composers. Born in 1932 in Lwów . His father was a gynecologist and his mother was a theater actress...
(born 1932), classical and film musicFilm scoreA film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
composer - Henryk GóreckiHenryk GóreckiHenryk Mikołaj Górecki was a composer of contemporary classical music. He studied at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice between 1955 and 1960. In 1968, he joined the faculty and rose to provost before resigning in 1979. Górecki became a leading figure of the Polish avant-garde during...
(1933–2010), classical composer - Henryk BroderHenryk BroderHenryk Modest Broder is a Polish born German journalist and author.Broder is known for polemics, columns and comments in written and oral media. Broder wrote for the magazine Der Spiegel as well as its online version and the daily Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. Since 2010 he writes for Die Welt...
(born 1946), journalist - Jerzy KukuczkaJerzy KukuczkaJerzy Kukuczka , born in Katowice, Poland, was a Polish alpine and high-altitude climber. On 18 September 1987, he became the second man, after Reinhold Messner, to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders in the world....
(1948–1989), alpine and high altitude climber - Alexander Ulfig (born 1962), philosopher and sociologist
Twin towns — Sister cities
Katowice is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
| Cologne Cologne Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... Groningen, Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... Miskolc Miskolc Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located... , Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
Mobile Mobile, Alabama Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest... , Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Odense Odense The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen... , Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... Ostrava Ostrava Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the... , Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... |
Saint-Étienne Saint-Étienne Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... Saint Francis, Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Shenyang Shenyang Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu... , China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |