Katowice – the heart of Silesia

Katowice is the most important city in Silesia, here the region is most vibrant with cultural, social and political life. Katowice got its municipal rights in 1885 and already at that time it was an industrial city. Industrial traces you can discover even in the city centre, where till 2001 “Katowice Coal Mine” was active. On the spot of the coal mine were built „The National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra”, “The International Congress Centre “ and “The Silesian Museum”. Near to the characteristic glass buildings of the museum there is a mining shaft “Warsaw II”.

Currently, the building serves as an observation tower. We will continue our walk passing by the city's flagship, i.e. "Spodek" to the "Monument of the Silesian Insurgents". Then along Wojciech Korfanty Avenue we will get to the main square. The guide will pay your attention to the magnificent tenement houses from the 19^th century, one of them will be for sure the tenement house “Under the shoe” at 3 Maya Street. Freedom Square is surrounded among others by neo-renaissance “Goldstein Palace” and equally historic “Garden Villa”. “The house of the Silesian insurgent” is associated with the history of resistance in September 1939. Our walk will come to an end at Mariacka Street. It’s an ideal spot for relax in numerous restaurants and cafes with the view on “St. Mary's Church”.