Top City Breaks
2012 Special Events
Vienna Philharmonic Sea & Music Cruise - July 2012
London Olympics 2012
For ticket information please click here.
Located in the heart of stunning Silesia on the banks of the
river Rawa, Katowice is the largest city in this region, its
historical importance generated by its status as Poland's main
industrial centre. However, nowadays the metropolis is renowned for
its rich cultural life with theatres, the Silesian Philharmonic,
the Silesian Museum and the famous concert hall, the 'Spodek'.
Interesting relics, impressive architecture dating from the
14th and 16th century with unique art nouveau
objects, neo-baroque and Neo-Gothic buildings alongside modern
infrastructure make this place a superb holiday destination in
Eastern Europe. Katowice also provides several wonderful nature
reserves, forests and woodlands as well as outstanding access to
the beautiful Beskidy Mountains and other Silesian Cities which you
can easily explore on foot or by bike.
All images © Foto Polska
If you are up to some serious shopping, the best place to go is the extraordinary Silesia City Centre, with some great shops and smaller boutiques all located in one gigantic mall, displaying interesting and independent brands and enterprises.
Other than that, there are further opportunities to purchase some brilliant bargains, mostly to be found in the area north of the train station.
Ars Vivendi: This place is located directly on the great market square and is highly recommended by both locals and tourists. The grand pub has a lot on offer, from traditional hearty food to national drinks such as strong Polish beer and vodka.
City downtown: When you arrive in this area, you will be fascinated by some fine examples of International Style and Bauhaus inspired architecture, Art Nouveau and buildings dating from the Communist Era.
St. Michel Archangel: This complex of wooden churches in the Kosciuszko Park is worth a visit, as it is unique to the rest of the world and gives away some great information on the city's religious history, as it is the oldest church in the city, built in 1510.
Assumption of Mary Panewniki: Go and see this church and its adjacent cloister of the Franciscan brothers under the invocation of Ludvig the King.
There are numerous interesting museums throughout town, such as the Museum of History of Katowice, the Silesian Museum or the Archidiocesan Museum
Check out 'Mickiewicza', the marvelous market square in the middle of the pedestrian area and its surrounding cobblestoned streets, where you will also find a number of imposing historic monuments and buildings.
Nikiszowiec is the historical settlement of Katowice. Its cathedral is candidate to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Don't miss Katowice's landmark; the Silesian Insurgents Monument, which is known to be the country's largest and most enormous monument. It represents a delightful combination of architecture and sculptures, with a great deal of symbolism.
Parachute Tower Katowice: This 160 ft tall lattice parachute tower was built in 1937 for training parachute jumps. It was used in the first days of World War II.