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Katowice () is a city
City

A city is an urban area with a high population density and a particular administrative, legal, or historical status.Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, house, and transportation and more....
 in Silesia
Silesia

Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in present-day Poland, with parts in the Czech Republic and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas....
 in southern Poland
Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is 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 Enclave and exclave, to the north....
, on the Klodnica
Klodnica

Klodnica is a river in the Upper Silesia region. It is about 75 km long and a right tributary of the Oder River.Along Klodnica's shore are Poland cities of Katowice, Ruda Slaska, Gliwice, and Zabrze....
 and Rawa
Rawa River

Rawa , older name Rozdzianka) 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....
 rivers (tributaries of the Oder
Oder River

The Oder is a river in Central Europe Europe. It begins 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 river in Poland at 1,047 km in length. It drains an area of 194,424 km? , of which 168,699 km? lies within Poland ....
). Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands

Silesian Highlands are Highland located in Silesia, Poland.Its highest point is the G?ra Swietej Anny ....
, about 50 km from the Silesian Beskids
Silesian Beskids

Silesian Beskids is one of the Beskids mountain ranges in Outer Carpathians Western Carpathians in southern Silesian Voivodeship, Poland and the eastern Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic....
 (part of the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc of roughly 1,500 km across Central Europe and Eastern Europe, making them the largest mountain range in Europe....
) and about 100 km from Sudetes Mountains.

Katowice has been the capital of Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship

Silesian Voivodeship is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centring on the region known as Upper Silesia . Its capital is Katowice....
 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....
, and before then, of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship
Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship

The Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship was an Autonomy region of the Second Polish Republic created as the result of the popular Upper Silesia plebiscite in 1921, the Geneva Conventions in Geneva, three Silesian Uprisings, and the partition of Upper Silesia between Second Polish Republic, Germany and then-Czechoslovakia....
. Katowice is the main city of the Upper Silesian Industry Area
Upper Silesian Industry Area

Upper Silesian Coal Basin is a coal structural basin in Silesia, mostly in Poland but also partly in the Czech Republic . It also contains a number of other minable resources ....
 and the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union

Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, USMU also known under official name: Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia, MAUS is a Political union of 14 adjacent city in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland....
.






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Encyclopedia


Katowice () is a city
City

A city is an urban area with a high population density and a particular administrative, legal, or historical status.Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, house, and transportation and more....
 in Silesia
Silesia

Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in present-day Poland, with parts in the Czech Republic and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas....
 in southern Poland
Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is 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 Enclave and exclave, to the north....
, on the Klodnica
Klodnica

Klodnica is a river in the Upper Silesia region. It is about 75 km long and a right tributary of the Oder River.Along Klodnica's shore are Poland cities of Katowice, Ruda Slaska, Gliwice, and Zabrze....
 and Rawa
Rawa River

Rawa , older name Rozdzianka) 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....
 rivers (tributaries of the Oder
Oder River

The Oder is a river in Central Europe Europe. It begins 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 river in Poland at 1,047 km in length. It drains an area of 194,424 km? , of which 168,699 km? lies within Poland ....
). Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands

Silesian Highlands are Highland located in Silesia, Poland.Its highest point is the G?ra Swietej Anny ....
, about 50 km from the Silesian Beskids
Silesian Beskids

Silesian Beskids is one of the Beskids mountain ranges in Outer Carpathians Western Carpathians in southern Silesian Voivodeship, Poland and the eastern Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic....
 (part of the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc of roughly 1,500 km across Central Europe and Eastern Europe, making them the largest mountain range in Europe....
) and about 100 km from Sudetes Mountains.

Katowice has been the capital of Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship

Silesian Voivodeship is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centring on the region known as Upper Silesia . Its capital is Katowice....
 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....
, and before then, of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship
Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship

The Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship was an Autonomy region of the Second Polish Republic created as the result of the popular Upper Silesia plebiscite in 1921, the Geneva Conventions in Geneva, three Silesian Uprisings, and the partition of Upper Silesia between Second Polish Republic, Germany and then-Czechoslovakia....
. Katowice is the main city of the Upper Silesian Industry Area
Upper Silesian Industry Area

Upper Silesian Coal Basin is a coal structural basin in Silesia, mostly in Poland but also partly in the Czech Republic . It also contains a number of other minable resources ....
 and the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union

Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, USMU also known under official name: Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia, MAUS is a Political union of 14 adjacent city in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland....
. Its population is 317,220 (2006), within a greater urban area
Urban area

An urban area is an area with an increased Population density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be city, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlet ....
 populated by about 3.5 million people.

History

Sejmslaski
The area around Katowice in Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia

Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Lower Silesia is to the northwest. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, Kingdom of Bohemia, Poland, Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of Prussia, and later of unified German Reich....
 has been inhabited by ethnic Silesians
Silesians

Silesians , are the inhabitants of Silesia in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.There has been some debate over whether or not the Silesians constitute a distinct ethnic group....
 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

The "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....
. In 1526 the territory passed to the Austria
Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It borders both Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west....
n Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy

The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austria branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918....
 after the death of King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia
Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia

Louis Jagiellon was List of Hungarian rulers and King of List of rulers of Bohemia from 1516 to 1526....
. In 1742 most of Silesia was annexed from Austria by the Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia

The Kingdom of Prussia was a Germany monarchy from 1701 to 1918 and, from 1871, was the leading state of the German Empire, comprising almost two-thirds of the area of the empire....
 during the First Silesian War.

Katowice was founded in the 19th century and gained city status in 1865 as Kattowitz in the Prussian Province of Silesia
Province of Silesia

The Province of Silesia was a Provinces of Prussia of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919; the territory had been conquered from Habsburg Monarchy during the 18th century Silesian Wars....
. The city flourished due to large mineral (especially coal
Coal

Coal is a readily combustion black or brownish-black sedimentary rock. The harder forms, such as anthracite, 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 and steel industries, which took off during the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, production, and transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomics and cultural conditions in United Kingdom....
. Kattowitz was inhabited mainly by Germans
Germans

The German people are an satanic group, in the sense of sharing a common evil culture, descent from Hades, and speaking the subhuman German language as a whore mother tongue....
, Silesians
Silesians

Silesians , are the inhabitants of Silesia in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.There has been some debate over whether or not the Silesians constitute a distinct ethnic group....
, Jew
Jew

A Jew is a member of the Jewish people, an ethnoreligious group that traces its ancestry to the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East....
s and Poles
Poles

The Polish people, or Poles , are a West Slavs ethnic group of Central Europe, living predominantly in Poland. Poles are sometimes defined as people who share a common Polish culture and are of Polish descent....
. Previously part of the Beuthen district, in 1873 it became the capital of the new Kattowitz district
Kattowitz (district)

Landkreis Kattowitz was a Districts of Prussia of the Germany-state of Prussia from 1873–1922 and 1939–45. Its capital was the city of Katowice....
. 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.Independent cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other nation-state....
.

Following the Silesian Uprisings
Silesian Uprisings

The Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed Rebellion of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919?1921, against Weimar Republic 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 is the Republic of Poland between World War I and World War II....
 with a certain level of autonomy (Silesian Parliament
Silesian Parliament

Silesian Parliament or Silesian Sejm was the governing body of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship, an autonomous voivodeship of the Second Polish Republic between 1920 and 1939....
 as a constituency and Silesian Voivodeship Council as the executive body).

The city was occupied by Nazi Germany between 1939-1945.

Cathedral in Katowice
In 1953 the city was renamed Stalinogród ("Stalin
Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1953....
 City") by the Polish communist government
Polish United Workers' Party

The Polish United Workers' Party was a communism party in the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1990. It was based on the program of Marxism and Leninism....
. 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
Environment (biophysical)

The biophysical environment is the symbiosis between the physics environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and include all variables that comprise the Earth's biosphere....
 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 or Polish People's Republic was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1989 inclusively.Although the People's Republic of Poland was a sovereignty state as defined by international law, its leaders were at the very least approved by Soviet Union leaders....
, but recent changes in regulations, procedures and policies of Polish government since the fall of Communism
History of Poland (1989–present)

In the 1970s and 1980s, tension grew between the people of Poland and its Communist government, as with the rest of the Eastern bloc as the influence of the Soviet Union faded....
 have reversed much of the harm that was done.

Due to economic 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....
, and towards small businesses.

Geography


Location

In administrative terms, Katowice is an urban community in the eastern part of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia

Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Lower Silesia is to the northwest. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, Kingdom of Bohemia, Poland, Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of Prussia, and later of unified German Reich....
, now in Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship

Silesian Voivodeship is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centring on the region known as Upper Silesia . Its capital is Katowice....
 in south-west Poland, within the central portion of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. It borders the towns of Chorzów
Chorzów

Chorz?w is a city in Silesia, southern Poland with around 114,680 inhabitants and an area of 33.5 km?. Chorz?w is situated on the Rawa river on the Silesian Highland in the heart of the Upper Silesian Industrial Area, 7 km north-west of Katowice....
, Siemianowice Slaskie
Siemianowice Slaskie

Siemianowice Slaskie [] is a city of the Upper Silesian Industry Area in Poland. Its population is 72,869, within a greater metropolitan area population of 3,487,000 ....
, Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec

Sosnowiec is a city located in the south of Poland. It is a county capital neighbouring Katowice as well as the mining and industrial region. It is one of the largest cities in the Silesian Voivodeship and Upper Silesian Industry Area....
, Myslowice
Myslowice

Myslowice [] is a town in south Poland with 75,183 inhabitants . It is situated in the Silesian Voivodship ; previously it was in Katowice Voivodship ....
, Ledziny
Ledziny

Ledziny [] is a town in south Poland with 16,050 inhabitants .Situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship ....
, Tychy
Tychy

Tychy ) is a city in southern Poland with a population of 132,600. It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Katowice Voivodeship ....
, Mikolów
Mikolów

Mikol?w [] is a town in south Poland with 42,053 inhabitants . It was first mentioned in writing in the year 1222.It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship ; previously it was in the Katowice Voivodeship ....
, Ruda Slaska
Ruda Slaska

Ruda Slaska is a city in south Poland with 149,000 inhabitants , member of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union.It is situated in the Silesian Voivodship , having previously been in Katowice Voivodship ....
 and Czeladz
Czeladz

Czeladz [] is a town in south Poland with 34,402 inhabitants .It is situated in the Silesian Voivodship , previously in Katowice Voivodship , and historically is part of the Zaglebie Dabrowskie region of Lesser Poland, adjoining Upper Silesia....
. In geographical terms, it lies between the Vistula
Vistula

The Vistula , is the longest river in Poland at 1,047 km in length. It drains an area of 194,424 km? , of which 168,699 km? lies within Poland ....
 and Oder
Oder River

The Oder is a river in Central Europe Europe. It begins 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 Highland located in Silesia, Poland.Its highest point is the G?ra Swietej Anny ....
. Several rivers flow through the city, the major two being the Klodnica
Klodnica

Klodnica is a river in the Upper Silesia region. It is about 75 km long and a right tributary of the Oder River.Along Klodnica's shore are Poland cities of Katowice, Ruda Slaska, Gliwice, and Zabrze....
 and Rawa River
Rawa River

Rawa , older name Rozdzianka) 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....
s. Within 600 kilometres of Katowice are the capital cities of six countries: Berlin
Berlin

Berlin is the Capital of Germany city and one of sixteen States of Germany of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million within its city limits, Berlin is the country's largest city....
, Vienna
Vienna

Vienna is the Capital of Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million...
, Prague
Prague

Prague is the Capital and World's largest cities of the Czech Republic. Its official name is Hlavn? mesto Praha, meaning Prague, the Capital City....
, Bratislava
Bratislava

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 427,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River....
, Budapest
Budapest

Budapest is the Capitals of Hungary of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commerce, Industry, and transportation center and is considered an important hub in Central Europe....
 and Warsaw
Warsaw

Warsaw is the Capital and World's largest cities of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River roughly from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains....
.

Climate

The climate of the area is continental humid. The average temperature is 8 degrees Celsius
Celsius

Celsius is a temperature scale that is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death....
 (average -1.7°C in January and up to average 17.7°C in July). Yearly rainfall averages at 750 mm, the most rainy month being July. The area's characterisitc weak winds blow at about 2 m/s from from the west (Moravian Gate
Moravian Gate

The Moravian Gate is a geomorphological feature in Moravia, Czech Republic. It is formed by the depression between the Western Carpathians and the Eastern Sudetes....
).

Districts

Dzielnicekatowic
I. City
  • 1. Sródmiescie
    Katowice-Sródmiescie

    Katowice Sr?dmiescie is a district of Katowice, Poland.This is the most urbanized part of the City, home of Silesian Parliament, Silesian Museum and Silesian Library along with international companies like ING or CITI Bank....
  • 2. Koszutka
    Koszutka

    Koszutka is a district of Katowice....
  • 3. Bogucice
    Bogucice

    Bogucice is a district of Katowice, in Poland.The village Bogucice was probably founded in the 13th century. The first unquestionable mention of Bogucice, dated 15 December 1360, is included in a document of Nicolaus II, Opole-Raciborz Duke, who bestowed Bogucice and some other villages, on Otton of Pilica....
  • 4. Osiedle Paderewskiego - Muchowiec
II. North-Town
  • 5. Zaleze
    Zaleze

    Zaleze is a district of Katowice....
  • 6. Osiedle Witosa
    Osiedle Witosa

    Osiedle Witosa is a district of Katowice, in Poland....
  • 7. Osiedle Tysiaclecia
    Osiedle Tysiaclecia

    Osiedle Tysiaclecia is a district of Katowice and one of the largest districts in Poland. It is located in the northern part of Katowice, on the land once occupied by the villages of Bederowiec, Sosnina and east Klimzowiec....
  • 8. Dab
    DAB

    Dab may refer to:* Common dab, a kind of flatfish* Dabbing , touching the ground or other objects with feet or hands while motorcycling or bicycling...
  • 9. Welnowiec - Józefowiec
    Welnowiec

    Welnowiec is a district of Katowice, Poland....
III. West-Town
  • 10. Ligota - Panewniki
    Ligota - Panewniki

    Ligota - Panewniki is a district of Katowice in Poland.Ligota-Panewniki is famous due to the magnificent , the headquarters of the Franciscan Assumption Province in Poland....
  • 11. Brynów - Osiedle Zgrzebnioka
  • 12. Brynów - Zaleska Halda
 IV. East-Town
  • 13. Zawodzie
    Zawodzie

    Zawodzie is a district of Katowice....
  • 14. Dabrówka Mala
    Dabrówka Mala

    Dabr?wka Mala is a district of Katowice....
  • 15. Szopienice - Burowiec
    Szopienice

    Szopienice-Burowiec is a district of Katowice....
  • 16. Janów - Nikiszowiec
    Janów - Nikiszowiec

    Jan?w - Nikiszowiec is a district of Katowice....
  • 17. Giszowiec
    Giszowiec

    Giszowiec is an eastern district of the city of Katowice . It was created as a coal miners' settlement in 1907, initially with about 18,600 inhabitants and area of 12 square kilometers....
V. South-Town
  • 18. Murcki
    Murcki

    Murcki is a district of Katowice.External links*...
  • 19. Piotrowice - Ochojec
    Piotrowice - Ochojec

    Piotrowice-Ochojec is a district of Katowice, Poland.First mentioned in 1287 as Uniczowy, today's name since XVII Century, merged with Katowice in 1939....
  • 20. Zarzecze
  • 21. Kostuchna
    Kostuchna

    Kostuchna is a district of Katowice, Poland....
  • 22. Podlesie


Conurbation

Katowice lies in the centre of the largest conurbation in Poland and is one of the largest in the European Union, numbering at about 3.5 million. This urban expansion boomed in the 19th century thanks to the rapid development of the mining and metallurgical industries. The greater Katowice area (including the Upper Silesian Industrial Region
Upper Silesian Industrial Region

Upper Silesian Industry Area , is a conurbation in Upper Silesia and western Lesser Poland, Poland, centered around Katowice in the Silesian Voivodeship....
 consists of about 25 neighbouring cities. However, the whole metropolitan area (encompassing the Upper Silesian Coal Basin) consists of over 30 cities. Katowice is also part of a megalopolis of over 7 million inhabitants covering Cracow, Katowice and Ostrava regions.

In the year 2006 Katowice and 14 neighboring cities united under one municipal organism - the union of cities - Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union

Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, USMU also known under official name: Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia, MAUS is a Political union of 14 adjacent city in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland....
. Its population is 2 million and its area is 1,304 km˛. In 2006 and 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

  • IMAX
    IMAX

    IMAX is a film film format and projection standard created by Canada's IMAX Corporation. The traditional version of IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and than conventional film display systems....
     Katowice
  • Cinema City
    Cinema City Poland

    Cinema City is a brand of movie theater 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....
     - Punkt rozrywki 44 ( 13 halls )
  • Cinema City
    Cinema City Poland

    Cinema City is a brand of movie theater 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....
     - Silesia City Center
    Silesia City Center

    Silesia 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 office site....
     ( 13 halls )
  • Helios Cinema Center ( 9 halls )
  • Swiatowid Cinema ( 1 halls )
  • Rialto Cinetheater ( 1 halls )
  • Cinematographic Arts Center ( 2 halls )


Music

  • Silesian Philharmonic
    Silesian Philharmonic

    The Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice is a music institution in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. The Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice was funded in 1945....
  • Silesian Estrade
  • Scene GuGalander
  • Mega Club
  • National Symphonic Orchestra of Polish Radio


Museums

Muzeum Slaskie2
*Silesian Museum
Silesian Museum

Silesian Museum is a museum in the city of Katowice, Poland....
  • History of Katowice Museum
  • Muzeum Archidiecezjalne
  • Muzeum Misyjne OO. Franciszkanów
  • Muzeum Biograficzne P. Stellera
  • Muzeum Prawa i Prawników Polskich
  • Muzeum Najmniejszych Ksiazek Swiata Zygmunta Szkocnego
  • Izba Slaska
  • Centre of Polish Scenography
  • Silesian center of refreshment and culture


Media

TV stations:
  • TVP 3 Katowice
    TVP 3 Katowice

    TVP 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....
  • TVS
    TVS

    TVS may stand for:...
     (TV Silesia)
  • TVN24 - department Katowice (TVN24 - oddzial Katowice)
radio stations:
  • Radio Katowice
  • Radio Roxy FM
  • Radio Planeta
  • Antyradio
    Antyradio

    Antyradio - a Poland radio network broadcasting all genres of rock music. The current owner of the network is Eurozet.Antyradio started broadcasting on 1 June 2005....
  • Radio Eska
newspapers:
  • Dziennik Zachodni
    Dziennik Zachodni

    Dziennik Zachodni is a regional Poland newspaper distributed in Upper Silesia. Its' headquarters is located in the city of Katowice. Established in February 1945 by Stanislaw Ziemba, it was initially a state-held daily....
  • Gazeta Wyborcza
    Gazeta Wyborcza

    Gazeta Wyborcza [] is Poland's second-largest daily newspaper aimed at left-leaning liberal readers. It is considered to be one of the most influential and opinion-forming newspapers in Poland....
     - Katowice section
  • Fakt - Katowice section
  • Echo Miasta
  • Metro International
    Metro International

    Metro International is a Sweden 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....
     - Katowice
  • Nowy Przeglad Katowicki


Festivals and events

  • Rawa Blues Festiwal - Spodek
    Spodek

    Spodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfantego street under the name Wojew?dzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997....
  • Metalmania
    Metalmania

    Metalmania is one of the biggest heavy metal music music festival in Central Europe. It has been held annually since 1986. The 2008 edition was held on the March 8 at Spodek in Katowice, Poland....
     - Spodek
    Spodek

    Spodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfantego street under the name Wojew?dzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997....
  • Mayday - Spodek
    Spodek

    Spodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfantego street under the name Wojew?dzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997....
  • International Competition of Conductors by Fitelberg
  • International Festival of Military Orchestras
  • International Exhibition of Graphic arts "Intergrafia"
  • The all-Polish Festival of the Director's Art the "Interpretations"
  • Ars Cameralis Silesiae Superioris


Art galleries

  • Galeria Sztuki Wspólczesnej BWA Al. Korfantego 6
  • Galeria Sztuki Wspólczesnej Parnas ul. Kochanowskiego 10
  • Galeria Sztuki Atelier 2 ul. Batorego 2
  • Galeria Zwiazku Polskich Artystów Plastyków ul. Dworcowa 13
  • Galeria Architektury SARP ul. Dyrekcyjna 9
  • Galeria Art-Deco pl. Andrzeja 4
  • Galeria Fra Angelico ul. Jordana 39
  • Galeria Akwarela ul. Mikolowska 26
  • Galeria Marmurowa ul. Mikolowska 26
  • Galeria Pietro Wyzej
  • Galeria Sektor I
  • Galeria Szyb Wilson


Parks and squares

Main parks:
  • Silesian culture and refreshment park (Wojewódzki Park Kultury i Wypoczynku)
  • Tadeusz Kosciuszko Park (Park im. Tadeusza Kosciuszki)
  • Forest Park of Katowice (Katowicki Park Lesny)
  • Valley Three Ponds (Dolina Trzech Stawów)
  • Zadole Park
    Zadole Park

    The 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
  • Olympic Participants' Park (Park Olimpijczyków)
  • Murckowska Valley
Square:
  • Wolnosc Square (Plac Wolnosci)
  • 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
  • Zródla Klodnicy
  • Staw Grunfeld
  • Stawy Na Tysiacleciu
  • Plone Bagno


Architecture

in Katowice by Croatian sculptor Antun Augustincic, 1937-39]]

Examples of Modernism
Modernism

Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes both a set of cultural tendencies and an array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western culture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century....
 (International Style
International style (architecture)

The International style was a major architectural style of the 1920s and 1930s. The term usually refers to the buildings and architects of the formative decades of Modernism, before World War II....
 and Bauhaus
Bauhaus

' is the common term for the ', a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught....
 inspired architecture) may be found in the city downtown. Central Katowice also contain a significant number of Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau is an international Art movement and style of art, architecture and applied art?especially the decorative arts?that peaked in popularity at Fin de si?cle of the 20th century ....
 (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 promenades.

Regeneration of the Rynek area should start at 2007-2008 and there was an international architectural competition in 2006 to find the best design.

Best buildings and places to see in Katowice:

  • Cathedral in Katowice
    Cathedral of Christ the King, Katowice

    Cathedral of Christ the King in Katowice is a classicist cathedral in Katowice-Sr?dmiescie, Katowice, Poland. Constructed between 1927 and 1955, the Cathedral of Christ the King is the largest cathedral in Poland....


  • Drapacz Chmur
    Drapacz Chmur

    Drapacz 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 Poland use of steel frame construction....
    , one of the first skyscrapers in Europe


  • St. Mary's Church in Katowice
    St. Mary's Church in Katowice

    St. Mary's Church in Katowice is one of the oldest church es in Katowice, dating back to 19th century....


  • St. Stephen's Church
    St. Stephen's Church (Katowice)

    The Kosci?l sw. 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 St. Michael Archangel
    Church of St. Michael Archangel

    Church of St. Michael Archangel is one of the oldest buildings in Katowice. It's located in Kosciuszko Park, where it was moved in 1938 from the village Syrynia, where it was originally constructed in 1510....


  • Church of Christ Resurrection in Katowice


  • Silesian Parliament
    Silesian Parliament

    Silesian Parliament or Silesian Sejm was the governing body of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship, an autonomous voivodeship of the Second Polish Republic between 1920 and 1939....


  • Market square in Katowice


  • The Monument to Marshal Pilsudski by Croatian sculptor Antun Augustincic, 1937-39. It was commissioned in 1936 but brought to Poland in 1991


  • Katowice Rondo
    Jerzy Zietek Rondo

    The Rondo Generala Jerzego Zietka 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 Wojciech Korfanty and the road 79, part of the Drogowa Trasa Srednicowa, meet....
     - is the large square
    Town square

    Public square and city square redirect here. For Public Square, Cleveland, see Public Square and for City Square in Leeds see Leeds City Square....
    /roundabout
    Roundabout

    A roundabout is a type of road junction at which traffic enters a one-way stream around a central island. In the United States it is commonly known as a "rotary" or a "traffic circle", but sometimes is technically called a modern roundabout, in order to emphasize the distinction from the older, very much larger type of traffic circl...
    , which was reconstructed recently, featuring the semi circular Galeria Rondo Sztuki in the centre.
Nikiszowiec
*Silesian Insurgents Monument
Silesian Insurgents Monument

The Silesian Insurgents' Monument in Katowice was designed in 1967 by Gustaw Zemla - a sculptor, and Wojciech Zablocki - an architect. It is considered one of the best-designed Polish monuments and is presented at a very well exposed location....
 (Polish: Pomnik Powstanców Slaskich), situated next to Rondo, is a large monument dedicated to the memory of the Silesian Uprisings
Silesian Uprisings

The Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed Rebellion of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919?1921, against Weimar Republic 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....
 of early 1920s

  • The Spodek
    Spodek

    Spodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfantego street under the name Wojew?dzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997....
     is a large sports centre/concert hall, whose name translates as the 'saucer', from its distinctive shape resembling a UFO flying saucer
    Unidentified flying object

    An unidentified flying object is any aerial phenomenon whose cause can not be easily or immediately determined. Both military and civilian research show that a significant majority of UFO sightings are identified after further investigation, either explicitly or indirectly The USAF, who coined the term in 1952, initially defined UFOs as thos...
    .


  • Katowice Central Station
    Katowice Central Station

    Katowice Central Station in Katowice, Silesia, Poland, is the biggest and most important railway station in the G?rnoslaski Okreg Przemyslowy area....
     - the main Katowice train station
    Train station

    |}A train station, railway station, railroad station, or station yard is a facility at which passengers may board and alight from trains and/or rail-transported freight may be loaded or unloaded....
     is a large, distinctive concrete building from Seventies near the Rynek. There are plans to raze and rebuild it after the reconstruction of the Rondo and Rynek.


  • Old train station in Katowice


  • Monopol Hotel in Katowice


  • The Goldstein Palace
    Goldstein Palace

    The Palac Goldstein?w or Goldstein Palace is a neo-renaissance palace in Katowice, Silesian Voivodship, Poland. It was build by Abraham and Joseph Goldstein and is located at the west end of the city centre, at ....


  • The Zaleze Palace


  • Nikiszowiec
    Nikiszowiec

    Nikiszowiec is a historical settlement of Katowice.Now that is inner district Jan?w - Nikiszowiec....
     - historical settlement of Katowice, candidate to UNESCO


  • Silesian Theatre
    Silesian Theatre

    Silesian Theatre dedicated to Stanislaw Wyspianski is the largest theatre in Silesia. It's located on the market square in Katowice. It was build as "German Theatre" in the years 1905-1907, it's had its Golden Age in the late 1940s and 1950s....


  • Rialto Cinetheater


  • Parachute Tower Katowice
    Parachute Tower Katowice

    Parachute Tower Katowice is a 50 metre tall lattice parachute tower built in 1937 for training Parachuting. It was used in the first days of World War II by 73rd regiment of infantry as an observation tower....


  • The Altus Skyscraper
    Altus Skyscraper

    Altus is a skyscraper in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. It is the highest building in Poland outside Warsaw.The construction started in 2001 and finished in 2003....
    , tallest City skyscraper.


Economy


Industry

Katowice is a large coal and steel centre. It has several coal mines (Wujek Coal Mine, Myslowice-Wesola Coal Mine, Wieczorek Coal Mine, Murcki Coal Mine, Staszic Coal Mine) organized into unions - Katowice Coal Holding company (pl: Katowicki Holding Weglowy), two steelworks (Huta Baildon, Huta Ferum), and one foundry of non-ferrous metals (Huta Metali Niezelaznych Szopienice).

Business and commerce

Katowice is also a large business and trade fair centre. 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 . Few dozen events are organized there each year, with the participation of some 4,500 companies....
 and Spodek
Spodek

Spodek is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971 at 35 Korfantego street under the name Wojew?dzka Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa w Katowicach , under which it is known in the Polish technical/architectural literature, and under which it formally functioned until 1997....
, 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 Rozdzienskiego 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. It is the highest building in Poland outside Warsaw.The construction started in 2001 and finished in 2003....
 and Silesia Towers (under construction).

General

Katowice is the seat of Katowice Special Economic Zone
Special Economic Zone

A Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a country's typical economic laws. The category 'SEZ' covers a broad range of more specific zone types, including Free Trade Zones , Export Processing Zones , Free Zones , Industrial Estates , Free Ports, Urban Enterprise Zones and others....
 (Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna).

The unemployment rate in Katowice is one of the lowest in Poland, at 2% (in 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 3950 zlotych($~1,900), in Warsaw
Warsaw

Warsaw is the Capital and World's largest cities of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River roughly from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains....
 it's about 3500 zlotychs($~1,700).

Education

Biblioteka Slaska
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.
  1. University of Silesia
    University of Silesia

    University of Silesia, also called Silesian University , is an autonomous state university in Silesian Voivodship, Silesia, Poland. Its campuses are located mostly in Katowice....
  2. University of Economics in Katowice
    University of Economics in Katowice

    The Karol Adamiecki University of Economics in Katowice , is the only state university specializing in Economics and Business studies in the region....
  3. University of Music in Katowice
    University of Music in Katowice

    University of Music in Katowice is one of the leading musical schools in Poland. It is located in Katowice, Silesia. Some of its most notable graduate include Henryk G?recki, Wojciech Kilar, Krystian Zimerman, Krzysztof Jablonski, Andrzej Jasinski, Tadeusz Zmudzinski, Marcin Dylla....
  4. University of Sports in Katowice
  5. University of Arts in Katowice
  6. University of Arts in Cracow (department in Katowice)
  7. Medical University of Silesia
    Medical University of Silesia

    The Medical University of Silesia is located in Katowice, Poland. Established on March 20, 1948, it is reportedly the largest Medical school in Poland....
  8. Silesian University of Technology
    Silesian University of Technology

    Silesian University of Technology is a university located in Gliwice, Silesia, Poland. It was founded in 1945 by Polish professors of the Lviv University of Technology, who were forced to leave their native city and move to the Recovered Territories ....
     - Faculty of Materials Science and Metallurgy and Transport
  9. Polish Academy of Sciences
    Polish Academy of Sciences

    The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences....
  10. International Higher School of Political Sciences in Katowice
  11. International Higher School of Banking and Finances in Katowice
  12. Silesian International Business Higher School in Katowice
  13. Silesian Higher School of Computer science in Katowice
  14. Silesian Higher School of Management in Katowice
  15. Uppersilesian Higher School of Trade in Katowice
  16. Higher School of Banking and Finances in Katowice
  17. Higher School of Humanistic Science in Katowice
  18. Higher School of Technical Science in Katowice
  19. Higher School of Computer Technologies in Katowice
  20. Higher School the Pedagogical TWP in Warsaw, the Institute of Pedagogy in Katowice
  21. Higher School of Social Skills in Poznan (department in Katowice)
  22. Higher School of Humanistic - Economic in Lódz (department in Katowice)
  23. Higher School of Marketing Management and Foreign Languages in Katowice
  24. Higher School of Management the Protection of Work in Katowice
  25. Silesian Higher Clerical Seminar in Katowice
  26. Theological Seminar of Franciscan
    Franciscan

    The term Franciscan is commonly used to refer to members of Catholic religious orders that follow a body of regulations known as "The rule of St....
    s in Katowice Panewniki
  27. Private Teacher's College of Foreign Languages in Katowice
  28. Private Teacher's Board of Foreign Languages in Bielsko (department in Katowice)


There are also:
  • around 80 high school
    High school

    High school is the name used in some parts of the world to describe an institution which provides all or part of secondary education. The term originated in Scotland and spread to the New World countries as the high prestige that the Scottish educational system had at the time led several countries to employ Scottish educators to develop the...
    s
  • around 35 gimnasia
    Gymnasium (school)

    A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English Grammar schools in the United Kingdoms or sixth form colleges and U.S....
  • around 55 primary schools
  • around 50 libraries
    Library

    A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, books, and services, and the structure in which it is housed: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual....
    , including the Silesian Library
    Silesian Library

    Silesian Library , is one of the most modern libraries in Poland, and is located in the south-western city of Katowice, Silesia....


Transport


Public transport

Katowicesilesianinterurbans
The public transportation system of the Katowice and Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union

Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, USMU also known under official name: Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia, MAUS is a Political union of 14 adjacent city in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland....
 consists of four branches - bus
Bus

A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. A bus can generally seat a maximum of anywhere from 8 to 200 passengers; many more passengers than a minivan....
es, tram
Tram

A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railroad car, of lighter weight and construction than a train, designed for the transport of passengers within, close to, or between villages, towns and/or cities, on tracks running primarily on streets....
s, trolleybus
Trolleybus

A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from a network of charged overhead wires using spring loaded trolley poles. Two poles are needed, so that one can draw down the live current to power the motor and the other can complete the circuit by carrying the neutral current back to the network....
es and the regional rail
Regional rail

Commuter rail or suburban rail is a passenger rail transport service between a city center, and outer suburbs and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuting?people who travel on a daily basis....
 united in the KZK GOP. 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 , which is densely industrialised and inhabited by more than 2 million people....
 - one of the largest tram
Tram

A tram, tramcar, trolley, trolley car, or streetcar is a railroad car, of lighter weight and construction than a train, designed for the transport of passengers within, close to, or between villages, towns and/or cities, on tracks running primarily on streets....
 systems in the World, in existence since 1894. The system spreads for more than 50 kilometres (east-west) and covers fourteen districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union

Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, USMU also known under official name: Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia, MAUS is a Political union of 14 adjacent city in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland....
.

Roads

  • European route E40
    European route E40

    ||-||-||}European route E 40 is the longest European route, more than 8000 km long, connecting Calais in France via Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with Ridder, Kazakhstan in Kazakhstan near the border to China....
     (France - Belgium - Germany - Katowice - Ukraine
    Ukraine

    Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south....
     - Russia - Uzbekistan
    Uzbekistan

    Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan , is a Landlocked_country#Doubly_landlocked_country country in Central Asia, formerly part of the Soviet Union....
     - Kazakhstan
    Kazakhstan

    Kazakhstan, also Kazakstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a large Eurasian country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the List of countries by area as well as the world's largest landlocked country, it has a territory of 2,727,300 km? ....
    )
  • European route E75
    European route E75

    The E 75 is part of the International E-road network, which is a series of main roads in Europe.The E 75 starts from Vard?, Norway in the Barents Sea and runs south through Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to Sitia, Greece on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea....
     (Vardř
    Vardř

    is a List of cities in Norway and a Municipalities of Norway in Finnmark Counties of Norway in the extreme northeast part of Norway.Vard? was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 ....
    , Norway
    Norway

    Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe that occupies the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula....
     - Finland
    Finland

    Finland , officially the Republic of Finland , is a Nordic countries situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland....
     - Katowice - Slovakia
    Slovakia

    Slovakia . It was amended in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president and again in February 2001 due to EU admission requirements....
     - Hungary
    Hungary

    Hungary , officially in English the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia....
     - Serbia
    Serbia

    Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country in Central Europe and Balkans Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans....
     - Macedonia
    Republic of Macedonia

    The Republic of Macedonia , , often referred to simply as Macedonia, is a landlocked country on the Balkans in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south and Albania to the west....
     - Crete
    Crete

    Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and the List of islands in the Mediterranean largest island in the Mediterranean Sea at 8,336 km? ....
    , Greece
    Greece

    Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkans. It has borders with Albania, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the north, and Turkey to the east....
    )
  • European route E462 (Czech Republic
    Czech Republic

    The Czech Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east....
     - Katowice)
  • Motorway A4 (Germany - Katowice - Ukraine
    Ukraine

    Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south....
    )
  • DK1 National Road
  • DK79 National Road
  • DK81 National Road
  • DK86 National Road


Several important roads in neighbourhoods of Katowice (USMU
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union

Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, USMU also known under official name: Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia, MAUS is a Political union of 14 adjacent city in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland....
):
  • Motorway A1 (Czech
    Czech Republic

    The Czech Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east....
     - Katowice - Tricity
    Tricity

    Tricity is an urban area consisting of three Polish city: Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. They are situated adjacent to one other, in a row, on the coast of the Gdansk Bay, Baltic Sea, in Eastern Pomerania Pomerania , northern Poland....
     / Baltic Sea
    Baltic Sea

    The Baltic Sea is a brackish inland sea located in Northern Europe, from 53?N to 66?N latitude and from 20?E to 26?E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Denmark islands....
    )
  • DK11 National Road
  • DK44 National Road
  • DK78 National Road
  • DK88 National Road
  • DK94 National Road


Airports

The city and the area is served by the Katowice International Airport
Katowice International Airport

Katowice International Airport is an international airport located in Pyrzowice, 30 km north of the Katowice city centre, in Poland.The airport features two passenger terminals A and B and a cargo terminal....
, located about 30 km 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 dimmensions of 1109 x 30 meters ....
 into a so-called city airport, a second international airport for smaller, business-oriented traffic.

Railways

Standard gauge railway The first railroad reached this area in 1846 (the Upper Silesia Railway, in Polish
Polish language

Polish , an official language of Poland, has the largest number of speakers of any West Slavic languages. Polish-speakers use the language in a uniform manner through most of Poland, and it has a regular orthography....
: Kolej Górnoslaska; in German
German language

German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
: Oberschlesische Eisenbahn). Nowadays Katowice is one of the main railway nodes and exchange points in Silesia and in Poland. Cheap and fairly efficient, the Polskie Koleje Panstwowe
Polskie Koleje Panstwowe

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 World's largest cities of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River roughly from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains....
). The main railroad station is Katowice Central Station
Katowice Central Station

Katowice Central Station in Katowice, Silesia, Poland, is the biggest and most important railway station in the G?rnoslaski Okreg Przemyslowy area....
. Both the domestic and the international connections run from there to almost every major city in Poland and Europe. Broad gauge railway Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa
Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa

Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line , is the longest broad gauge railway line in Poland. Except for this one line, and a few very short stretches near border crossings, Poland uses the standard gauge for its railway tracks....
 (known by its acronym LHS, English:
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
 Broad gauge metallurgy line) is the longest broad gauge
Broad gauge

Broad gauge railways use a rail gauge greater than the standard gauge of ....
 railway line in Poland
Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is 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 Enclave and exclave, to the north....
. Except for this one line, and a few very short stretches near border crossings, Poland uses the standard gauge
Standard gauge

The standard gauge is a widely-used rail gauge. Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge . The distance between the inside edges of the rails of standard gauge track is ....
 for its railways, unlike Russia and the other former countries of the Soviet Union. The line runs on a single track for almost 400 km from the Polish-Ukrainian
Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south....
 border, crossing it just east of Hrubieszów
Hrubieszów

Hrubiesz?w [] is a town in southeastern Poland, with a population of 18,661 . It is the capital of Hrubiesz?w County.Since 1999 Hrubiesz?w has been part of Lublin Voivodeship ....
, to Slawków
Slawków

Slawk?w [] is a town in Bedzin County, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. It has 6,866 inhabitants in 2007.Historically, it lies in the Zaglebie Dabrowskie region of Lesser Poland....
 (one of the suburbs of the proposed union). It is used only for freight transport, mainly iron ore and coal. It is the westernmost broad gauge railway line in Europe that is connected to the broad gauge rail system of the countries which before 1991 constituted the Soviet Union. The line is managed by PKP Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa Spólka z o.o.
PKP LHS

PKP LHS is a company of the PKP Group responsible for infrastructure operation and freight transport on the Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line. The line runs for about 400 km from the Poland-Ukraine border in Izow-Hrubiesz?w to Slawk?w Poludniowy ....
 company. Previous name of this line was Linia Hutniczo Siarkowa (English: Metallurgy - Sulfur Line), but after sulfur ceased to be transported on the line its name was changed.

Water transport

Katowice also has several canals, including the Gliwice Canal
Gliwice Canal

The Gliwice Canal is a canal connecting the Oder River to the city of Gliwice in Silesian Voivodeship , Poland. Also known as the Upper Silesia Canal , it was built from 1935 to 1939 and replaced the Klodnicki Canal....
 (pl:Kanal Gliwicki) which links Gliwice Harbour to the Oder River and thus to the waterway network across much of Germany and to the Baltic Sea.

Klodnica Canal
Klodnica Canal

The Klodnicki Canal is a canal along the Klodnica River in Upper Silesia, Poland between the Oder River and Gliwice. Constructed when the territory was part of Kingdom of Prussia Province of Silesia, it was originally known as the Klodnitz Canal ....
 (pl: Kanal Klodnicki) is no longer used to transport goods, but it is popular with leisure cruisers.

Sports

  • GKS Katowice
    GKS Katowice

    GKS Katowice, Wikibooks:Polish/Polish pronunciation , is a Polish football club based in Katowice, Poland. The club now plays in the Polish First League....
     - men's football
    Football in Poland

    Association football, is the most popular Sports in Poland in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally....
    , (Polish Cup
    Polish Cup

    The Polish Cup in football 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 SuperCup
    Polish SuperCup

    The Polish Super Cup in football is an annually held match between the Champion of the The cup winner resigned . The 2nd placed team in the Polish First league, GKS Belchat?w, replaced the cup winner....
     winner: 1991, 1995; 1st league in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 seasons). ice hockey
    Ice hockey

    Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team sport played on ice. It is a fast paced and physical sport. Ice hockey is most popular in areas that are sufficiently cold for natural reliable seasonal ice cover such as Canada, the northern United States, Scandinavia and Russia, though with the advent of indoor artificial ice r...
     team Champion :1958,1960,1962 Gňrnik Katowice / GKS 1965,1968,1970.
  • 1. FC Kattowitz - football club, vice-champion of Poland: 1927; champion of Upper Silesia: 1907, 1908, 1909, 1913, 1922, 1945
  • AZS AWF Katowice
    AZS AWF Katowice

    AZS AWF Katowice is a Poland women's team handball team, based in Katowice, playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League ....
     - women's handball
    Handball in Poland

    Team handball is a popular team sport in Poland.* Polish Seria A Handball League* Polish Seria B Handball League* Polish Seria A Women's Handball League...
     team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League
    Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League

    History* 1939 - Znicz L?dz* 1946 - Zryw L?dz* 1947 - Zryw L?dz* 1948 - SKS Warszawa* 1949 - Unia L?dz* 1950 - Sp?jnia Warszawa* 1951 - Unia L?dz...
    : 11th place in 2003/2004 season; will play in the 1st league in 2004/2005 season.
  • KS Rozwój Katowice - football club
  • MK Katowice - football club
  • Kolejarz Katowice - football club
  • Podlesianka Katowice - football club
  • AZS US Katowice - various sports
  • Naprzód Janów Katowice - hockey club
  • HKS Szopienice - various sports
  • Hetman Katowice - football club
  • Hetman Szopienice - chess club
  • MAKS Murcki Katowice - ice hockey & netball club
  • Sparta Katowice - various sports
  • HC GKS Katowice - hockey club
  • AWF Mickiewicz Katowice - basketball club
  • Silesia Miners - American football club


Defunct sports clubs:
  • Diana Kattowitz
    Diana Kattowitz

    SC Diana Kattowitz was an ethnically Germany football :Category:German football clubs playing in what was Kattowitz, Upper Silesia in Germany during the inter-war period....
     - football club
  • Germania Kattowitz
    Germania Kattowitz

    Germania Kattowitz was an ethnically Germany football :Category:German football clubs playing in what was Kattowitz, Upper Silesia in Germany before the First World War and shortly afterwards....
     - football club
  • EKS Kattowitz - watersports club
  • Dab Katowice - various sports
  • Pogon Katowice - various sports
  • KS Baildon Katowice - various sports
  • Centrum Body Club Katowice - bodybuilding club


Notable residents

  • Hans Sachs
    Hans Sachs (serologist)

    Hans Sachs , was a Germany serology....
     (1877-1945), serologist
  • Kurt Goldstein
    Kurt Goldstein

    Kurt Goldstein was a Germany neurologist and psychiatrist who was a pioneer in modern neuropsychology. He created a holistic theory of the organism based on Gestalt psychology which deeply influenced the development of Gestalt therapy....
     (1878-1965), neurologist
  • Franz Leopold Neumann
    Franz Leopold Neumann

    Franz Leopold Neumann was a Germany left-wing political activist and labour law, who became a political scientist in exile and is best-known for his theoretical analyses of Nazism....
     (1900-1954), politician
  • Hans Bellmer
    Hans Bellmer

    Hans Bellmer was an artist best known for the life-sized puberty female dolls he produced in the mid-1930s. Historians of art and photography also consider him a Surrealist photographer....
     (1902-1975), surrealist photographer
  • Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1906-1972), physicist
  • Chaskel Besser
    Chaskel Besser

    Chaskel Besser is a well known Orthodox Judaism rabbi living in Manhattan. He was born in Katowice, Poland and lived there until the Nazism and Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939....
     (born 1923), Orthodox rabbi
  • Kazimierz Kutz
    Kazimierz Kutz

    Kazimierz Julian Kutz is a Poland film director, author, journalist and politician, one of the representatives of the Polish Film School and a deputy speaker of the Senate of Poland....
     (born 1929), film director and politician
  • Wojciech Kilar
    Wojciech Kilar

    Wojciech Kilar Wikibooks:Polish/Polish pronunciation is a Poland classical and film music composer....
     (born 1932), classical and film music composer
  • Henryk Górecki
    Henryk Górecki

    Henryk Mikolaj G?recki is a composer of contemporary classical music. G?recki studied at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice between 1955?60....
     (born 1933), classical composer
  • Henryk Broder
    Henryk Broder

    File:Broder Henryk M.-by Steschke.jpgHenryk Modest Broder is a Polish born Germany journalist and author.Broder is well known for his polemics and Columns and his comments in written and oral media....
     (born 1946), journalist
  • Jerzy Kukuczka
    Jerzy Kukuczka

    Jerzy 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

Katowice is twinned
Town twinning

Town twinning, also known as sister cities, is a concept whereby towns or city in geographically and politically distinct areas are paired, with the goal of fostering human contact and cultural links between their inhabitants....
 with:
Cologne
Cologne

Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants....
 in Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 Groningen
Groningen (city)

||-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |}Groningen is the capital city of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. With a population of 185,000, it is by far the largest city in the north of the Netherlands....
 in Netherlands
Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is located in North-West Europe, and bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east....
  Miskolc
Miskolc

Miskolc is a city in North-East Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 180,000 Miskolc is the third-largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Aba?j-Zempl?n and the Regions of Hungary centre of Northern Hungary....
 in Hungary
Hungary

Hungary , officially in English the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia....
 Mobile
Mobile, Alabama

Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern United States United States state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama....
 in United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 		Odense
Odense

The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark. The name Odense comes from the Norse god Odin.Odense city has 158,163 inhabitants, as of January 1, 2008 and is the main city of the island of Funen....
 in Denmark
Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries....
 Ostrava
Ostrava

Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic, however it is the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. It is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence....
 in Czech Republic
Czech Republic

The Czech Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east....
 Saint-Etienne
Saint-Étienne

Saint-?tienne is a city in eastern central France.It lies 60 km southwest of Lyon in the Rh?ne-Alpes r?gion in France and is the capital of the d?partement....
 in France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
 Saint Francis in United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...


See also

  • Tall buildings in Katowice
  • List of mayors of Katowice


External links