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City in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Photo: Theodor Kalide, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bytom is an industrial city in the Silesian Voivodeship of southern Poland. With a population of 161,139 in 2021, it's part of the Silesian Metropolis centred on Katowice 7 km southeast.
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Muzeum Górnośląskie
Extensive display of regional prehistory and history. The permanent exhibitions are free on Sunday.
Elektrociepłownia Szombierki
Stonking great cathedral to 20th century industry, with its sturdy clocktower, hall and chimneys, this opened as a coal-fired power station in 1920. In the 1970s it was converted to a hybrid power and heat station, thus heat was no longer just a by-product but intentionally created for local industry and housing, conveyed by steam pipes. It was largely redundant by the 1990s but kept on as a reserve, then closed in 2011. There's talk of making it a museum, but no-one wants the huge burden of maintaining this derelict complex. Occasional guided tours visit, don't wander in by yourself as it could collapse any minute.
Nowa Kolonia Robotnicza
a neighbourhood of mine workers' apartments, laid out on a grid in 1907-22 in sort-of-Art Nouveau style. It's atmospheric, but a rough neighbourhood so don't linger. The intended museum can be found only on the Internet.
Opera Śląska
Founded in 1945, this occupies a neo-classical building of 1901.
Pleasant small hotel, and the most central.
Decent mid-price place north of town centre.
Clean serviced rooms. No reception, so pay heed to the access instructions.
By train
Train run every hour or so from Katowice, taking 30 min via Chorzów and continuing to Tarnowskie Góry, another 45 min. Change in Katowice for other cities such as Kraków, Warsaw and Częstochowa.
By road
From Kraków follow A4 west to Katowice then Highway 79 north through Chorzów. From Warsaw or Łódź follow E75 south past Częstochowa, which becomes A1 into Bytom.
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Katowice · International · KTW
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