Katowice

It was built in 1895. It closed in 1970 and is now municipal offices.

Contemporary art.

Two galleries, concert hall and cafeteria in this 2007 building on a roundabout.

Remarkable building of 2015 in a former coalmine, with galleries underground. Excellent display of life and history in Silesia down the ages, plus religious artworks. The former museum within the old Grand Hotel closed in 2018.

It's frightening how fast cutting-edge technology has turned into museum pieces. This gives an exposition on IT in Poland and has over 3000 ancient computers in its collection.

Small Jewish cemetery within a larger communal cemetery, laid out in 1870. It's in poor condition.

The little park just south of Jerzego Ziętka Roundabout. Much of Silesia remained part of Germany even after World War I and Polish independence, but there were uprisings by ethnic Poles in 1919, 1920 and 1921 - the three wings symbolize these, and the battle sites are etched on the sides. But thus the map remained until World War II, when the German and Polish parts suffered equal horrors, and afterwards the entire region joined Poland.

Charming little wooden church, built in 1510 in Syrynia near the Czech border. It was moved here in 1938 to form the nucleus of a heritage park, which never happened. Somehow it survived the war and was restored to use from 1956. Closed for renovation as of June 2024, without a reopening date.

Wujek is still an active coal mine, producing sub-bituminous coal. This was suitable for power stations as it contains little sulphur, but it emits disproportionate CO2 so its markets are shrivelling. The mine is best known as the scene of the "Pacification" of Dec 1981, when riot police shot dead nine miners striking against the imposition of martial law. In Sept 2009 an underground explosion killed over 20 miners. The museum depicts the labour uprisings of the 1980s, the nucleus of the Solidarity movement that eventually toppled communism in Poland.

Large park and forest complex, the largest green area in the city, with hiking and cycling trails.

Detached north section of Forest Park. You can bathe or boat in the lake.

Zinc ores are widespread though the local mines are worked out; zinc is used for corrosion-proof coating of steel, and is alloyed with copper to make brass. This large, chilly industrial hall displays the process plus a collection of motorcycles.

Vast hall that once held the headworks for a mine shaft (szyb). It's now an art gallery and hosts events, but they're dwarfed by the space.

Nikiszowiec is a city neighbourhood built 1908-12 to house workers of Giesche (later Wieczorek) coal mine, all in a distinct red-brick style. It has the neo-Baroque Church of St Mary, several galleries, a branch of the Museum of Katowice History, and a modern hotel.

Giszowiec was similarly built 1907-10 for the Giesche miners. Here the idea was a self-contained "Garden City" so the housing resembled chalets. But more housing was built for later generations of miners, the unity of style was lost, and there are now the same shabby high-rise flats as in other dreary suburbs.

Early 20th century monastery and basilica church. Surrounding it is a park with small Catholic shrines.

Built around the church, it was laid out in its present form in 1925. Multiple access points, open 24 hours. It's named for Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (1746-1817) the dashing military commander.

A city icon opened in 1971; the name means "flying saucer" and it's the city's main multi-use venue, with a capacity of over 10,000.

Poland's largest conference center, built in mid-2010s.

Large modern regional library.

The main place for art-house film in city centre.

An artist-run venue showing more experimental film.

Modern multiplex cinema with 13 screens including one IMAX.

Another multiplex with 13 screens and one IMAX 3-D.

Shows a mixture of mainstream, classic and art-house films.

Katowice's main repertory theatre, the largest theatre in Silesia, dedicated to the playwright Stanisław Wyspiański (1869-1907).

Reckoned as the most cutting-edge theatre in the city.

Contemporary visual and physical theatre group, formed by Marcin Herich, actor, director and organizer of theatre events.

Children's theatre.

Experimental and mainly outdoor theatre group.

Small off-beat theatre.

This was founded in 1945.

Founded in 1935, the orchestra moved into its present concert hall in 2014. The main hall has a capacity of 1800 and the smaller hall 300.

New music event

An indoor blues festival.

Festival of theatres and TV drama, with a competition for directors for the "Konrad Prize". It was last held in Nov 2022.