Katowice

The Great Synagogue in Katowice was destroyed by the German Nazis during the invasion of Poland on 4 September 1939

The area around Katowice, in Upper Silesia, has been inhabited by ethnic Silesian tribes from its earliest documented history.[16] Initially it was ruled by the Polish Silesian Piast dynasty until its extinction.[5] The settlement of the area surrounding Katowice dates back to the end of the 12th century. From 1138, the Bytom castellany encompassed territories where Katowice is now located. In 1177 the lands were legally handed over by Duke Casimir II the Just to his nephew Mieszko I Tanglefoot; this justified their incorporation into the medieval Silesian provinces. At the turn of the 14th century, new villages called Bogucice, Ligota, Szopenice and Podlesie were established, as well as the village of Dąb, mentioned in 1299 in a document issued by Duke Casimir of Bytom.

From 1327, the region was under administration of the Kingdom of Bohemia under the Holy Roman Empire. In historical documents dating from 1468, there was a reference to the settlement of Podlesie, which, at present, is one of the city districts, whereas the village of Katowice (or "Katowicze" in older records) was first mentioned in the year 1598. Historians assume that Katowice was founded on the right bank of the Rawa river by Andrzej Bogucki in around 1580.

Baildon steelworks, 19th century

The Silesian Parliament in Katowice

In 1598 a village called Villa Nova was also documented to stand in the area now occupied by the city of Katowice. By this time the territory had changed from the Bohemian Crown to the domain of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty.[17]

Kattowitz gained city status in 1865 in the Prussian Province of Silesia.[16] The city flourished due to large mineral (especially coal) 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. The city was inhabited mainly by Germans, Silesians, Jews and Poles. In 1884, 36 Jewish Zionist delegates met here, forming the Hovevei Zion movement. Previously part of the Beuthen district, in 1873 it became the capital of the new Kattowitz district. On 1 April 1899, the city was separated from the district, becoming an independent city.

3 Maja Street is one of the main promenades in the city

Under the Treaty of Versailles after World War I, the Upper Silesia plebiscite was organised by the League of Nations. Though Kattowitz proper voted 22,774 to remain in Germany and 3,900 for Poland,[18] it was attached to Poland as the larger district voted 66,119 for Poland and 52,992 for Germany.[19] Following the Silesian uprisings of 1918–21 Katowice became part of the Second Polish Republic with some autonomy for the Silesian Parliament as a constituency and the Silesian Voivodeship Council as the executive body).

During the early stages of World War II and the Poland Campaign, Katowice was essentially abandoned, as the Polish Army had to position itself around Kraków. Under the Nazi occupation many of the city's historical and iconic monuments were destroyed, most notably the Great Katowice Synagogue, which was burned to the ground on 4 September 1939. This was followed by the alteration of street names and the introduction of strict rules. Additionally, the use of Polish in public conversations was banned. The German administration was also infamous for organising public executions of civilians[20] and by the middle of 1941, most of the Polish and Jewish population was expelled. Eventually, Katowice was occupied by the Red Army in January 1945. Significant parts of the downtown and inner suburbs were demolished during the occupation. This, however, cannot be compared with Warsaw, where the level of destruction reached 85%.[21] As a result, the authorities were able to preserve the central district in its prewar character.

The postwar period of Katowice was characterised by the time of heavy industry development in the Upper Silesian region, which helped the city in regaining its status as the most industrialised Polish city and a major administrative centre. As the city developed so briskly, the 1950s marked a significant increase in its population and an influx of migrants from the Eastern Borderlands, the so-called Kresy. The city area began to quickly expand by incorporating the neighbouring communes and counties. However, the thriving industrial city also had a dark period in its short but meaningful history. Most notably, between 7 March 1953 and 10 December 1956, Katowice was called Stalinogród in honour of Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union.[22] The change was brought upon by an issued decree of the State Council.[23] The date of the alteration of the city name was neither a coincidence or accidental as it happened on the day of Stalin's death. In this way, the Polish Communist Party and the socialist authority wanted to pay tribute to the dictator. The new name never got accepted by the citizens and in 1956 the former Polish name was restored.[24]

Katowice International Conference Centre

Central Katowice with its shopping district

The following decades were more memorable in the history of Katowice. Regardless of its industrial significance, it started to become an important cultural and educational centre in Central and Eastern Europe. In 1968 the University of Silesia, the largest and most valued college in the area, was founded. Simultaneously the construction of large housing estates began to evolve. Furthermore, many representative structures were erected at that time, including the Silesian Insurgents' Monument (1967) and Spodek (1971), which have become familiar landmarks and tourist sights. The 1960s and 1970s saw the evolution of modernist architecture and functionalism. Katowice eventually developed into one of the most modernist post-war cities of Poland.

One of the most dramatic events in the history of the city occurred on 16 December 1981. It was then that 9 protesters died (7 were shot dead; 2 died from injury complications) and another 21 were wounded in the pacification of Wujek Coal Mine. The Special Platoon of the Motorized Reserves of the Citizens' Militia (ZOMO) was responsible for the brutal handling of strikers protesting against Wojciech Jaruzelski's declaration of martial law and the arrest of Solidarity trade union officials. On the 10th anniversary of the event, a memorial was unveiled by the President of Poland Lech Wałęsa.

In 1990 the first democratic local elections that took place marked a new period in the city's history. The economy of Katowice has been transforming from the heavy industry of steel and coal mines into "one of the most attractive investment areas for modern economy branches in Central Europe".[25] Recently, the city's efficient infrastructure, rapid progress in the overall development and an increase in office space has made Katowice a popular venue for conducting business. The Katowice Expo Centre (Katowickie Centrum Wystawiennicze) organises trade fairs or exhibitions and attracts investors from all over the world.[26]

Katowice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers (tributaries of the Oder and the Vistula respectively). It is in the Silesian Highlands, about 50 km (31 mi) north of the Silesian Beskids (part of the Carpathian Mountains) and about 100 km (62 mi) southeast of the Sudetes Mountains. Katowice is in the Katowice Highlands, part of the Silesian Highlands, in the eastern part of Upper Silesia, in the central portion of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Katowice is an urban community in the Silesian Voivodeship in south-west Poland. It is central district of the Silesian Metropolis—a metropolis with a population of two million. It borders the cities of Chorzów, Siemianowice Śląskie, Sosnowiec, Mysłowice, Lędziny, Tychy, Mikołów, Ruda Śląska and Czeladź. It lies between the Vistula and Oder rivers. Several rivers flow through the city, the major two being the Kłodnica and Rawa. Within 600 km (370 mi) of Katowice are the capital cities of six countries: Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest and Warsaw.

Districts

I. Central District 1. Śródmieście 4. Osiedle Paderewskiego – Muchowiec 12. Koszutka 13. Bogucice II. Northern District 7. Załęże 8. Osiedle Witosa 9. Osiedle Tysiąclecia 10. Dąb 11. Wełnowiec – Józefowiec III. Western District 2. Brynów – Załęska Hałda 5. Brynów – Osiedle Zgrzebnioka 6. Ligota - Panewniki

IV. Eastern District 3. Zawodzie 14. Dąbrówka Mała 15. Szopienice – Burowiec 16. Janów - Nikiszowiec 17. Giszowiec V. Southern District 18. Murcki 19. Piotrowice - Ochojec 20. Zarzecze 21. Kostuchna 22. Podlesie

Conurbation

Katowice lies in the centre of the largest conurbation in Poland, one of the largest in the European Union, numbering about 2.7 million. The Katowice urban area consists of about 40 adjacent cities and towns, the whole Silesian metropolitan area (mostly within the Upper Silesian Coal Basin) over 50 cities or towns. The metropolitan area has a population of 5,294,000. In 2006, Katowice and 14 adjacent cities united as the Upper Silesian Metropolis. Its population is 2 million and its area is 1,104 km². In 2006–2007 the union planned to unite these cities in one city under the name "Silesia", but this proved unsuccessful.[29]

The Katowice conurbation comprises settlements which have evolved because of the mining of metal ores, coal and raw rock materials.[30] The establishment of mining and heavy industry which have developed for the past centuries has resulted in the unique character of the cityscape; its typical aspects are the red brick housing estates[31] constructed for the poorer working class, factory chimneys, manufacturing plants, power stations and quarries. The inhabitants of a large mining community like Katowice, and local administrations within the conurbation, which have only evolved due to mining, are a subject to overall decline after the liquidation of coal mines and factories. This is one of the reasons which led to the development of the service sector, including office spaces, shopping centres and tourism.

District	Population[32] (30 June 2017)	Area (km²)	Density (km²)
Katowice	297,197	164.67	1,896
Sosnowiec	204,958	91.06	2,444
Gliwice	181,715	133.88	1,474
Zabrze	175,016	80.40	2,352
Bytom	168,968	69.44	2,661
Ruda Śląska	138,754	77.73	1,860
Tychy	128,191	81.64	1,590
Dąbrowa Górnicza	121,387	188.73	682
Chorzów	109,151	33.24	3,420
Jaworzno	92,215	152.67	626
Mysłowice	74,600	65.75	1,139
Siemianowice Śląskie	67,710	25.5	2,809
Piekary Śląskie	55,820	39.98	1,477
Świętochłowice	50,529	13.31	4,097

Główny Urząd Statystyczny, Polish statistical office, estimates Katowice's population to be 292,774 as of December 31, 2020, with a population density of 1,778 people/sq km (4,605 people/sq mi). There were 139,274 males and 153,500 females. Age breakdown of people in Katowice is: 12.9% 0-14 years old, 13.7% 15-29 years old, 23.8% 30-44 years old, 19.5% 45-59 years old, 20.1% 60-74 years old, and 9.9% 75 years and older.

Katowice is a center of the Upper Silesian metropolitan area, with a population of approx. 5.3 million. This metropolitan area extends into the neighboring Czechia, where the other center is the city of Ostrava. 41 municipalities that constitute the core of the metropolitan area created the Silesian Metropolis association, which has 2.3 million people as of 2019.

Neo-Renaissance Monopol Hotel opened in 1902

Neo-Gothic St. Mary's Church from the 19th century

Nikiszowiec

Spodek

Katowice did not originate as a medieval town. The city centre was beginning to form in the mid-19th century when it was part of the Kingdom of Prussia and had an ethnic German majority. The buildings of the time are decorated in an eclectic style (mostly Renaissance with elements of Baroque) and elements of Art Nouveau style (Polish: secesja). By the end of the nineteenth century the centre was being referred to as a "little Paris" due to the presence of Parisian-styled tenement houses.[39] Examples of Modernism, especially International Style and Bauhaus inspired architecture, still coexist with modern office buildings in central Katowice. Between the 1950s and 1980s many socialist apartment blocks were constructed around the inner suburbs. Notable examples from that period include a multipurpose arena complex called Spodek and parts of Koszutka district.[40]

Katowice is one of the few cities in Poland where nearly all architectural styles are present. For instance, the Market square in Katowice (Polish: Rynek Katowicki) is surrounded by a vast majority of buildings and edifices representing styles such as neoclassicism, modernism, socialist realism and contemporary-modern. Some tenements have neogothic elements, which are an outstanding example of this type in Central and Eastern Europe. The street outlines, especially within the older inner districts, closely resemble the ones in Paris. Representational boulevards and promenades were established despite the city's strong industrial character. These, however, mostly adorned the city center and not working-class outer suburbs.

Unfortunately many old majestic buildings were demolished in the 1950s to make space for monumental modern blocks. Among other reasons for their destruction was the immense architectural detail which once represented the wealth of local industrialists and property owners. This particularly didn't fit in with the Socialist-Communist authority at the time.

Today, the marketplace and several nearby streets with shopping promenades are closed to traffic.

Silesia City Center – a large shopping mall in Katowice. Located over former coal mine "Gottwald"

Despite relatively small size, Katowice is one of the major industrial, commerce and financial hubs of Poland.

Katowice enjoys a very strong job market. Despite being 11th city in Poland in terms of population, Katowice is the 7th largest number of employed, with 171,839 full-time positions as of 2019. Katowice is also second only to Warsaw in number of commuters coming from other municipalities to work in the city, at 113,830 commuting to work in Katowice.[42] Unemployment rate in Katowice regularly ranks among the lowest in the country, and as of August 2020 it is the lowest in Poland at 1.5% (3,300 unemployed).[43] As of 2018, Katowice had 10th highest salaries in Poland, at PLN 5,698.98 on average.[44]

Katowice transformed its economy from a heavy industry-based to professional services, education and healthcare. As of 2020, it is classified as global Gamma- city according to Globalization and World Cities Research Network, on par with Poznan, Cleveland or Bilbao.[45]

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra building

The Main Concert Hall

Katowice is the cultural centre of the entire Silesian agglomeration inhabited by over two million people and one of the leading cultural spots in Poland.[50] Most importantly, it is a host city to some of the biggest theatrical and stage events. This also includes hosting gatherings and exhibitions as well as film and musical events. Annual musical festivals such as the Rawa Blues, the Tauron New Music Festival, the Silesian Jazz Festival, the Mayday Festival and other concerts, which attract yearly hundreds of thousands of tourists from the entire country. Katowice also temporarily hosts the OFF Festival, the most important alternative event in Poland.[50]

Katowice is the seat of an internationally renowned Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music, as well as the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. The Silesian Philharmonic also has its seat in Katowice. The opening of a new architectural complex of the National Polish Radio Orchestra took place in 2014.

A showcase for Katowice is the "Camerata Silesia" – an ensemble aimed at promoting the city in Poland and overseas. Classical music also plays a significant role in Katowice and the city annually becomes a venue for numerous classical concerts and festivals. The list includes an International Festival of Young Music Competition Laureates, Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors, Chamber Music Festival, Ars Cameralis Festival and Katowice's opera, operettas and most of all ballet. In 2010, as part of the Chopin Year Celebrations, Katowice held the International Chopin Knowledge Challenge, which took place at the Spodek hall.

The BWA Contemporary Art Gallery in Katowice, established in 1949, is a notable institution concerning the Contemporary arts.[51] Every three years, it is responsible for the organisation of the Polish Graphic Art Triennial. Several other galleries feature exhibitions of the works by artists from abroad along with film screenings, workshops for children and public fairs. The Silesian Museum in Katowice, opened in 1929, exhibits works by famous and renowned Polish artists like Józef Chełmoński, Artur Grottger, Tadeusz Makowski, Jacek Malczewski, Jan Matejko, Józef Mehoffer and Stanisław Wyspiański.[50]

List of notable attractions:

New complex of the Silesian Museum with an original mine headframe

Exhibition hall of the museum

A historical townhouse on the corner of Stawowa and Mickiewicz Streets

• Silesian Theatre, named after the Polish writer and painter Stanisław Wyspiański, is the largest theatre in Silesia. It is located exactly in the central part of the market square facing westward. The complex was originally built as a German theatre between 1905 and 1907 by architect Carl Moritz.
• Silesian Museum, founded in 1929 by the Silesian Sejm, while the region was recovering from the Silesian uprisings. In the Polish interbellum (1918–1939), the Silesian Museum was one of the prime institutions within the Second Polish Republic.
• Silesian Philharmonic, originally established in 1945, its most notable members included Witold Małcużyński, Igor Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter and Adam Taubitz.
• Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, created in 1935 and led by Grzegorz Fitelberg until the outbreak of World War II, has recorded nearly 200 compact discs for many domestic and foreign labels.
• Off Festival, a music festival, which also supports a variety of independent arts and cultural events such as exhibitions, workshops and film screenings.
• Rawa Blues Festival, the world's largest indoor blues festival named after the Rawa River, which flows through Katowice.

• Nature reserve Las Murckowski
• Nature reserve Ochojec
• Szopienice-Borki
• Źródła Kłodnicy
• Staw Grunfeld
• Stawy Na Tysiącleciu
• Płone Bagno

Silesian Library in Katowice

Katowice is a large scientific centre. It has over 20 schools of higher education, at which over 100,000 people study.

University of Silesia in Katowice – Faculty of Law and Administration

• University of Silesia in Katowice
• University of Economics in Katowice
• Medical University of Silesia
• Silesian University of Technology
• University of Social Sciences and Humanities
• Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music
• Akademia Lospuma Training Institute
• Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice
• Academy of Physical Education im. Jerzy Kukuczka in Katowice
• Higher Silesian Seminary in Katowice

There are also:

• around 80 high schools
• around 35 gimnasia
• around 55 primary schools
• around 50 libraries, including the Silesian Library

Katowice has a long sporting tradition and hosted the final of EuroBasket 2009 and 1975 European Athletics Indoor Championships, 1975 European Amateur Boxing Championships, 1976 World Ice Hockey Championships, 1957, 1985 European Weightlifting Championships, 1974, 1982 World Wrestling Championships, 1991 World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, 2011 Women's European Union Amateur Boxing Championships, 2014 FIVB Men's World Championship and others.

The Silesian Stadium is between Chorzów and Katowice. It was a national stadium of Poland, with more than 50 international matches of the Poland national football team played here and around 30 matches in UEFA competitions. There were also a Speedway World Championship, Speedway Grand Prix of Europe and many concerts featuring international stars.

Tourists can relax playing tennis or squash, doing water sports also sailing (for example—in Dolina Trzech Stawów), horse-riding (in Wesoła Fala and Silesian culture and refreshment park), cycling or going to one of numerous excellently equipped fitness clubs. Near the city center are sporting facilities like swimming pools (for example "Bugla", "Rolna") and in neighbourhood—Golf courses (in Siemianowice Śląskie).

Maria Goeppert Mayer

Wojciech Kilar

• Hans Sachs (1877–1945), serologist
• Kurt Goldstein (1878–1965), neurologist
• Erich Przywara (1889–1972), priest
• Hans Mikosch (1898–1993), general
• Hans Källner (1898–1945), general
• Franz Leopold Neumann (1900–1954), politician
• Willy Fritsch (1901–1973), actor
• Hans Bellmer (1902–1975), surrealist photographer
• Hans-Christoph Seebohm (1903–1967), politician
• Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1906–1972), physicist, Nobel Prize winner
• Kurt Schwaen (1909–2007), composer
• Rudolf Schnackenburg (1914–2002), priest
• Georg Thomalla (1915–1999), actor
• Ernst Wilimowski (1916–1997), football player
• Ernst Plener (1919–2007), football player
• Anneli Cahn Lax (1922–1999), mathematician
• Richard Herrmann (1923–1962), football player
• Chaskel Besser (1923–2010), Orthodox rabbi
• Kazimierz Kutz (born 1929), film director and politician
• Waldemar Świerzy (1931–2013), artist, illustrator and cartoonist
• Wojciech Kilar (1932–2013), classical and film music composer
• Janusz Sidło (1933–1993), javelin thrower
• Henryk Górecki (1933–2010), classical composer
• Josef Kompalla (born 1936), ice hockey player and referee
• Henryk Broder (born 1946), journalist
• Jerzy Kukuczka (1948–1989), alpine and high altitude climber
• Grzegorz Kosok (born 1986), volleyball player
• Zuzanna Bijoch (born 1994), fashion model

Katowice is twinned with:[58]

• List of mayors of Katowice
• List of tallest buildings in Katowice

• The Municipal Council of the City of Katowice
• Interesting things and places in Katowice