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"Kattowitz" redirects here. For other uses, see Kattowitz (disambiguation).
Katowice


Left to right: Skyscrapers in city center • Panorama of Miasto Katowice •
Silesian Museum • Archcathedral • Silesian Theatre • Spodek
Flag of Katowice
Flag
Coat of arms of Katowice
Coat of arms
Katowice is located in Poland
Katowice
Katowice
Coordinates: 50°15′N 19°0′E / 50.250°N 19.000°E / 50.250; 19.000
Country Poland
Voivodeship Silesian
Countycity county
Established16th century - 1598 first official information
City rights1865
Government
 • MayorPiotr Uszok
Area
 • City164.67 km2 (63.58 sq mi)
Highest elevation
352 m (1,155 ft)
Lowest elevation
266 m (873 ft)
Population
 (2013)
 • City307,233
 • Density1,900/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
 • Urban
2,746,000
 • Metro
4,620,624
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
40-001 to 40-999
Area code+48 32
Car platesSK
Websitehttp://www.um.katowice.pl

Katowice /ˌkætəˈviːtsə/ (Polish: [katɔˈvit͡sɛ] ⓘ; German: Kattowitz, Silesian: Katowicy, officialy Miasto Katowice City of 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. It is the central district of the Silesian Metropolis, a territorial entity operating on the principle of metropolitan municipality, with a population of 2 million.[1]

Katowice is the center of science, culture, industry, business, trade fair/exhibitions and transportation in the Upper Silesia region and southern Poland. It is the main city in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region. Katowice lies within an urban zone, with a population of 2,746,460 according to Eurostat,[2] and also part of the wider Silesian metropolitan area, with a population of 5,294,000 according to the European Spatial Planning Observation Network.[3] Today, Katowice is a rapidly growing city and emerging metropolis.[4] It is the 16th economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union with an output amounting to $114.5 billion.[5]

Katowice has been the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999. Previously it was the capital of the Katowice Voivodeship, the Silesian Voivodeship, and the Province of Upper Silesia in Germany.

History edit

Further information: History of Katowice
 
The Silesian Parliament in Katowice.

The area around Katowice, in Upper Silesia, has been inhabited by ethnic Silesians from its earliest documented history.[citation needed] It was first ruled by the Polish Silesian Piast dynasty until its extinction. From 1335, it was a part of the Crown of Bohemia. In 1526 the territory passed to the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy after the death of King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia. In 1742, most of Silesia was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia during the First Silesian War.

Kattowitz gained city status in 1865 in the Prussian Province of Silesia.[citation needed] 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.

Under the Treaty of Versailles after World War I, the Upper Silesia plebiscite was organised by the League of Nations. Though Kattowitz voted 22,774 to remain in Germany and 3,900 for Poland,[6] it was attached to Poland as the district in which it was located voted 66,119 for Poland and 52,992 for Germany.[7] Following the Silesian Uprisings (1918–21) Katowice became part of the Second Polish Republic with some autonomy (Silesian Parliament as a constituency and Silesian Voivodeship Council as the executive body).

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

 
Archcathedral of Christ the King in Katowice

In 1953, after death of the General Secretary of the KPSU generalissimus Iosif Stalin the City of Katowice was renamed Stalinogród ("Stalin City", like a lot of cities in that time e.g. Staliniri, but originally named after I.V. Stalin death) by the Polish United Workers' Party comrades' government to honor the passing of the Soviet dictator, but the new name was never accepted by the population and in 1956 the former name was restored.

Severe ecological damage to the environment occurred during the post-Second World War communist governance in the People's Republic of Poland, but recent changes in regulations, procedures and policies of Polish government since the fall of Communism have reversed much of the harm that was done.[8]

Due to economic reforms, there has been a shift away from heavy industry, and towards small businesses.

Geography edit

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 Upper 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, on the Silesian Highlands. 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.

Climate edit

The climate is oceanic. [citation needed] The average temperature is 8.2 °Celsius (−1.5 °C (29 °F) in January and up to 18 °C (64 °F) in July). Yearly rainfall averages at 608.5 mm (23.96 in). Characteristic weak winds blow at about 2 m/s from the west, the Moravian Gate. [citation needed]

Climate data for Katowice
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1
(34) 		3
(37) 		7
(45) 		13
(55) 		19
(66) 		21
(70) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		18
(64) 		13
(55) 		6
(43) 		2
(36) 		12.4
(54.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.5
(29.3) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		3.0
(37.4) 		8.0
(46.4) 		13.5
(56.3) 		16.0
(60.8) 		18.0
(64.4) 		17.5
(63.5) 		13.5
(56.3) 		9.0
(48.2) 		3.0
(37.4) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		8.2
(46.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4
(25) 		−4
(25) 		−1
(30) 		3
(37) 		8
(46) 		11
(52) 		13
(55) 		12
(54) 		9
(48) 		5
(41) 		0
(32) 		−3
(27) 		4.0
(39.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 30.4
(1.20) 		29.2
(1.15) 		32.4
(1.28) 		36.8
(1.45) 		52.9
(2.08) 		59.5
(2.34) 		73.7
(2.90) 		51.1
(2.01) 		44.9
(1.77) 		35.2
(1.39) 		37.6
(1.48) 		32.8
(1.29) 		608.5
(23.96)
Source: MSN Weather[9]

Districts edit

 
Districts of Katowice
I. Central
II. North Side
III. West Side
IV. East Side
V. South Side

Cityscape edit

Katowice was hardly hit by both First and Second World War, contrary to other Polish cities (most notably the Polish capital - Warsaw), therefore it enjoys a great amount of prewar architecture. Its wide range of architectural styles reflects the consecutive waves of urban development, changing political doctrines and mobile society.

Katowice is mostly known for its modernism, both pre- and postwar. The creation of Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship in 1922 caused a large demand for comfortable upper middle-class housing and administrative buildings. The most famed of those buildings was the Silesian Congress, completed in 1929. The majority of prewar investments were concentrated in the area south of the train station, creating an unique and large neighborhood. After the war, the second wave of modernism was associated with the socialist ideology. Since 1960s, the whole new city center was built north to the old downtown. It is filled with large, wide avenues, enormous housing blocks (most notably Superjednostka, inspired by Le Corbusier's Unité d'Habitation), skyscrapers and the Spodek arena.

Giszowiec district in East Side is worth noticing as a great example of a 19/20th century garden city. Unfortunately, parts of Giszowiec were destroyed in 1970s to make space for Soviet-style housing blocs. The neighboring district of Nikiszowiec is a famous miners' town, with characteristic Upper Silesian housing blocs.

Demographics edit

Katowice's demographic situation is similar to other post-industrial cities in Europe and Northern America. After decades of population growth, a drastic shift has taken place. Katowice's population peaked in 1987 at 368,621 and has shrank to 307,233 in 2012 since. Of that, 14.4 percent is 17 or younger, 63.8 percent is 18-64 years old and 21,8 percent is 65 or older. This decline is caused by both suburbanization and negative natural population growth.

Metropolitan Area edit

 
Upper Silesian Metropolis - central part of conurbation
 
Map of central Katowice

Katowice lies in the centre of the largest conurbation in Poland, one of the largest in the European Union, numbering about 2.7 million. Urban expansion boomed in the 19th century thanks to the rapid development of the mining and metallurgical industries.[citation needed] 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/town. 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.[10]

 
Katowice, Silesian Theatre

Politics edit

Katowice is a seat of local government

Culture edit

Notable attractions include:

 
Katowice, Silesian Museum

Music edit

Media edit

TV stations:
radio stations:
newspapers:
 
Katowice, Spodek

Festivals and events edit

 
Tauron New Music Festival

Parks and squares edit

 
Parachute Tower in Tadeusz Kościuszko Park
Main parks:
Square:

Nature reserves and ecological areas edit

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

Architecture edit

 
Map of Katowice's modern architecture built 1922-1939

Katowice did not originate as a medieval town. The city centre was formed 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 (secesja). By the end of the nineteenth century the centre was being referred to as a "little Paris", which may surprise visitors today,[11]

Examples of Modernism (International Style and Bauhaus inspired architecture) are in the city centre, and a significant number of Art Nouveau (Secesja) buildings along with Communist Era giants such as Spodek and Superjednostka.

Rynek is the old centre and marketplace. Unfortunately many old buildings were demolished in the 1950s to make space for monumental communist modern buildings. [citation needed] Rynek and several streets around are closed to traffic as a shopping promenades.

Tourist attractions edit

 
Market square in Katowice
 
St. Mary's Church, Katowice
 
Silesian Insurgents Monument and Spodek
  • Market square and adjacent streets: Warszawska, Teatralna, Dyrekcyjna, Staromiejska, Dworcowa, św. Jana, Pocztowa, Wawelska, 3 Maja, Stawowa, Mielęckiego, Starowiejska and Mickiewicza, the so-called "Great Market Square of Katowice" or "Old town of Katowice" — many historic (monument) buildings. This is a group of functional-architectural. On the market square and most of the above-mentioned streets are prohibitions or restrictions on cars. Streets: Staromiejska, Dyrekcyjna, Wawelska, Stawowa and Warszawska is lined decorative cobblestone creating a pedestrian zone. The authority plans to Katowice — Quarter streets: św. Jana, Dworcowa, Mariacka, Mielęckiego, Stanisława and Starowiejska is to become so "small market square".[12]
  • Modernist Old-Town
  • Silesian Insurgents Monument (Polish: Pomnik Powstańców Śląskich), the largest and heaviest monument in Poland. It is a harmonious combination of architecture and sculpture with appropriate symbolism: the wings symbolize the three Silesian Uprisings 1919 - 1920 - 1921 while the names of places that were battlefields are etched on the vertical slopes. The monument, which was funded by the people of Warsaw for Upper Silesia, is considered Katowice's landmark.
  • Silesian Theater, built in 1907
  • Rialto Cinetheater, built in 1912
  • Silesian Museum, built in 1899
  • Old train station in Katowice, built in 1906
  • The Goldstein Palace
  • The Załęże Palace
  • Parachute Tower - a 50 m (160 ft) tall lattice tower built in 1937 for training parachutists. It was used in the first days of World War II and is the only parachute tower in Poland.

Other:

Economy edit

 
Silesia City Center - Large shopping mall in Katowice. Located over former coal mine "Gottwald"

Katowice is a large coal and steel center. It has several coal mines (Wujek Coal Mine, Mysłowice-Wesoła Coal Mine, Wieczorek Coal Mine, Murcki Coal Mine, Staszic Coal Mine) organized into unions — Katowice Coal Holding company (pl: Katowicki Holding Węglowy), two steelworks (Huta Baildon, Huta Ferum), and one foundry of non-ferrous metals (Huta Metali Nieżelaznych Szopienice).


Katowice is a large business and trade fair center. Every year in Katowice International Fair and Spodek, 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 Roździeńskiego street in the centre. The newest office buildings (A-class) are the Chorzowska 50, Altus Skyscraper and Silesia Towers (under construction).

Katowice is the seat of Katowice Special Economic Zone (Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna).

The unemployment rateis one of the lowest in Poland, at 2% (2008).[13] The city is still characterized by its working class strength and attracts many people from neighbouring cities (other districts USMU seeking jobs.

The average monthly salary is the highest in Poland — about 4222,52 zł ($~1,220), in Warsaw about 4135,93 zł ($~1,200).[14]

Education edit

 
Scientific Information Centre and Academic Library
 
Silesian Library in Katowice
Main article: List of schools of higher education in Katowice

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

There are also:

Transport edit

Public transport edit

 
Tram in Katowice
 
National road 79 in Katowice

The public transportation system of the Katowice and Upper Silesian Metropolis consists of four branches — buses and trams united in the KZK GOP and the regional rail. Additional services are operated by private companies and the state-owned railways.

Trams

Silesian Interurbans - one of the largest tram systems in the world, in existence since 1894. It spreads for more than 50 kilometres (31 miles) (east-west) and covers 14 districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolis.

Buses

Roads edit

Several important roads in neighbourhoods of Katowice (USMU):

Airports edit

 
Lobby from the upper level in terminal B in Katowice International Airport

The city and the area are served by the Katowice International Airport, about 30 km (19 mi) from the city center. 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 distance to the airport, there is a proposal to convert the much closer sport aviation Katowice-Muchowiec Airport into a city airport for smaller, business-oriented traffic.

Railways edit

The first railway (the Upper Silesia Railway, in Polish: Kolej Górnośląska; in German: Oberschlesische Eisenbahn) reached the area in 1846. Katowice is one of the main railway nodes and exchange points in Silesia and in Poland. It is one of the main transport hubs for the Polskie Koleje Państwowe (Polish State Railways) in Poland (the most important one being Warsaw). Katowice Central Station was demolished recently, and a new station is under construction. Trains run to almost every major city in Poland and Europe.

 
Katowice Central Station at night

Sports edit

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).

Sports clubs edit

Defunct sports clubs:

  • Diana Kattowitz - football club
  • Germania Kattowitz - football club
  • KS Baildon Katowice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship in various sports
  • Pogoń Katowice - various sports, a lot of medals in the Polish Championship in various sports

Sports events edit

Notable residents edit

Main page: Category:People from Katowice
 
University of Silesia in Katowice - Faculty of Law and Administration

Twin towns — Sister cities edit

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Katowice is twinned with:

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ million "Aglomeracja śląska w liczbach - Podmioty gospodarki narodowej - Powierzchnia i ludność" - GUS, 2008
  2. ^ "CityProfiles: Katowice". The Urban Audit. Retrieved 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ "Study on Urban Functions (Project 1.4.3)" - European Spatial Planning Observation Network, 2007
  4. ^ Interim Territorial Cohesion Report - Preliminary results of ESPON and EU Commission studies
  5. ^ "Global city GDP 2011". Brookings Institution. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  6. ^ Von Krakau bis Danzig (in German). Thomas Urban. 2004. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  7. ^ Documents on British foreign policy, 1919-1939 Great Britain. Foreign Office, Ernest Llewellyn Woodward page 44
  8. ^ Auer, Matthew R. 2004. “Lessons from Leaders and Laggards: Appraising Environmental Reforms in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia,” in Matthew R. Auer, ed., Restoring Cursed Earth: Appraising Environmental Policy Reforms in Eastern Europe and Russia. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield: page 6.
  9. ^ "Local weather forecast: Katowice".
  10. ^ (in Polish) dziennik.pl - "17 śląskich miast chce się połączyć w Silesię", 11 December 2006)
  11. ^ "Wydawnictwo Muzeum Śląskiego: Lech Szaraniec "Katowice w dawnej i współczesnej fotografii".
  12. ^ Dziennik Zachodni Katowice - "Będą dwie Mariackie", 3 sierpnia 2007
  13. ^ "Bezrobotni oraz stopa bezrobocia wg województw, podregionów i powiatów (stan w końcu lipca 2008 r.)".
  14. ^ "Voivodship Cities basic statistical data" - Central Statistical Office in Poland, ISSN 1642-574X , 31.06.2008
  15. ^ "Partnerstädte". Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  16. ^ "Groningen - Partner Cities". © 2008 Gemeente Groningen, Kreupelstraat 1,9712 HW Groningen. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  17. ^ "Twin cities of the City of Kosice". Magistrát mesta Košice, Tr. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
  18. ^ "Mobile's Sister Cities". City of Mobile. Retrieved 2009-11-26.

External links edit

50°16′N 19°01′E / 50.267°N 19.017°E / 50.267; 19.017

Category:Cities in Silesia Category:City counties of Poland Category:Cities and towns in Silesian Voivodeship

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