Is Katowice Worth Visiting While Travelling in Poland?

When people visit Poland, the destinations they choose often focus on pretty centuries-old architecture and immense or tragic history. But not everywhere in Poland is like that. Katowice isn’t, not really, so that begs the question, is Katowice worth visiting?

Like the super creative city of Lodz, the southern city of Katowice is an unconventional Polish city to explore. It’s a former industrial city that clearly intends to become an intriguing modern hub of business and commerce. Once you realize that there are also quite a few things to see in Katowice, you see how this dark horse destination can be an interesting and unusual addition to your next Poland trip.

Don’t Expect Krakow

Katowice isn’t far from the ever-popular tourist destination of Krakow, also in Silesia, but the two cities couldn’t be more different.

Whereas Krakow is a wonderfully preserved historic city, Katowice’s story and appearance are far less romantic. The city was a major industrial city for much of the 20th century, gradually transforming in recent years into a modernizing cultural and economic hub. Various things to see in Katowice help you see how this once-grey industrial city has now become an intriguing modern destination.

20th Century Architecture

Right off the bat, the thing that is most obvious when you visit Katowice is the general look of the city. Gone are the medieval gabled houses of Gdansk or Poznan. Instead, the architecture of Katowice takes on a more industrial, 20th-century flavour.

There are a few factors to that it seems. One is that Katowice was only a village for much of its life, gaining city status in 1865. Then there’s the fact that the city was devastated during World War II, so it’s lucky to have anything that survived that turbulent period. What all this means is that Katowice isn’t the textbook pretty Polish city you may have come to expect.

That’s not to say it’s ugly, only that its charms and character come through in other ways. There are still some interesting tenement houses in the city centre and quite a few grand buildings along major streets like 3 Maja Street and around Rynek Square.

However, the further you stray from the very centre of the city the fewer of these buildings you’ll find because of WWII. Still, it’s also worth checking out the far side of the Katowice Station as that area is also home to some interesting buildings too.

Hints of Modernisation

With the events of the 20th century and the slowly changing fortunes of Katowice, the city has been changing a lot in recent years. It seems that new modern buildings are popping up all over the city, making it a great destination to see what modern Poland is like. These new developments go hand in hand with the city’s increasing reputation as a major financial and business hub in the south of Poland.

You only need to look at the huge shopping complex that surrounds Katowice Station to get a sense of things. However, a better example would have to be Rynek Square, as there you get a taste of both old and new Katowice. In the square’s centre, you’ll find a redeveloped public space with fountains and even sun lounges by a small canal.

Silesian Uprisings Memorial

Poland never seems to shy away from large memorials to the past. I’ve seen quite a few of them over my visits to the country and yet I think the Silesian Uprisings Memorial may be the most beautiful and moving yet. Dedicated to those who sought to have Silesia become part of Poland in the uprisings of 1919-21, the monument is hard to miss. Made of three wings each representing one of the uprisings of this period, the memorial manages to be both beautiful and solemn.

History of Mining

Katowice’s growth from village to big city is all tied to the major mining industry that sprung up there. It doesn’t take long to walk from the city centre to once-industrial areas full of former factories and warehouses. You can even find a former coal mining site just over from apartment buildings and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.

However, since there is no longer mining there, these old industrial buildings have been repurposed to host some of the city’s Silesian Museum. Side by side you’ll find exhibits here that range from the history of the region to the mining industry to art and fashion. I think it’s a clever way to honour the past and still utilise this large piece of central real estate.

Archcathedral of Christ the King

One of the staples of sightseeing in Poland is the many churches you’ll find in this deeply Catholic country. Often there’s an important weight of history behind the churches in Poland, but I guess not always. Sometimes, as is the case with the Archcathedral of Christ the King, they’re interesting for other reasons.

Built in the 20th century, the archcathedral may not be overly historic but it’s still noteworthy nonetheless. That’s because it’s simply massive – the largest cathedral in all of Poland, in fact. With its classical design, it makes quite the statement from the front and seems even larger once you step inside.

That being said, I wouldn’t blame you for not realising that this is a cathedral at all, as it certainly doesn’t have the typical look of one. It kind of looks more like a government or financial building to me from the outside, although the inside is a different matter.

You may be asking, what exactly is an archcathedral? Honestly, I have no idea what an archcathedral is. It seems to be something particular to Poland and even Google can’t give me a good answer. If you know, please let me know in the comments, purely for curiosity’s sake.

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

One of Katowice’s proudest cultural honours is that it has been home to the renowned Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra since 1945. Housed inside a brand new concert hall, this orchestra is a nationally acclaimed institution that has performed and been recorded across Poland and internationally as well.

Quite coincidentally I had the chance to meet a former member of the orchestra while out and about sightseeing. Just outside the hall, I met Antony Felix, a viola player who had performed with the group for 47 years. He was delighted to learn that I was Australian, as he had toured Australia with the orchestra some years ago.

With a little English, he insisted that I come inside the hall and let him show me around. So in the end, I wound up taking a 10-minute tour of this concert hall with a 90-year-old viola player after a chance meeting crossing the road.

Advice for Visiting Katowice in Poland

Part of what makes visiting Katowice such an appealing option when in Poland is that you don’t need too long to see it. Conveniently located on the route from Wroclaw to Krakow, it can be a useful place to break up the journey. Plus it’s possible to stay there one day and feel like you’ve got a good sense of the city.

Unlike some places, the main train station is right in the heart of the city which makes getting there super convenient. It’s also a major train junction for the region so getting there by train is pretty easy.

You won’t have any problems finding accommodation in Katowice. That may seem strange but much of it is likely there for business travellers. For a cheap and central option, I’d recommend Hostel Sentral. My stay there was pretty good and it’s close to everything in the city centre.

Would you consider adding visiting Katowice to your next Poland trip? Do you like mixing up the types of places you’re going to when you travel? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.