The Silesia

Silesia The beginning of urban settlement in Upper Silesia dates back to the 13th century. People cannot believe that towns such as Gliwice and Bytom are over 750 years old. It is said that Tarnowskie Góry are the oldest mining centres in Europe. Upper Silesia has the richest hard coal deposits in Europe. With its concentration of coal mines and various industries Upper Silesia is the most important place for the Polish economy.

Silesia The Region is a significant centre of science, culture and education. The Province of Silesia is home to 13 universities and institutions of higher education, over ten science and research institutes, 44 museums, 14 theatres, 4 philharmonic orchestras and dozens of local music groups.

Silesia Upper Silesia Upper Silesia is the name of the region of Poland located in the southern part of the country, almost in the very centre of Europe. It has borders with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The main road and rail arteries linking Poland with Europe run through the city and metropolitan area in an East-West direction, (connecting Germany with the Ukraine) and along the North- South axis connecting Scandinavian countries with Vienna. Average temperature: July: 17 o C; December: -2.7 o C. Average rainfall: 514 mm. Locations above sea level m.

Silesia Katowice is the main city of the Upper Silesia Region and the centre of a metropolitan area of nearly 3 million inhabitants; more than a quarter of the population of Poland lives within an hour's drive from Katowice. When describing Katowice - the capital city of Upper Silesia, one cannot avoid the word "great".

Silesia - Katowice The Kosciuszko Park, which has existed since 1925, belongs to the most famous and frequented ones and it is situated at the street of the same name. Its beginning dates back to 1888 when a municipal park was founded there. The present area ot the park is 72 ha. Its arrangement is influenced by English gardens- parks, what is emphasized by an alley of roses. They turned to wild and it used to belong to the most beautiful one in Katowice. After dusk the park is lit by stylish street lamps but it is not a safe part of the town in the evening. In the park there are several structures which are worth seeing. Inside the park there is a commemorative plaque founded for the patron, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, by people of Katowice in The parachute tower also dates back to that time, now it is being rebuilt and its height is 40 m; it was erected as a training structure.

Silesia - Katowice The Silesian Insurgents Monument, 1967, designed by G. Zemla - a sculpture - W. Zablocki - an architect. One of the best designed Polish monuments, very well exposed. A harmonious combination of the architecture and the sculpture, an appropiate symbolism - the wings symbolize the three Silesian uprisings , on the vertical slopes names of places - battlefields. Funded by people from Warsaw for Upper Silesia. It is considered to be a landmark of the town.

Silesia - Będzin History: wooden watchtower was burned by Tatars construction of the Castle is finished Henryk Walezy stops here on his way to coronation in Cracow Principle Maksymilian after defeat on Byczyna ceases his right to Polish Throne (so called Bedzin's Treaty) The city and castle is burned; castle is rebuilt the castle is destroyed by Swedes in the time of "Potop", the next rebuilding John III Sobieski stops there on his way to the rescue of Vienna. XVIII - castle is ruined castle is rebuilt in a romantic style (architect F. Lanci) castle is rebuilt in a romantic style (architect F. Lanci) once again castle becomes a ruin final reconstruction

Silesia - Chorzów Chorzów, located in the very heart of the Katowice agglomeration, was only a few years back a typical Upper Silesian centre of huge industry. This one and only nature- recreation complex with a funfair, zoological garden, ethnographic park, cable railway, as well as the modernised, and regarded as the national Silesian Stadium, is more and more attractive.