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airplanemode_activeFlights to Katowice (KTW)
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filter_dramaUnderstandKatowice sits at the intersection of major road and rail routes connecting Poland to the rest of Europe in all directions, making the city relatively easy to get in and out of. Until recently, the dominant economic sectors in the region were mining, steel, electrical machinery, electronics, and chemicals. Due to economic and political changes in the last three decades, this situation has changed dramatically, with heavy industry giving way to the commerce, tourism, trade fair and service industries.
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History
The origins of Katowice date to 1397 when the settlement of Kuźnica was founded. Katowice was first mentioned as a village surrounded by dense forests in 1598. In the 18th century, numerous work colonies sprang up in the region, and by 1769 and 1770, the Prussian Duke of Pless established an underground coal mine in the area. The next industrial sites were the Hohenlohe steelworks in the village of Wełnowiec, founded in 1805, the Baildon steelworks in 1828 (named after their founder, a Scotsman), and the Wilhelmina zinc works in 1834.
Situated in the Upper Silesian Province of the German Empire, Katowice (then known by its German name, Kattowitz) achieved the status as a county town in 1873. By 1897, Katowice further grew after being crafted into a separate urban district, which also included the suburban municipalities of Bogucice, Zawodzie, Dąb, Wełnowiec and Załęże.
In 1889, one of the largest companies in Upper Silesia, the Kattowitzer Aktien-Gesellschaft, was set up with its headquarters in the city. As a result, major insurance companies and large-cap banks were attracted to Katowice. During the First World War, the steel industry continued to develop at a frenetic pace. Rail connections were also developed during this period, connecting the city throughout the German Empire and with neighboring Austria-Hungary.
In the aftermath of World War I, discontent with Katowice's Polish population with German authorities reached a boiling point. Beginning in 1919, Polish armed insurgents launched a series of uprisings against Weimar Germany, encouraged on by the newly-independent Second Polish Republic. After the Third Silesian Uprising in 1921, the most successful of all the rebellions, Katowice was annexed by Poland as part of Silesian Voivodeship under the terms of a German-Polish peace treaty. The Polish government gave the province considerable autonomy, with Katowice serving as the provincial capital and home of the Silesian Parliament. Between 1922 to 1939, Katowice experienced massive industrial and population growth.
In 1975, the neighbouring municipalities of Piotrowice [url=http://www.piotrowice.katowice.pl],]Ochojec, Panewniki, Kostuchna [url=http://kostuchna.boo.pl[/url],]Wełnowiec, Szopienice, Giszowiec, Dąbrówka Mała and Murcki were merged with Katowice. Construction works further commenced within the city center. The main communications artery (al. W. Korfantego) was widened and old industrial buildings to the west of this road were demolished. To the east, the historic Tiele-Winckler Palace was also demolished. In the market place, old buildings were replaced by modern shops, including Zenit, Skarbek, and also the Dom Prasy.
The construction of the flying saucer-like Spodek between 1964 to 1971 had a significant impact on the city. The Millennium Housing Estate on the border of Katowice and Chorzów, along with the Paderewski Estate to the east of the city, the Południe Estate in the suburbs of Kostuchna, Piotrowice, Ligota [http://www.ligota.info[/url], and the Roździeński Housing Estate all contributed in shifting the character of Katowice to an ideal, urban socialist workers city. The fall of communism in 1989 and the economic changes that followed would significantly alter the city again towards the end of the 20th century.
Currently, Katowice is going through yet another transformation, complete with a massive refurbishing of the city's historic downtown core, new investments in buildings and transportation, and a large burst of growth in the service and commercial industries.
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filter_dramaGet in
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By plane
Travelers by plane can arrive at [url=http://www.katowice-airport.com/en]Katowice International Airport[/url] (KTW), known also as Pyrzowice. The airport is 34 km (21 mi) from the city center. Katowice is one of the major hubs for Hungarian [wiki=55c4f48c4e5ad288c770be9ebdf0778a]low cost airline[/wiki] [url=http://wizzair.com]Wizzair[/url], as well as a major destination for [url=http://www.ryanair.com]Ryanair[/url]. There is also limited service provided by [url=http://www.germanwings.com]Germanwings[/url]. Major airlines, including Polish national carrier [url=https://www.lot.com]LOT[/url] and German carrier [url=http://www.lufthansa.com]Lufthansa[/url] also operate routes to Katowice. A slew of seasonal charter flights additionally operate out of the airport during the spring and summer months, though mainly to southern Europe, Asia and northern Africa.
Regular services include:
Domestic:
*[url=http://www.lot.com]LOT Polish Airlines[/url] (Warsaw)
International:
*Germanwings (Dusseldorf)
*Lufthansa (Frankfurt)
*Ryanair (Alicante, Birmingham, Chania, Dublin, London-Stansted
*[url=http://www.wizzair.com]Wizzair[/url] Barcelona, [wiki=623145997cee6352dace475eaf530fff]Belfast[/wiki], Bergen, Bristol, Bologna, Cologne, Dortmund, Doncaster, Eindhoven, Frankfurt-Hahn,Glasgow, Kiev-Zhulyany, Kutaisi, Larnaca, London-Luton , Maastricht, Malmö-Sturup, Milan-Bergamo, Naples, Oslo-Torp, Paris-Beauvais, Rome-Ciampino, Stavanger, Stockholm-Skavsta, Tel Aviv
Seasonal: Bourgas, Grenoble
Shuttle buses operated by [url=http://www.pkm.katowice.pl/]PKM Katowice[/url] can be found outside the terminal building, and will take visitors directly to the city center, dropping passengers off near the main railway station (Katowice Dworzec).
A cheaper option is to take local bus (85) and then change at Bytom for either express buses 820 or 830. Bus schedules can be researched by [url=http://rozklady.kzkgop.pl/]KZK GOP[/url].
Visitors can also arrive via [wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków's[/wiki] [url=http://www.krakowairport.pl/en]John Paul II International Airport[/url] (KRK), known to locals as Balice. The airport is centered 68 km (42 mi) east of Katowice, or about a 45 minute drive. Balice is a destination for a large number of European and international airlines, including [url=http://www.aeroflot.ru/cms/en]Aeroflot[/url], [url=http://www.airberlin.com/site/start.php?LANG=eng]Air Berlin[/url], [url=http://www.alitalia.com/gb_en/index.html]Alitalia[/url], [url=http://www.austrian.com/]Austrian Airlines[/url], [url=http://eurolot.com/]Eurolot[/url], [url=http://www.finnair.com/INT/GB/select-country]Finnair[/url], [url=http://www.lot.com/]LOT[/url], [url=http://www.lufthansa.com/]Lufthansa[/url], and [url=http://www.norwegian.com/]Norwegian[/url]. A number of [wiki=55c4f48c4e5ad288c770be9ebdf0778a]low cost airlines[/wiki] also operate out of Balice, such as [url=http://www.easyjet.com/en/]EasyJet[/url], [url=http://www.germanwings.com]Germanwings[/url], [url=http://www.jet2.com/]Jet2[/url], and [url=http://www.ryanair.com/]Ryanair[/url]. -
By train
Katowice Dworzec PKP is the city's major railway center, and is a hub for rail transport throughout [wiki=4818e60a656c4ae26f6eabb97948e325]Silesia[/wiki] and much of southern [wiki=94880bda83bda77c5692876700711f15]Poland[/wiki]. The station serves as a hub for national rail operator [url=http://www.intercity.pl/en/]PKP Intercity[/url], regional rail company [url=http://www.przewozyregionalne.pl/]Przewozy Regionalne[/url], and provincial operator [url=http://kolejeslaskie.com/pl]Koleje Śląskie[/url]. Completely remodeled between 2010 to 2013, Katowice's railway station is extremely convenient for travelers to use due of its numerous cafes, good signage, modern atmosphere, and its convenient location in the city center. Underneath the station is a central bus depot for travelers arriving and departing by buses, which has modern backlighting and nice colors to invite passengers on its 10 routes. Additionally, the train station is attached to the large and modern [url=http://galeriakatowicka.eu/?lang=en]Galerie Katowicka[/url] shopping mall.
Trains from all parts of the country and elsewhere around Europe serve Katowice. There are fourteen trains per day between [wiki=ab014f5797b79c42d078976b9d1a413c]Warsaw[/wiki] and Katowice and twenty-eight trains per day between [wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków[/wiki] and Katowice during the day; the journey takes 180 minutes (from Warsaw) and 80 minutes (from Kraków). You can arrive by train directly from [wiki=601f9226a92f0a314068aa4395f65528]Vienna[/wiki], [wiki=9fed5dae86e3030d9be3740efa198659]Budapest[/wiki], [wiki=c5c12fffd30a23e3468076da2e046b90]Kiev[/wiki], [wiki=ee1611b61f5688e70c12b40684dbb395]Berlin[/wiki], [wiki=e8ccda910b08840a1e06043510e9e175]Ostrava[/wiki], [wiki=a71105026dfe9155f7ac4d18e494a40b]Prague[/wiki], [wiki=f92849c0c90562d410aa0e052ec1d0d7]Bohumin[/wiki], [wiki=c114af7c3a3c9bbbbe2875e03aa486f7]Bratislava[/wiki], [wiki=a81c611bcaeebb315e45f9c683e60627]Zilina[/wiki], [wiki=1dabfe19ef088a7d8c6cce412bc10e86]Český Těšín[/wiki], [wiki=35d7df6ed3d93be2927d14acc5f1fc9a]Hamburg[/wiki], [wiki=7e35e74e610188414ad24235dd787c78]Moscow[/wiki], and [wiki=8787a878258ef18bb38d9163f41b846c]Minsk[/wiki]. Luggage lockers are also provided for at the station. -
By bus
Long-distance bus services will arrive at Dworzec Autobusowy Katowice (sometimes abbreviated as D.A. Katowice or PKS Katowice) at ul. Piotra Skargi 1. One of the station's main operators is [url=http://www.eurolines-polska.pl/]Eurolines[/url], providing connections to a number of domestic and European destinations.
[url=http://www.uni-bus.com.pl/rozklad_jazdy]Unibus[/url] and [url=http://www.bus-inter.pl/]Bus-Inter[/url] travel regularly (both operate twice per hour) throughout the day between Katowice and [wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków[/wiki]. The fare is 20 zł one way (17 zł discounted with student ID or younger than 26), and it is suggested that passengers should book in advance, especially during Polish holidays and during peak commuting hours. Unibus use large modern coaches suitable for passengers with a lot of luggage, while Bus-Inter uses modern minibuses which may struggle to take large luggage during busy periods. On the other hand Bus-Inter is generally more responsive to demand and puts on extra minibuses during peak periods. Both operators state the route Katowice-Kraków route takes approximately 80 minutes depending on traffic.
[url=http://www.polskibus.com/en]PolskiBus[/url] offers daily routes from Katowice to the following locations and times: Warsaw (near Metro Wilanow) via [wiki=7b43f16be63907ef553aca7d74ad3575]Częstochowa[/wiki] (6:10, 10:00, 16:45, 23:45); and [wiki=601f9226a92f0a314068aa4395f65528]Vienna[/wiki] via [wiki=c114af7c3a3c9bbbbe2875e03aa486f7]Bratislava[/wiki] (13:15, 23:00). Fares can be as cheap as 1 zł to as much as 60 zł.
There are also a number of smaller private minibuses which operate between to and from Katowice. One such minibus company is [url=http://www.tigerexpress.eu/en/]Tigerexpress[/url], which connects Katowice with Krakow, Prague and other Czech cities, Vienna, and Bratislava and several Slovak cities. -
By car
Katowice is well-connected to Poland's highway network, and serves as an important crossroads city. Katowice lies on the important A4 motorway (E40), one of the main traffic routes for all of southern Poland. The motorway links city together with [wiki=f4517d72af7e20f73938e75060c4a35d]Opole[/wiki] and [wiki=fecc282d62f0b383d2cb6c76933666a8]Wrocław[/wiki] from the west and [wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków[/wiki], [wiki=96c452707a279ecf0bdde4458096835f]Tarnów[/wiki] and [wiki=68cfca455813f0246a4ab2ec0d81d117]Rzeszów[/wiki] to the east. The city is also linked from the south by the A1 motorway, connecting the city to the [wiki=51802d8bb965d0e5be697f07d16922e8]Czech Republic[/wiki]. The motorway is expected to connect to [wiki=33c89df2492e8d3efda719c849b530ea]Łódź[/wiki] in the coming decade.
There are also a number of expressways crisscrossing Katowice and connecting the city to the rest of the province and the country. The Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa, better known as the DTŚ (signed as DK79 and DW902) is a large inner city highway linking Katowice to neighboring cities in the Silesian Metropolis, including [wiki=8384a4750e033fa4236398255d8623f3]Ruda Śląska[/wiki], Świętochłowice, and soon [wiki=715491022a3a0ae06f4561d4a7dc5e49]Gliwice[/wiki]. The S86 expressway links Katowice to neighboring [wiki=6a43eea3ad436e2282a660554baddb31]Sosnowiec[/wiki]. National road DK86 connects the city to [wiki=e0b15d8202dbefe4a5bd0e95b54c0e67]Tychy[/wiki].
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filter_dramaGet around
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Public transport
All public bus and tram transport in Katowice is supervised by [url=http://www.kzkgop.com.pl/?lang=en]KZK GOP[/url], a comprehensive transit system that serves nearly the entirety of the Silesian Metropolis, with one of the largest tram networks in Poland. A twenty-four hour free hotline for the system can be found by dialing: 0 800 16 30 30.
Many bus stations of the Passengers' Municipal Communication are situated in the core center of the city. At each bus-stop there is an information board with bus routes and where they go. The full map with bus routes is usually available in City Information Centre near Rynek (adress: ul. Rynek 13; employees are multilingual).
There are also trams which transport passengers within the city and beyond the limits of the city. The dispatcher's office and information of the Municipal Tramway Enterprise are situated at the tram-stop in Rynek (the market square) in Katowice.
The same ticket type is used in bus and tram. Katowice offers many different tickets. One-zone ticket is suitable for traveling in the city limits. Zone bus stations (overstepping it in a bus or a tram means that one must buy next one-zone ticket or continue traveling with ticket suitable for more zones) usually are placed at the border of cities. Consider, if it is better to use one-ride ticket, week-ticket or monthly ticket. In the bus or the tram only one kind of ticket is available for sell - for three or more zones, for 4,20 PLN (or 2,10 PLN with reduced rate). One-ride tickets could be bought even in grocery stores. Newspaper stands or newsagent's stores sometimes are selling other kinds of tickets. Ticket inspectors and bus/tram drivers often speak only in Polish. When ticket inspector approaches one must show ticket and proper document which allows to use reduced rate tickets.
One ride ticket price:
* within one zone (or 15 minutes) 2,80 PLN/ 1,40 PLN (reduced rate)
* within two zones (or 30 minutes) 3,40 PLN/ 1,70 PLN (reduced rate)
* within three or more zones (or one hour) 4,20 PLN/ 2,10 PLN (reduced rate)
Transferable:
* 1-day: normal rate 14 PLN, reduced rate 7 PLN
* 2-day: normal rate 24 PLN, reduced rate 12 PLN
* 5-day: normal rate 36 PLN, reduced rate 18 PLN
* 7-day: normal rate 42 PLN, reduced rate 21 PLN
* 14-day: normal rate 76 PLN, reduced rate 38 PLN -
Taxi
Taxi-stops are situated in several places in Katowice:
* at the entrance of the railway station on the ground floor from 3 Maja St.
* Plac Oddzialow Mlodziezy Powstanczej
* the "Silesia" hotel
* ul. Piotr Skargi
* the "Katowice" hotel
* Korfantego Av.
* Dworcowa St.
When you take a taxi, always ask for the price beforehand unless you are willing to pay anything. Different types of taxis can charge very different prices which can vary up to 5 times the regular fare depending on location and time.
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filter_dramaSee[url=://www.en.parkslaski.pl/ The park is almost 2x bigger than New York's Central Park. In the park there are several restaurants and cafes, a zoo, a planetarium, an ethnographic museum, and a gondola "Elka."
* Kościuszko Park (Polish: Park im. Tadeusza Kościuszki). Dating back to 1888 and named after the legendary Polish-American general Tadeusz Kościuszko, the location today is one of Katowice's most visited parks, greatly influenced by English garden layouts. Within the park is the Katowice Parachute Tower, built in 1937 and originally used as a training ground for parachutists.
[[Image:Katowice - Ul. 3-go Maja 13.JPG|thumb|280px|The busy ul. 3 Maja.[/url][Image:Cathedral in Katowice.jpg|thumb|right|270px|The Katowice Cathedral of Christ the King.]]
Although Katowice is not blessed with an ancient historical core like [wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków[/wiki], [wiki=fecc282d62f0b383d2cb6c76933666a8]Wrocław[/wiki], or [wiki=aeae34243893ad690f85118330b0df11]Zamość[/wiki], the city does contain enough attractions to draw in visitors. Thanks to massive revitalization projects in the city center in recent years, Katowice has started to lift its notorious reputation as a industrial gray landscape. Some of finest examples of Modernism (both International Style structures and Bauhaus-inspired buildings) are easily found in the downtown Śródmieście district. The Śródmieście also contains a significant number of Art Nouveau (Secesja) buildings, along with communist giants such as the Spodek or the Superjednostka housing block.
* St. Mary's Street (Polish: Ulica Mariacka) [url=http://www.mariacka.eu/].]Once a dilapidated part of the city, St. Mary's Street was given a massive makeover in the early 2010s. Today, this pedestrianized zone has become a popular place for Katowicians attracted by its many pubs and growing number of restaurants. At the end of the street is St. Mary's Church, the road's namesake. St. Mary's Street is also a popular venue for outdoor events, and can be crowded on warm spring and summer nights.
* Cathedral of Christ the King (Polish: Archikatedra Chrystusa Króla w Katowicach) [url=http://www.katedra.katowice.opoka.org.pl/[/url].]Built between 1927 to 1955, the Cathedral of Christ the King is the largest cathedral in [[Poland[/url]]. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1983. Its dome is a familiar site in the Katowice skyline
* 3rd of May Street (Polish: Ulica 3 Maja). Often cited as one of the most expensive streets in the country, the busy ul. 3 Maja is one of Katowice's primary centers of public life and commerce. The street runs next to the central railway station, and is home to numerous shops, restaurants and tram stops. Between 2012 to 2014, the street was extensively modernized and refurbished.
* Spodek [url=http://www.spodek.eu/].]Completed in 1971, this indoor sports arena and concert hall has been described as a tilted UFO landing in the middle of a city. Indeed, its unusual part socialist, part science fiction design have made the Spodek one of the most famous arenas in the country and a symbol of the city.
* Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Polish: Kościół św. Michała Archanioła w Katowicach) [url=http://www.michal.wiara.org.pl[/url].]Built in 1510 in the southern Silesian village of Syrynia, this quaint wooden church was delicately moved to Katowice's Kościuszko Park between 1938 to 1939 as part of a planned provincial cultural center. Work was halted during the German occupation in World War II (which the church miraculously survived), and is today a focal point in Kościuszko Park. Today, St. Michael the Archangel is the oldest structure in the city.
* Silesian Insurgents Monument (Polish: Pomnik Powstańców Śląskich). A communist-era monument unveiled in 1967, this winged memorial commemorates the Polish insurgents of the three Silesian Rebellions between 1919 to 1921, who fought Weimar German forces in Upper Silesia in order for the region to join the Second Polish Republic.
* Jewish Cemetery [url=http://www.inyourpocket.com/poland/Katowice/Sightseeing/Cemeteries/Katowice-Jewish-Cemetery_32661v[/url]][url=http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/article/katowice/12,cemeteries/1832,the-jewish-cemetery-in-katowice-16-kozielska-street-/[/url]]Built in 1868, the cemetery is the resting place of Katowice's once-thriving Jewish community. The cemetery was partially destroyed by occupying German forces during World War II, but thankfully much survived. In recent years, refurbishment efforts have begun to restore the burial grounds.
* Silesian Park[/url]]-
Museums
Silesian Museum (Polish: Muzeum Śląskie) [url=http://www.muzeumslaskie.pl/en/].]A fascinating museum detailing the industrial, artistic, and cultural history of the [[Silesia|Silesian[/url]] region . In 2015, the museum moved to the sprawling grounds of a former coal mine next to the city center, all of which has been completely revitalized. The museum has art and an interactive walk through the history of Silesia. The museum is free on Tuesdays.
* Katowice Historical Museum (Polish: Muzeum Historii Katowic) [url=http://www.mhk.katowice.pl/].]A museum detailing the historical life of Katowice and the surrounding Silesian Metropolis, this institution is divided into several parts, with its main building on ul. Ks. J. Szafranka 9 near the main railway station. The museum also operates the Church of St. Michael the Archangel.
* Hisotrical Museum of Computers and Information (Polish: Muzeum Historii Komputerów i Informatyki) [url=http://www.muzeumkomputerow.edu.pl[/url].]A fine museum detailing the evolution of computer technology, geared to computer enthusiasts and young adults.
* BWA Contemporary Art Gallery Katowice (Polish: Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej BWA) [url=http://www.bwa.katowice.pl//[/url].]A modern art gallery, featuring contemporary photography and objects.
* Wilson Shaft Gallery (Polish: Galeria Szyb Wilson) [url=http://szybwilson.org/[/url].]The largest private gallery of its kind in Poland and housed in a former industrial building named after American President Woodrow Wilson, the gallery houses modern artwork from domestic and foreign artists. The gallery is also frequently used for concerts, balls and parties.
* Parnas Contemporary Art Gallery (Polish: Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Parnas) [url=http://www.parnas.com.pl/[/url].]A modern art gallery featuring contemporary Polish artists.
* The Roundabout of Art (Polish: Rondo Sztuki), [url=http://rondosztuki.pl/[/url].]Two galleries and a cafeteria with concerts and parties are housed in a building located in the middle of a roundabout, close to the Spodek.
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filter_dramaDo
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Cinema
Światowid [url=http://www.swiatowid.katowice.pl/],]7 3-rd Maja Street. The primary place for art-house film in the city centre
* Rialto [url=http://www.rialto.katowice.pl/[/url],]24 St Jana Street. An artist run venue which specialises in more experimental film and music and has a lovely cafe too.
*Cinema City - Punkt 44 [url=http://www.cinema-city.pl/indexa.php?cid=1065/[/url],]44 Gliwicka Street modern multiplex type cinema with approx 13 screens and IMAX 3-D system.
*Cinema City - Silesia City Center [url=http://www.cinema-city.pl/indexa.php?cid=1079/[/url],]107 Chorzowska Street. A modern multiplex type cinema with 13 screens. It is located inside the biggest shopping mall in Katowice, Silesia City Center.
*Helios [http://www.heliosnet.pl/main.php?m=katowice&l=1/[/url], 13 Uniwersytecka Street. A modern multiplex type cinema with approximately 9 screens, located in the Altus center, the highest building in Katowice. -
Theatre
Katowice is blessed with a lively theatrical scene ranking among one of the best in the country. Unfortunately for non-Polish speakers, the scene is largely restricted to the [wiki=41c9ff12fab7d4c3214a10c66986052b]Polish language[/wiki], meaning that most productions will be linguistically inaccessible for visiting foreigners. However, there are occasional productions offered in English.
*Silesian Theatre (Polish: Teatr Śląski) [url=http://www.teatrslaski.art.pl/],]2 Main Market. Katowice's main repertory theatre, located in the city center.
*Theatre Korez [url=http://www.korez.art.pl/[/url],]2 Plac Sejmu Slaskiego. A theatre company well-known for being involved in some of the most cutting-edge theatre in Katowice.
*Theatre Cogitatur [url=http://www.cogitatur.art.pl/[/url],]9a Gliwicka Street. An experimental theatre troop known also as the former organizers of A Part Festival.
*Theatre A PART [url=http://www.apart.art.pl/[/url].]A contemporary visual and physical theatre group, formed by Marcin Herich, actor, director and organizer of theatre events. They are also organizers of A Part Theatre Festival.
*Silesian Theatre of Doll and Actor Ateneum [url=http://www.ateneum.art.pl/[/url],]10 Sw. Jana Street. One of the oldest marionette theatres in Poland. They are organizers of International Festival of Doll Theatres Katowice, advertised mainly for children.
*Teatr 'Gry i ludzie' [http://www.gryiludzie.pl/[/url] ('Games and People' Theatre), 2 Niepodległości Av., experimental and mainly outdoor theatrical group having their scene in the old railway station. -
Music
Silesian Philharmonic (Polish: Filharmonia Śląska) [url=http://www.filharmoniaslaska.art.pl/].]One of the most prestigious orchestras in the country is based in Katowice. Some of the most famous pianists of the 20th century have played for the Silesian Philharmonic, including Witold Małcużyński and Sviatoslav Richter.
*National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Polish: Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia) [http://nowa.nospr.org.pl/pl/[/url]. Another one of Poland's premier classical music orchestras, the symphony (known also as NOSPR) is a regular act in the Katowice high cultural scene. -
Events
Katowice is one of the epicenters for cultural events in southern Poland. Exhibitions, concerts, a festival are regular occurrences in the city's galleries, clubs and theatres. It is impossible to list all of the events, as many occur without any regular schedule. To get up-to-date information, it is suggested to have a look at internet releases from conventional press organs like [url=http://www.ultramaryna.pl/]Ultramaryna[/url] or the cultural pages of [url=http://cjg.gazeta.pl/otworzmiasto/0,138333.html]Gazeta Wyborcza[/url], bringing cultural news for the entire metropolitan region. Below is a list of events that happen at regular schedule.
* Polish Directors' Art Festival "Interpretacje" [url=http://www.teatry.art.pl/!wydarzenia/interpret/index0.htm].]A theatrical and television drama festival, the event is a competition of directors for the Konrad Prize.
*"A Part" Theatre Festival [url=http://apart.art.pl/fest_eng.htm[/url]] An international review of alternative and experimental "OFF" theatres rather than classic ones.
*Summer Theatre Garden [url=http://www.teatry.art.pl/!wydarzenia/letogteatralny/[/url]]"LOT" are summertime outdoor weekend theatre meetings with comedy and cabaret spectacles. It is organized by the Korez theatre.
*"Cult" Film Festival [url=http://www.ffk.art.pl/[/url]]A festival for filmbuffs, complete with inside and outdoor movies and concerts.
*"Rawa Blues" Festival [url=http://www.rawablues.com/en/[/url]]One of the the biggest indoor blues festivals in the world, this annual festival has occured since 1981, led by the bluesman Irek Dudek.
*"Metalmania" Metal Music Festival [url=http://www.metalmind.com.pl/metalmania/index.php?jezyk=en[/url]]The most prestigious metal festival in Poland and in Central Europe.
*Mayday [url=http://www.mayday.pl/[/url]]The Polish edition of the international technoparty, located in the Spodek hall.
* Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition For Conductors [url=http://www.konkursfitelberg.art.pl/ang.html[/url]]A prestigious open competition for conductors of all nationalities.
*International Students' Festival of Folklore [url=http://www.festiwal.us.edu.pl/eng/index.html[/url]]Annual festival of folk music and dance takes place at the end of summer not only in Katowice but also in many other places in the region. It is organized by Silesian University.
*ARTerie young art festival [url=http://www.arterie.slask.pl/site/index.html[/url]]An annual festival of students' from art universities and faculties, taking place in the autumn.
*Tauron Festival [http://www.festiwalnowamuzyka.pl/[/url] A techno and dance rave that takes place in the Industrial Museum Complex, during August, not far from Spodek.
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filter_dramaLearnAs one of the most populated urban areas in the country, Katowice and its surrounding metropolitan area contains a large degree of higher educational institutions to choose from. For non-Polish speakers, consult with the universities first to see if there are courses that are offered in your native language, whether it be English or another.
*University of Silesia [url=http://www.us.edu.pl/]](Uniwersytet Śląski)
*University of Economics in Katowice [url=http://www.ue.katowice.pl/[/url]](Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach)
*Silesian Academy of Music [url=http://www.am.katowice.pl/[/url]](Akademia Muzyczna w Katowicach)
*Silesian Academy of Sports [url=http://www.awf.katowice.pl/[/url]](Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Katowicach)
*Medical University of Silesia [url=http://www.sum.edu.pl/[/url]](Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny)
*Silesian Academy of Fine Arts [url=http://www.aspkat.edu.pl[/url]](Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Katowicach)
*Silesian University of Technology [http://www.polsl.pl/[/url] - Faculty of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Faculty of Transport and Faculty of Management (all the rest of University is located in neighbouring towns) -
filter_dramaWork
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Business
The [wiki=903707cc53067c64f2b6927602d86ffd]Silesia[/wiki] region (particularly Katowice) is a major business center of [wiki=94880bda83bda77c5692876700711f15]Poland[/wiki]. As [wiki=4818e60a656c4ae26f6eabb97948e325]Silesian Voivodeship[/wiki] is the main industrial hub in the country, its economy was primarily focused on coal, metallurgy, energetics, and chemicals in the recent past. Nowadays, it is converting to a more modern profile, including services, information technology, and conventions. Most of the city's iconic industrial works are located outside of the city in the surrounding region, while corporate offices are beginning to populate Katowice's core.
There are several institutions supporting the development and economic growth of the Silesian Metropolis:
* The Katowice Special Economic Zone [http://www.ksse.com.pl/index-eng.html]
* Upper-Silesian Regional Development Agency [http://www.garr.pl/]
There is also a company-organizer for the numerous trade shows and fairs in Katowice:
International Katowice Fair [http://www.mtk.katowice.pl/en_index.php]
For those interested in renting office spaces there are various offers. For 19th and 20th century adapted houses and old factories (like B-class old printing house [url=http://www.opal.3it.pl/?strona=pb/01])]to A class skyscrapers. The two most noticable are the [url=http://www.altus.katowice.pl]Altus[/url[/url] and [url=http://www.chorzowska50.pl/index_a.php]Chorzowska 50[/url].
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filter_dramaBuyA large and comprehensive shopping mall in the heart of the city, attached to the city's main railway station.
*The largest shopping center in the region, the Silesia Center is a good place for those looking for big brand shops. Paris Hilton opened the mall a few years ago.
*Located next to Silesia University, this part mall, part hotel and part conference center is located in one of southern Poland's formerly highest buildings. -
filter_dramaEat
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Budget
A popular vegetarian restaurant for Katowician Bohemians, although the atmosphere is austere.
*A small hidden eatery serving pancakes and crepes at very affordable prices.
*Translated as "Good Karma", this cozy place serves up breakfasts, pizzas, soups and pastas.
*A leftover from communist times, this milk bar serves hearty Polish meals in a cafeteria atmosphere, a favorite of students and travellers without a fat wallet. -
Mid-range
A traditional Polish restaurant with a rustic interior.
*Besides the standard fare of pizzas, the Dominium serves a variety of other meals in a nice Atmosphere with big rooms and high ceilings. Try the "Gorale," with bacon, smoked cheese, and cranberry sauce. -
Splurge
Part of the Sakana sushi chain, this restaurant offers all that you can expect from Japanese cuisine.
*A cottage-shaped restaurant located in an area dominated by apartment buildings, the Karcma pod Strzechom specializes in the folk cuisine of the [wiki=3271f5f54316e9ab9faf737976425854]Podhale[/wiki] region in [wiki=7373ad827161c459c0c09909070d054d]Lesser Poland[/wiki], with prices from modest to high.
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filter_dramaDrink
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Cafes
Gaudi Cafe Wawelska 2. Cozy atmosphere located underground and modeled after the work of Gaudi, with warm colors and curvy columns and candlesticks. A great place for a nice cup of coffee and great desserts.
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Clubs
Hipnoza Jazz Club [url=http://www.jazzclub.pl],]pl. Sejmu Śląskiego 2. One of most active places in Katowice. A lot of concerts, drinks and interesting dishes.
* Elektro, pl. Sejmu Śląskiego 2, Hipnoza's cellar.
* 2B3, [url=http://www.2b3.com.pl/[/url],]ul. Sienkiewicza 28.
* GuGalander [url=http://www.gugalander.art.pl[/url],]ul. Jagiellońska 17A - a bar, a scene, a gallery place with good music, concerts, spectacles and so on.
Mariacka Street [url=http://mariacka.eu/[/url]]has the highest density of drinking establishments, among others:
* Cooler Club & Lounge [http://coolerclub.pl/[/url]
* KATO [url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/KATO/332189844190]]local patriots, bar is in a constant state of being built.
* Katofonia [url=http://www.katofonia.pl/[/url]]live rock, blues concerts.
* Lemoniada [url=http://www.lemoniada.pl/[/url]]- two floors; the first with dance and pop music, the second with electro, located in 4 Mariacka St.
* Lorneta z Meduzą [url=http://www.lornetazmeduza.pl/[/url]]- a bar inspired by bistros from the twenties. Open 24/7. Every drink costs 4 zł, every snack - 8 zł. Full of bums and hipsters.
* Pub Śruba [url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pub-Śruba-i-Przyjaciele/133405290061045[/url]]students' place.
* Sky Bar [http://www.skybar.pl/[/url] the highest placed bar in southern Poland, located on the top (27th) floor of Qubus Hotel -
Rather common discos
Inqbator [url=http://www.inq.pl],]ul. Dworcowa 2.
* Mega club [url=http://www.megaclub.pl/[/url],]ul. Dworcowa 4.
* Spiż [url=http://www.spiz.pl/[/url],]ul. Opolska 22, a club with its own small brewery
* Carpe Diem [http://www.carpediem.pl/[/url], plac Wolności 14. Katowice branch of Krakow's rock club. -
Student clubs
Arkada [url=http://www.arkada.ae.katowice.pl],]14a Bogucicka St.
* Kwadraty [http://www.kwadraty.pl[/url], 10 Franciszkańska St.
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filter_dramaSleepThere is a medium number of hotels and guest houses in the Katowice area.
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Budget
Located just about centre of the city in building of technical high school. Special rules apply as this is a youth hostel[http://www.ssm.sltzn.katowice.pl/regulamin_a.pdf].
* 28 beds in 2, 4, 6 person rooms. Six bathrooms. Free WiFi.
* 40 beds in a 2, 3, 4 and 8 person rooms -
Mid-range
in a secure, but a little miners' area two kilometres west of the railway station and downtown
* Not modern but clean and cheap 2-Bed Rooms. The hotel has a free guarded car park and a restaurant. -
Splurge
Located in the heart of the Old Town, this grand old hotel was opened in 1903.
* Modern, four-star hotel located in the centre, has a Sky Bar with nice views on the 27th floor.
* Modern, four-star hotel located in the centre. It features 203 comfortable rooms and apartments and the biggest conference center in the area with 12 conference rooms with total area of 1 350m2.
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filter_dramaContactKatowice's area code (for landline numbers) is 032 when dialed from within Poland or +4832 from outside Poland.
Wifi Internet access points are on the rise across Katowice. Pronounced in Polish as wee-fee, many businesses will advertise wifi access with a sign on their windows. Some common chain cafes and central locations offering wifi access points are:
*Starbucks located both in the Silesian City Center and Katowice Dworzec PKP.
*Costa Coffee located in the Silesian City Center.
*Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport numerous wireless hotspots in the terminal.
*Katowice Dworzec PKP the main hall at the train station has a free hotspot.-
Help for foreigners
Several nations maintain a small diplomatic presence in Katowice to assist travelers in need.
*
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filter_dramaStay safeKatowice is generally a very safe city to stay in, and should not cause concern for visitors. In previous years, the rail station was a magnet for petty thefts, although since its refurbishment and expansion, this has considerably decreased. As in other European cities, people should keep their wits, particularly in crowded places.
* Important phone numbers: police: 997, fire department: 998, ambulance: 999; all three share the common universal number 112.
* Municipal guard: +48 32 986
* Watch out for pickpockets in public transport and busy places.
* Park your car in a safe place, in an attended guarded parking lot if possible.
* Most long-distance trains have compartments, choose the occupied ones so you don't ride alone. During night travel, make sure that at least one person is not asleep. -
filter_dramaCopeKatowice has not entered the common European tourist lexicon yet, meaning that English is not as universally spoken as in other tourist-heavy areas of Poland like [wiki=ab014f5797b79c42d078976b9d1a413c]Warsaw[/wiki] or [wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków[/wiki]. However, visitors will be more than able to get around and pantomime to be understood. Thankfully for English speakers, English can be widely understood by many younger Poles below the ages of 30 to 35. Older Poles may potentially have some knowledge of [wiki=6777b01110836f77ba72e2ec0c0d5b31]Russian[/wiki] or [wiki=3569c1edbd92d7ce4939e40ba7d5a4b9]German[/wiki]. Related Slavic languages, such as [wiki=ed58a0761d8cabfac011dd56022df144]Czech[/wiki] and [wiki=5d5ad0a8427d4bda1811b5faeb9b893c]Slovak[/wiki], are also partially understood, albeit with several humorous differences. The easiest way for tourists to avoid any potential language problems would be to learn a few key [wiki=41c9ff12fab7d4c3214a10c66986052b]Polish words and phrases[/wiki], a fact that will not be lost with Katowicians.
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filter_dramaGet outBecause of Katowice's excellent transportation links, major tourist attractions in southern Poland are not far away, making the city a good base to explore (or get away to) other locations in [url=://muzeumgpe-chorzow.pl/
* [[Cieszyn][Silesian Voivodeship|Silesia]] and the neighboring province of [wiki=7373ad827161c459c0c09909070d054d]Lesser Poland[/wiki]. Additionally, the border with the [wiki=51802d8bb965d0e5be697f07d16922e8]Czech Republic[/wiki] is also within easy reach.
* [wiki=e1e8a6af504255d1f9fd74a29ab7dee2]Oświęcim[/wiki] located 36 km (22.3 mi) from Katowice in [wiki=7373ad827161c459c0c09909070d054d]Lesser Poland[/wiki], the quiet town is the location of the German [wiki=ddab2d51140e34d526295f6af45f0ce1]Auschwitz-Birkenau[/wiki] death camp, arguably the most infamous concentration camp during the Nazi occupation.
* [wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków[/wiki] Poland's second city and former capital is a historical gem, drawing tourists around the world. Kraków is only 79 km (49 mi) east of Katowice, and is easily accessible via the A4 motorway and through numerous train and bus connections. There are several bus lines that run to and from Krakow every 30 minutes. Most charge between 12 and 15 zl ($4-$5) one way.
* [wiki=7b43f16be63907ef553aca7d74ad3575]Częstochowa[/wiki] site of the Jasna Góra Monastery, the home of the Black Madonna, Częstochowa is one of Poland's most spiritual sites.
* [wiki=e0b15d8202dbefe4a5bd0e95b54c0e67]Tychy[/wiki] a city making up the south of the Silesian Metropolis, known for being the home of the informative [url=http://www.tyskiebrowarium.pl/en/]Tyskie Browarium[/url].
* [wiki=f4d1dbfa2a90391b1be69e45f6e12921]Chorzów[/wiki] immediately northwest of Katowice, Chorzów is home to the [url=http://muzeumgpe-chorzow.pl/]Upper Silesian Ethnographic Museum[/url].[/url]] a medieval town on the Czech-Polish border with a nice town square.
* [wiki=e8ccda910b08840a1e06043510e9e175]Ostrava[/wiki] long considered the Czech twin of Katowice, Ostrava is the [wiki=51802d8bb965d0e5be697f07d16922e8]Czech Republic's[/wiki] third largest city, located 100 km (62 mi) southwest. Ostrava is known for its gritty industrial atmosphere, numerous bars and clubs on [url=http://www.stodolni.cz/]Stodolní ulice[/url], and its straightforward and hearty inhabitants.
[wiki=57af86a2110235471def0699aaef5040]de:Kattowitz[/wiki]
[wiki=14e6a23006a560dc206d1e5283085c8d]fi:Katowice[/wiki]
[wiki=b063cfdc034023d2676493f9b6e202d5]pl:Katowice[/wiki]
[wiki=982530cdc7e7071ef9766332e6782de8]ro:Katowice[/wiki]
[[WikiPedia:Katowice]]
[wiki=423a5d4b29dfb25b839d4ada25119331]Dmoz:Europe/Poland/Voivodeships/Silesian Voivodeship/Katowice[/wiki]
[wiki=3ab35f356a93dcfa48f129b5fded2e03]World66:europe/poland/katowice[/wiki]