TOURIST INFORMATION
CITY INFORMATION OFFICE CITY INFORMATION OFFICE
With a several-storey, blinking blue and yellow neon With a several-storey, blinking blue and yellow neon sign, Katowice’s City Information Office is hard to miss sign, Katowice’s City Information Office is hard to miss and isn’t it just downright adorable to see them trying and isn’t it just downright adorable to see them trying so hard? The super-friendly staff can offer time-killing so hard? The super-friendly staff can offer time-killing suggestions in English or German and they stock suggestions in English or German and they stock a range of materials about the many things you’ll a range of materials about the many things you’ll probably never see or do across Silesia. Free maps and probably never see or do across Silesia. Free maps and lots of information on daily cultural events, as well as lots of information on daily cultural events, as well as three new computers.
three new computers.QQC-4, ul. Rynek 13, tel. (+48)C-4, ul. Rynek 13, tel. (+48)
32 259 38 08, www.katowice.eu. Open 09:00 - 19:00, 32 259 38 08, www.katowice.eu. Open 09:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 17:00, Sun 09:00 - 13:00.
Katowice Sightseeing
Katowice Sightseeing
monstrosity at ul. Młyńska that uglied
monstrosity at ul. Młyńska that uglied up an entire block ofup an entire block of the Rynek and transforming it into the new City Hall. That the Rynek and transforming it into the new City Hall. That work has recently been completed as has the re-routing work has recently been completed as has the re-routing of the tram network through the ‘new’ Rynek (check new of the tram network through the ‘new’ Rynek (check new tram schedule here rozklady.kzkgop
tram schedule here rozklady.kzkgop.pl - there is .pl - there is an Englishan English version).
version).QQC-4.C-4.
SILESIAN PARLIAMENT SILESIAN PARLIAMENT
A standing testament to Katowice’s short-lived ‘golden A standing testament to Katowice’s short-lived ‘golden age,’ the Silesian Parliament complex covers an entire city age,’ the Silesian Parliament complex covers an entire city block between Jagiellońska, Reymonta, Ligonia
block between Jagiellońska, Reymonta, Ligonia and Lompyand Lompy streets and was the largest structure in PL before Stalin streets and was the largest structure in PL before Stalin ‘gifted’ Warsaw with a certain monstrosity. Completed in ‘gifted’ Warsaw with a certain monstrosity. Completed in 1929, the Parliament complex served as the governing 1929, the Parliament complex served as the governing seat of Silesia after the province was inexplicably granted seat of Silesia after the province was inexplicably granted autonomy following WWI. Unfortunately Hitler failed to autonomy following WWI. Unfortunately Hitler failed to observe the region’s sovereignty when he reclaimed it for observe the region’s sovereignty when he reclaimed it for the Reich after a short 19 years of self-government. After the Reich after a short 19 years of self-government. After WWII, the new Polish government stripped Silesia of its WWII, the new Polish government stripped Silesia of its prestige, confused by how Katowice could possibly have prestige, confused by how Katowice could possibly have ever been considered the second capital of PL, however ever been considered the second capital of PL, however briefly. T
briefly. Today the Parliament buildings still oday the Parliament buildings still house the officeshouse the offices of the Silesian Voivodeship, though many have changed of the Silesian Voivodeship, though many have changed function and more still are solely occupied by wistful function and more still are solely occupied by wistful memories of bygone days.
memories of bygone days.QQC-5, Plac Sejmu Śląskiego.C-5, Plac Sejmu Śląskiego.
SPODEK SPODEK In 1958 the
In 1958 the Association of Polish Architects ran a competitionAssociation of Polish Architects ran a competition to design a new stadium in Katowice. Won by a Warsaw to design a new stadium in Katowice. Won by a Warsaw company and designed by Maciej Gintowt and Maciej company and designed by Maciej Gintowt and Maciej Krasiński, the resulting
Krasiński, the resulting Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo-Wojewódzka Hala Widowiskowo- Sportowa w Katowicach
Sportowa w Katowicach (translating something like(translating something like ‘Katowice Province Spectator & Sports Arena’) was built ‘Katowice Province Spectator & Sports Arena’) was built in stages between 1964 and 1971, and at 246,624 square in stages between 1964 and 1971, and at 246,624 square metres is the one of the largest, certainly one of the strangest metres is the one of the largest, certainly one of the strangest and, to some, the most beautiful piece of reinforced concrete and, to some, the most beautiful piece of reinforced concrete in Poland. Nicknamed ‘Latający Spodek’ (Flying Saucer) the in Poland. Nicknamed ‘Latający Spodek’ (Flying Saucer) the building was originally going to be built in Silesia Park but building was originally going to be built in Silesia Park but because of its avant-garde appearance finally landed in the because of its avant-garde appearance finally landed in the city centre. Holding 11,000 people part of the building was city centre. Holding 11,000 people part of the building was in use in 1969, though the grand opening only took place in use in 1969, though the grand opening only took place on May 9, 1971. The reason for this delay was simple - in on May 9, 1971. The reason for this delay was simple - in their wisdom the designers had picked a landsite suffering their wisdom the designers had picked a landsite suffering ‘medium mine damage’. That meant the possibility of cave- ‘medium mine damage’. That meant the possibility of cave- ins and collapse so the building was road-tested by 3,500 ins and collapse so the building was road-tested by 3,500 stamping (and dare we say it, nervous) soldiers. Given the stamping (and dare we say it, nervous) soldiers. Given the thumbs-up by equally relieved engineers the building has thumbs-up by equally relieved engineers the building has been inspiring and amusing people ever since. A popular been inspiring and amusing people ever since. A popular sporting venue (it hosted the final stages of EuroBasket sporting venue (it hosted the final stages of EuroBasket 2009 among other tournaments), Spodek is also Katowice’s 2009 among other tournaments), Spodek is also Katowice’s number one place for international rock concerts, having number one place for international rock concerts, having hosted a disparate collection of stars including Charles hosted a disparate collection of stars including Charles Aznavour, Metallica, Depeche Mode and Robbie Williams Aznavour, Metallica, Depeche Mode and Robbie Williams over the years. Today it also houses the Diament Spodek over the years. Today it also houses the Diament Spodek Hotel, and according to urban legend, the classic tune from Hotel, and according to urban legend, the classic tune from Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ plays every Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ plays every time the building’s lights go on. Given the circumstances time the building’s lights go on. Given the circumstances we can hardly say the claim sounds far-fetched.
we can hardly say the claim sounds far-fetched.QQD-1, Al.D-1, Al.
Korfantego 35, tel. (+48) 32 253 87 33, www.spodek.eu. Korfantego 35, tel. (+48) 32 253 87 33, www.spodek.eu.
THE KAROL SZYMANOWSKI ACADEMY OF MUSIC THE KAROL SZYMANOWSKI ACADEMY OF MUSIC By virtue of being one of the
By virtue of being one of the handful of aesthetically pleasinghandful of aesthetically pleasing buildings in Katowice, the cit
buildings in Katowice, the city’s Music Academy was recentlyy’s Music Academy was recently voted by locals as one of their top five favourite things about voted by locals as one of their top five favourite things about Kato. T
Kato. This handsome red brick neo-Gothic his handsome red brick neo-Gothic building was builtbuilding was built at the turn of the century, and in addition to its good looks is at the turn of the century, and in addition to its good looks is also home to the most modern concert hall and the largest also home to the most modern concert hall and the largest music library in
music library in the region. One of the leading music schoolsthe region. One of the leading music schools in PL, it can claim well-known contemporary composer in PL, it can claim well-known contemporary composer Henryk Górecki, who both studied and later taught at the Henryk Górecki, who both studied and later taught at the academy, as its most famous alma mater. If you are
academy, as its most famous alma mater. If you are interestedinterested in a tour of the building call ahead to arrange a time. Also, in a tour of the building call ahead to arrange a time. Also, make sure to check their concert schedule to catch what make sure to check their concert schedule to catch what will surely be an unforgettable musical experience. But will surely be an unforgettable musical experience. But tickets are usually scarce so make sure you reserve a ticket in tickets are usually scarce so make sure you reserve a ticket in advance.
advance.QQE-5, ul. Zacisze 3, tel. (+48) 32 779 21 00, www.E-5, ul. Zacisze 3, tel. (+48) 32 779 21 00, www.
am.katowice.pl. am.katowice.pl.
POLISH NATIONAL POLISH NATIONAL
RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA In 2014 Katowice celebrated the unveiling of i
In 2014 Katowice celebrated the unveiling of it’s newestt’s newest architectural and cultural jewel - the new headquarters architectural and cultural jewel - the new headquarters of the NOSPR (
of the NOSPR (The Polish National Radio Orchestra). NotThe Polish National Radio Orchestra). Not only is this one of the more striking and architecturally only is this one of the more striking and architecturally astonishing buildings to be built in Poland in recent astonishing buildings to be built in Poland in recent years, it is also one of the most acoustically pristine years, it is also one of the most acoustically pristine performance halls in all of Europe. To perfect the pin performance halls in all of Europe. To perfect the pin drop precision of the main
drop precision of the main hall’hall’s acoustics, the Ks acoustics, the Katowiceatowice based Architecture firm Konior collaborated with based Architecture firm Konior collaborated with Yasushisa Toyota - founder of the Japanese Acoustics Yasushisa Toyota - founder of the Japanese Acoustics solutions company Nagata Acoustics (creators of the solutions company Nagata Acoustics (creators of the Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles among others). Their Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles among others). Their collaboration has resulted in a sonically rich and truly collaboration has resulted in a sonically rich and truly visually stunning performance hall that can seat over visually stunning performance hall that can seat over 1,800 people with no obstructed views or muffled 1,800 people with no obstructed views or muffled music. The main concert hall is also equipped with music. The main concert hall is also equipped with cutting edge technology to both broadcast concerts cutting edge technology to both broadcast concerts live and record multi track albums live. This is truly a live and record multi track albums live. This is truly a building fitting of
building fitting of Poland’Poland’s finest orchestra and s finest orchestra and is set is set toto solidify Katowice’s place in the classical music world. solidify Katowice’s place in the classical music world. Check NOSPR’
Check NOSPR’s website for concert tickets or s website for concert tickets or plan yourplan your next trip to Katowice around a trip to this absolute next trip to Katowice around a trip to this absolute shrine of a
shrine of a Symphony Hall.Symphony Hall.QQD-2, Pl. Wojciecha KilaraD-2, Pl. Wojciecha Kilara
1, tel. (+48) 32 732 53 12, www.nospr.org.pl. 1, tel. (+48) 32 732 53 12, www.nospr.org.pl.
Photo by Bartek Barczyk Photo by Bartek Barczyk