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Revision as of 05:38, 19 January 2007 by R9tgokunks (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Template:Infobox Poland Katowice (Audio file "Katowice.ogg" not found; Template:Lang-cs, Template:Lang-de) is a city in Silesia in southern Poland on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers.
Katowice is the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of the Katowice Voivodeship. Katowice is the main city of the Upper Silesian Industry Area and biggest city in projected Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union. Its population is 321,163, within a greater urban area population of 3,487,000 (2004).
History
The area around Katowice, Upper Silesia, has been inhabited by ethnic Silesians from its earliest history. It was first ruled by the Polish Silesian Piasts dynasty (until its extinction). From 1335 were a part of Czech lands. 1526 fall into the Habsburg domains. The city itself was founded in the 19th century, a period while the area was under Prussian rule since 1742, and Katowice gained city status in 1865. Inhabited mainly by Germans, Silesians, Jews and Poles, Katowice became part of the Second Polish Republic following the Silesian Uprisings throughout the Silesian region between 1918 and 1921. The land was subsequently divided by an allied commission and the League of Nations, leaving Kattowitz on the Polish side and with significant Autonomy (Silesian Parliament as a constituency and Silesian Voivodship Council as the executive body).
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. But recently, due to economic reforms, there is a shift away from heavy industry, and towards small businesses.
Between 1953-1956 it was renamed Stalinogród - "Stalin City" by Polish communists.
Severe ecological damage to the natural environment occurred during the post-Second World War time of communist governance in the People's Republic of Poland, but recent changes in regulations, procedures and policies of post-communist Polish government have reversed much of the harm that was done.
Districts
|
I. City
II. North-Town
III. West-Town |
IV. East-Town
V. South-Town
|
Culture & recreation
Theatre
- Silesian Theatre (Teatr Śląski im. Stanisława Wyspiańskiego)
- Theatre Ateneum (Teatr Ateneum)
- Theatre Korez (Teatr Korez)
- Theatre Cogitatur (Teatr Cogitatur)
- Theatre-cinema Rialto (Kinoteatr Rialto)
Music
- Silesian Filharmony (Filharmonia Śląska)
- Silesian Estrade (Estrada Śląska)
- Scena GuGalander
- Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia
Cinema
- IMAX
- Cinema City - Punkt rozrywki 44
- Cinema City - Silesia City Center
- Helios Cinema Center (Centrum Filmowe Helios)
- Światowid Cinema (Kino Światowid)
- Theatre-Cinema Rialto (Kinoteatr Rialto)
- Cinematographic Arts Centre (Centrum Sztuki Filmowej) (former Kosmos Cinema)
Museum
- Silesian Museum (Muzeum Śląskie)
- Museum History Katowice (Muzeum Historii Katowic)
- Muzeum Archidiecezjalne
- Muzeum Misyjne OO. Franciszkanów
- Muzeum Biograficzne P. Stellera
- Muzeum Prawa i Prawników Polskich
- Muzeum Najmniejszych Książek Świata Zygmunta Szkocnego
- Izba Śląska
- Centrum Scenografii Polskiej
- Śląskie Centrum Dziedzictwa Kulturowego
Media
- TVP 3 Katowice
- TVN24 - department Katowice (TVN24 - oddział Katowice)
- Radio Katowice
- Radio Flash
- Radio Roxy FM
- Radio Planeta
- Dziennik Zachodni
- Gazeta Wyborcza - department Katowice
- Fakt (gazeta) - oddział Katowice
- Echo Miasta
- Metro (gazeta) Katowice
- Nowy Przegląd Katowicki
- Sport (gazeta)
Festivals and Events
- Rawa Blues Festiwal - Spodek
- Metalmania - Spodek
- Mayday - Spodek
- Międzynarodowy Konkurs Dyrygentów im. G. Fitelberga
- Międzynarodowy Festiwal Orkiestr Wojskowych
- Międzynarodowa Wystawa Grafiki "Intergrafia"
- Ogólnopolski Festiwal Sztuki Reżyserskiej "Interpretacje"
- Ars Cameralis Silesiae Superioris (Górnośląski Festiwal Sztuki Kameralnej)
Parks & Squares
- Silesian Central Park - Wojewódzki Park Kultury i Wypoczynku
- Tadeusz Kościuszko Park (Park im. Tadeusza Kościuszki)
- Zadole Park (Ligota - Panewniki)
- Bolina Park (Janów - Nikiszowiec)
- Janina-Barbara Park (Giszowiec)
- Olympic Participants' Park (Park Olimpijczyków) (Szopienice)
- Forest Park of Katowice (Katowicki Park Leśny)
- Murckowska Valley (Murcki)
- Ośrodek Wodno-Rekreacyjny Kleofas (Osiedle Tysiąclecia)
- Three Ponds' Valley (Dolina Trzech Stawów) (Osiedle Paderewskiego - Muchowiec)
- Ponds: Borki, Morawa and Hubertus (Szopienice)
- Wolność Square (Plac Wolności) (Śródmieście)
- Andrzej Square (Plac Andrzeja) (Śródmieście)
- Miarka Square (Plac Miarki) (Śródmieście)
- Council of Europe Square (Plac Rady Europy) ((Osiedle Paderewskiego - Muchowiec)
- Alfred Square (Plac Alfreda) (Wełnowiec)
- A. Budniok Square (Plac A. Brudnioka) (Koszutka)
- J. Londzin Square (Plac J. Londzina) (Załęże)
- A. Hlond Square (Plac A. Hlonda) (Śródmieście)
Tourism
The finest examples of Modernism (International Style and Bauhaus inspired architecture) could be easily found in the city downtown. Central Katowice also contain a significant number of Art Nouveau (Secesja) buildings along with the Communist Era giants such as Spodek or Superjednostka.
Katowice's Rynek - is the old centre and marketplace of the city. Unfortunately many old buildings were demolished in the 1950s to make place for monumental communist modern buildings.
Several streets around the rynek and the rynek itself are now closed to traffic and have been made into a shopping promenades.
Regeneration of the Rynek area should start at 2007-2008 and there was an international architectural competition in 2006 to find the best design.
Best buildings and places to see in Katowice:
- Cathedral in Katowice
- Drapacz Chmur, one of the first skyscrapers in Europe
- Katowice Rondo - is the large square/roundabout, currently being reconstructed.
- Silesian Insurgents Monument (Polish: Pomnik Powstańców Śląskich), situtated next to Rondo, is a large monument dedicated to the memory of the Silesian Uprisings of early 1920s
- The Spodek is a large sports centre/concert hall, whose name translates as the 'saucer', from its distinctive shape resembling a UFO flying saucer.
- Dworzec Główny Katowice - the main Katowice train station is a large, distinctive concrete building from Seventies near the rynek. There are plans to raze and rebuild it after the reconstruction of the rondo and rynek.
- The Pałac Goldsteinów, Goldstein Palace
Art Galleries
- Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej BWA Al. Korfantego 6
- Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej Parnas ul. Kochanowskiego 10
- Galeria Sztuki Atelier 2 ul. Batorego 2
- Galeria Związku Polskich Artystów Plastyków ul. Dworcowa 13
- Galeria Architektury SARP ul. Dyrekcyjna 9
- Galeria Art-Deco pl. Andrzeja 4
- Galeria Fra Angelico ul. Jordana 39
- Galeria Akwarela ul. Mikołowska 26
- Galeria Marmurowa ul. Mikołowska 26
- Galeria Piętro Wyżej
- Galeria Sektor I
- Galeria Szyb Wilson
Education
- University of Silesia (Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach)
- University of Economics in Katowice (Akademia Ekonomiczna w Katowicach)
- University of Music in Katowice (Akademia Muzyczna w Katowicach)
- University of Sports in Katowice (Akademia WF w Katowicach)
- University of Arts in Katowice (Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Katowicach)
- University of Arts in Cracow (Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie) - filia
- Medical University of Silesia (Śląska Akademia Medyczna)
- Silesian University of Technology - Faculty of Materials Science and Metallurgy and Faculty of Transport
- Polish Academy of Sciences (Polska Akademia Nauk), oddział
- Śląska Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki w Katowicach
- Śląska Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania w Katowicach
- Górnośląska Wyższa Szkoła Handlowa w Katowicach
- Międzynarodowa Szkoła Bankowości i Finansów
- Wyższa Szkoła Bankowości i Finansów w Katowicach
- Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczna w Katowicach
- Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczno-Ekonomiczna w Łodzi - wydział
- Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna TWP w Warszawie, Instytut Pedagogiki
- Wyższa Szkoła Techniczna w Katowicach
- Wyższa Szkoła Technologii Informatycznych w Katowicach
- Wyższa Szkoła Umiejętności Społecznych w Poznaniu - wydział
- Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania Marketingowego i Języków Obcych w Katowicach
- Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania Ochroną Pracy w Katowicach
- Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne Braci Mniejszych w Katowicach
- Wyższe Śląskie Seminarium Duchowne w Katowicach
- Prywatne Nauczycielskie Kolegium Języków Obcych w Bielsku-Białej - wydział
- Prywatne Nauczycielskie Kolegium Języków Obcych w Katowicach
There are also:
- around 80 high schools
- around 35 gimnasia
- around 55 primary schools
- around 50 libraries, including the Silesian Library
Popular Schools
- III Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Adama Mickiewicza
- Śląskie Techniczne Zakłady Naukowe
Sports
- GKS Katowice - men's football, (Polish Cup winner: 1986, 1991, 1993; Polish SuperCup winner: 1991, 1995; 1st league in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 seasons). ice hockey team Champion :1958,1960,1962 Gòrnik Katowice / GKS 1965,1968,1970.
- AZS AWF Katowice - women's handball team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League: 11th place in 2003/2004 season; will play in the 1st league in 2004/2005 season.
- KS Rozwój Katowice - football club
- MK Katowice - football club
- Kolejarz Katowice - football club
- Podlesianka Katowice - football club
- AZS US Katowice - various sports
- Naprzód Janów Katowice - hockey club
- HKS Szopienice - various sports
- Hetman Katowice - football club
- Hetman Szopienice - chess club
- MAKS Murcki Katowice - ice hockey & netball club
- Sparta Katowice - various sports
- HC GKS Katowice - hockey club
- AWF Mickiewicz Katowice - basketball club
Discontinued sports clubs:
- FC Katowice - football club
- Diana Katowice - football club
- Germania Katowice - football club
- EKS Katowice - watersports club
- Dąb Katowice - various sports
- Gwardia Katowice - various sports
- Pogoń Katowice - various sports
- KS Baildon Katowice - various sports
- Centrum Body Club Katowice - bodybuilding club
Famous people from Katowice
- Hans Bellmer, surrealist photographer
- Henryk M. Broder, journalist
- Maria Goeppert-Mayer
- Kurt Goldstein, neurologist
- Henryk Górecki classic music composer
- Wojciech Kilar classic and film music composer
- Jerzy Kukuczka climb all eight-thousanders
- Kazimierz Kutz
- Franz Leopold Neumann
- Hans Sachs
See also
- Metropolis Katowice - Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
- Tall buildings in Katowice
- Mine Wujek (Kopalnia Wujek)
- Katowice International Airport (Międzynarodowy Port Lotniczy Katowice-Pyrzowice)
- List of mayors of Katowice (Prezydenci Katowic)
External links
- "My City" asociacion
- The Municipal Council of Katowice
- The Commercial Website of Katowice
- Katowice, Silesia
- Architectural map of Katowice/Kattowitz
- A webcam view of Katowice
- Tram in Katowice
Template:Poland Template:Silesia Template:Metropolia Katowice
50°16′N 19°01′E / 50.267°N 19.017°E / 50.267; 19.017
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