Chorzow

The beginning of Chorzow reaches XIII century. Chorzow is put overhead in central part of Upper Silesia Region (one of the 16th regions in Poland). Chorzow is located nest to Katowice - the capitol of Silesia. The town area, which is inhabited by 117.4 thousands of inhabitants, is only 33,5 square kilometers. Chorzow lies on crossroad of important communication routes, as e.g. Krakow - Wroclaw and Katowice - Poznan. Aerial connection assures airport in Katowice Pyrzowice, put 40 km from the town center. See a map.

The Upper Silesia (Czech: Horní Slezsko, German: Oberschlesien, Latin: Silesia Superior), which part is Chorzow, is a historic land which now belongs to Poland and Czech Republic.

The diversity of Chorzow surprises - next to a shopping center and big mills one can find Upper Silesian Heritage Park and one of the biggest recreational park in Europe with zoological garden, fun fair, astronomical observatory, and the Silesian Stadium (the biggest stadium in Poland).

Among partner's cities of Chorzow are: Termoli (Italy), Ózd (Hungary), Zlin (Czech Republic), Iserlohn (Germany), Creil (France) and Tarnopol (Ukraine).

Chorzow, though is a relatively young town (as royal plant receive in 1868 year), it can be proud of different antiques. Among many other there are: richly decorated building of old Graf Reden Hotel (now it is Theater of Entertainment), wooden church from XVI century, St. Barbara church (the oldest church in Royal Plant from second part of XVIII century), St. Mary Magdalena church (present building has been thrown up after burning former in XIX century, else thrown up by Bożogrobcy Order), building of Postal Office (XIX century richly decorated building), mine wells (Prezydent and Elżbieta).

Other interesting places include sports objects like Stadium, MORiS Hall (modern sports hall), "Ruch Chorzów" Stadium, Town Stadium, "Hajduki" Sports Complex (hall and swimming pool), City Bathing Plant, "FALA" Bathing (7 swimming pool complex under naked sky).

To Chorzow cultural heritage belongs several community centers like: "Panorama" cinema, Theater of Entertainment, City Museum, City Public Library.

Yearly cultural events in Chorzow:

• Festival of Beer - each year in September on "Pola Marsowe" in park of culture;
• City Holy - city holy commemorations proceed is always on early June. They are related with anniversary of "Bożogrobcy" Order arrival to Chorzow. Whole ceremony begins solemn procession, which marches from under St. Jadwiga church on City Stadium at Lompy Street. Pupils from Chorzow schools, representatives of youth organizations and sports sections go in procession. Artistic projections are the following step of a program on specially prepared stage on City Stadium;
• Independence Day commemoration - is always proceeding 11 November. It starts from solemn St. mass in St. Barbara catholic church. Then assembled march under monument of Silesian Insurgent, where flowers are folding. Authorities of cities, Chorzow schools and representatives of social organizations take part in solemnity.

Most attractive clubs in Chorzow are: Art Cafe Zanzibar (3 Maja Street), Kocynder (S±dowa Street), Merkury (Katowicka Street). It is possible to go to the disco e.g. to "Piramida" (Lwowska Street).

Upper Silesian Agglomeration

Chorzow is located in a central part of the Upper Silesia region. The region is the second highest among other Polish regions in population - 4,7 million inhabitants. The core part of the region is the Upper Silesian Agglomeration, also called Katowice Agglomeration, or Silesian Metropolis. It includes 14 cities and towns with a status of a county. Upper Silesian Agglomeration is the highest conurbation in Poland - more the 2.3 millions of inhabitants and one of the biggest agglomeration in Central Europe. The biggest and most important city of the agglomeration is its capitol - Katowice.

The Upper Silesian Agglomeration is an area of high concentration of industry and services. Beside presently restructured traditional sectors like mining industry (several hard coal mine), metallurgical (several steelworks and unferrous metals), dynamically spread out new industries related with financial-banking sectors, transport and automotive branches (OPEL, FIAT and ISUZU factories as well as producer of rail vehicle), energetic (several power stations and thermal power plant), engine, chemical (nitrogen plants, factory of paint and varnishes), medical and nutritive sectors. The region is permanently in developing and revitalizing stage.

The Upper Silesian Agglomeration is linked by the good develop system of roads and public transport (trains, buses and trams). Network of tram length route is on the third place in Europe. Several stations and tens railroad stations are placed here. Intercity and Eurocity trains stops on main station in Katowice (direct train connections with: Krakow, Warszawa, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Ostrava, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Berlin, Hamburg). Network of highways is best developed among other Polish regions e.g. A4 highway, E40 and E75 European routes runs directly by the Agglomeration. Very important role is also played by international airport in Katowice - Pyrzowice and near located (70 kilometers from Katowice) airport in Kraków - Balice. Among others, it is possible to recover interesting information about Silesian province on Marshal Offices website: www.silesia-region.pl.

For most important antiques of overhead Upper Silesian region we can include: castle in Gliwice (XIV century), bishop castle in Siewierz (XIII century), castle in Pszczyna (about XIII century), castle in ¦wierklaniec (XII century), stone orthodox church in Sosnowiec (1889), silver antique mine in Tarnowskie Góry (XVII century), duke's brewery in Tychy (1629), brewery in Żywiec (1856). To other important objects belongs: "Spodek" in Katowice (hall in which many curious sports performance and concerts proceeding), Christ the King roman catholic arch cathedral, house of Silesian Parliament, Silesian Governor's Office (1925-29), Resurrection of Lord evangelical (Lutheran) church in Katowice, Silesian Opera in Bytom, Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice. Upper Silesian Narrow Gauge Railroad is curious tourist highlight. It is the oldest acting narrow gauge railroad in the world. First sections of gauges emerge in 1853 year. They route crosses by fields about big landscape values.

• "Metalmania" (March / April)
• Mayday Festival (April or November)
• "Bluestracje" (May)
• Lech May Party (May)
• Silesian "Gody" (May)
• students Silesian "Juwenalia" (May)
• International Riding Profession (June)
• Day of Honey (July)
• Students Folkloristic Festival (August)
• Day of Bread (August)
• Rawa Blues Festival (October).