Silesia is a region in Poland that impresses with its rich culture, history and picturesque landscapes. Whether you are a lover of history, nature or architecture, Silesia has much to offer. Here are a few tourist attractions to visit during your stay in this fascinating region.

Silesia - get to know the attractions

When we say Silesia, the quickest thing that comes to mind is Upper Silesia with its coal basin. But Silesia is not only a very diverse land, but one that is being reborn and attracting more and more tourists.

It is worth visiting this region, because Silesia is a region with a rich and complicated history, for the purpose of this article let's define which area we will cover. Upper Silesia, which includes part of Silesia today, does not exist in the official administrative division, but we know what it is about. However, it is one of the many parts of Silesia, so for the sake of order, let's say that we will deal with the Silesian province, divided into regions with diverse tourist attractions, which we will discuss in turn. These are: Beskid Śląski and Cieszyn Beskid, Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolitan Area, Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska and Upper Odra Land.

Silesia is gaining a new image, old factories are being decommissioned, museums and galleries are being built, post-mining areas are gaining a new use, including for tourism. Where to go while in Silesia? What to see?

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Silesian cities - tourist attractions

The Silesian Voivodeship is primarily a number of well-known and respected cities and towns. We will introduce you to several of them, which have numerous attractions on offer for tourists. Our suggestions will be varied and we hope that each of you will find something for yourself. Ready? Well, here we go!

Katowice, Zabrze, Gliwice - what is worth seeing?

Katowice is a city full of surprises. Post-industrial monuments, magnificent historic and modern architecture, former mining estates wonderfully revitalized and like a magnet attracting tourists. A gem not only in the country is the former mining estate of Nikiszowiec. Recognized as a monument to history, an extraordinary place with a unique atmosphere. Three-story brick blocks form quadrangles with inner courtyards, where residents had pigsties, cells and ovens for baking bread. The estate consists of nine such buildings, connected by connecting ties. Attention is drawn to the varied architectural details decorating all the edifices, ornaments, flowers, shutters.

The building of the former public laundry and mangle now houses a branch of the Museum of the History of Katowice - the Department of Urban Ethnology. It is a real tourist attraction of Katowice and Silesia, not to be missed.

The second district worth visiting is Giszowiec, also a historical settlement, but modeled after an old Polish village. A charming place. The Silesian Museum is an absolute top on the tourist map of Katowice. Located on the site of the former "Katowice" mine, its concept refers to the industrial history of Silesia. The exhibition will guide visitors through the history of mining and the region, and children will discover many exciting stories with the help of the latest technologies. The museum has been repeatedly awarded in many competitions. For those who like industrial atmosphere, we also recommend a visit to the Zinc Rolling Mill Museum, with antique machinery, vehicles and lots of history. And, of course, it is necessary to see Spodek.

Other technical monuments, spiced up with a visit to the underground, await tourists in Zabrze. These include the Królowa Luiza Adit and the Guido Mine. Going down in a mining train is just one of the many attractions.

Guido mine in Zabrze

With tourists in mind, Guido Mine has organized several tour options. The first is the Darkness of the Mine, which treats you to a tour in complete silence, darkness (the only source of light is a headlamp by your helmet!), with no range and no wifi! You can feel like you are on a black hiking trail, more than 1.5 kilometers long, except that not in the mountains, but... 355 meters underground. 355 meters, or almost 120 floors down, traversed by a mining elevator (shola). On this route you will reach the roughest corners of the mine, to which until recently only professional miners had access. At the end of the trip, as a reward for your efforts, the miner's train will take you directly to an underground pub for a portion of Silesian delicacies.

Where can you find us?

3 Maja 93, 41-800 Zabrze

More information: https://kopalniaguido.pl/

The Queen Louise Adit in Zabrze

The Królowa Luiza Adit, where you will not only get to know the underground kingdom of machines, but also take an underground boat trip. This is the longest underground rafting trip in Poland! The nearly two-hour trip features beautifully illuminated corridors, plants growing in the darkness, the sound of dripping water, sparkling, powerful coal seams and relaxation in a gently rocking boat.

Where can you find us?

Maurycego Mochnackiego 12, 41-800 Zabrze

More information: https://www.sztolnialuiza.pl/

PIXEL XL Katowice

Pixel XL is a gaming center that revolutionizes the approach to interactive play by eliminating the need for traditional pads and keyboards. Instead, players use special interactive mats that make them "physically" part of the gameplay. This innovative way of spending time is gaining popularity among locals and tourists alike, offering an unforgettable experience and plenty of excitement.

At Pixel XL, games take place on the floor, where players move around illuminated tiles. Each game requires participants' reflexes, cunning, agility, as well as strategic thinking and cooperation. As a result, Pixel XL games are not only fun, but also an excellent workout for the body and mind. Moving to the rhythm of the illuminated tiles, players must react quickly to changing challenges, making each session unique and dynamic.

Pixel XL offers more than 20 games of varying levels of difficulty, ensuring that there is something for everyone - solo players and groups alike. The games are thematically diverse and require a variety of skills, from reflexes and dexterity to memory and strategic ability. There are both simple games for beginners and complex challenges for advanced players. It's a place where anyone can test their skills and have fun, regardless of age or experience.

Where can you find us?

Sokolska 31, Katowice

More information:  https://pixel-xl.com/katowice

Funzeum in Gliwice

This is a recently established, unusual museum with a space full of amazing arrangements. A museum, but in reverse! Funzeum is a place of family entertainment and a great option for a weekend with a child in Silesia. An amusement and education park has been created on 4 thousand square meters, showing how light and colors work together. It is the largest place of its kind in Poland. Within the Funzeum you will find countless interactive, unique exhibits that are sure to stimulate your creativity and imagination. It doesn't matter if you are 5 or 50 years old - visiting Funzeum will be an interesting adventure for everyone, regardless of age.

Where can you find us?

Pszczyńska 315, 44-100 Gliwice

More information: https://funzeum.pl/

House of air Gliwice

If the desire to have fun regardless of the weather comes to you - we recommend House of air in Gliwice. This is an extraordinary trampoline park with an amusement park and extreme aspirations. The whole is located on an area of 3000m2. House of Air is the only one in Poland that belongs to the International Association of Trampoline Parks and is certified for safety and quality by ASTM International.

Where can you find us?

Pszczyńska 315, 44-100 Gliwice

More information: http://www.houseofair.pl/

Tarnowskie Góry and Chorzów - why visit?

Another city that has used post-industrial infrastructure for tourism is Tarnowskie Góry. The Historic Silver Mine and the Black Trout Adit await tourists. A tourist attraction that will delight mainly children is a narrow-gauge train ride on a seven-kilometer section from Stanica through Rudy to the Rybnik Stodoły station. At the station in Rudy an open-air museum "Historic Narrow-Gauge Railway Station" has been established, which is one of the objects of the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Voivodeship.

While in Silesia, it is also worth a trip to Chorzow. The city's best-known attractions are the Silesian Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory, as well as Legendia - the Silesian Merry City. The Museum of Metallurgy is also worth a visit.

Wisla - a health resort, a ski jump and Adam Malysz

Wisla... it's impossible to miss this town when touring Silesia. Known for its ski jumps, Adam Malysz and the writer Jerzy Pilch, who died a year ago, who made this charming and atmospheric town a land full of amazing stories. Vistula is a well-known health resort, a town largely populated by evangelicals, and attracts tourists at any time of the year. Wisla is located in the Silesian Beskid, we will go from it to the Great Stożek, Three Vistula Mounds, Barania Góra, Great Czantoria.

What else is worth seeing?

Silesia is full of interesting post-mining objects, non-trivial technical facilities and equipment. More and more are being adapted for tourism. In addition to the mines described earlier, Silesia is also worth seeing: Tyskie Browary Książęce Museum in Tychy, Tarnowskie Góry Historic Silver Mine, Zywiec Brewery Museum in Zywiec (beer tasting on site), Maciej Shaft in Zabrze.

For lovers of castles and palaces, Silesia also offers many attractions. It's worth taking the Eagles' Nests Trail. It includes Mirow Castle, Bąkowiec Castle Zawiercie - Skarżyce, Bobolice Castle, Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze, Bydlin Castle, among others.

It is also worth seeing the unique religious architecture in Czestochowa. It is a culturally important place in Poland and Silesia. Jasna Gora Church and Jasna Gora Treasury, St. Roch's Bastion on Jasna Gora or the Museum of the 600th Anniversary of Jasna Gora are places with a rich history.

Upper Silesia for the active - learn about the attractions

In Silesia, lovers of active recreation will find something for themselves. We offer five bicycle routes that will delight every tourist. Beautiful views, interesting terrain and ... active recreation. Bike Trail of the Eagles' Nests with the beginning in Czestochowa along the route of castles. The second route is the Vistula Bicycle Route with its beginning in the Silesian Beskid, in Wisła, and runs along the Vistula River through Ustroń, Skoczów, Ochaby, Drogomyśl, turning before Strumień to Zabłocie, further through Zarzecze, Chybie, Zabrzeg (hooking up with Goczałkowickie Lake) and Czechowice-Dziedzice, through Kaniów towards the border with Małopolska. Another route is the Iron Bike Route, the Liswarcian Bike Route. The Enduro Trails in the Beskid Mountains are also worth recommending. The Enduro Trails mountain bike trail complex in Beskidy is a network of one-way bike trails, the so-called Singletracks, are the most favored by mountain bikers, narrow, winding and undulating paths with varying degrees of difficulty, from easier to difficult and challenging.

For those who enjoy hiking, we recommend the Fairytale Trail from Brenna. During the trip along the Fairytale Trail we will learn about the amazing adventures of Utopiec - Gazda Brennica. We start the hike in Brenna Centrum, where we follow the red and white signs towards the Holcyna valley. We reach the bridge over the Brennica River, behind which we turn into the first street to the right. The trail leads us along an asphalt road past a canoe marina, and later the route winds up to the approach to Grabowa. The path follows an alley between beech, fir and spruce trees, a very pleasant hike. There is a Grabowa chalet, and around it a themed fairy garden with characters from legends of the Silesian Beskid.

The Czantoria Nature Reserve is also worth a walk. These are wonderful forest communities with old sycamore, ash and maple stands with the character of a natural forest. So we combine active outdoor recreation with admiring the beauty of nature. Finally - an ascent to Równica (885 m above sea level). Just in time for a trip with children. This is because there are entertainment facilities located here, which will interest especially the youngest, such as the Extreme Park, where you can jump on the bars or practice on the climbing wall. Another attraction of the Extreme Park is the 4D cinema. Other attractions include a rope park and the Zoo - Forest Surprise Park.

So it's time to pack your bags, the Silesian province is waiting for tourists!