Top Things to do in Silesia Province
The 10 Best Things to Do in Silesia Province, Poland
The Province of Silesia (German: Provinz Schlesien; Polish: Prowincja Śląska; Silesian: Prowincyjŏ Ślōnskŏ) was a province of the German Kingdom of Prussia, existing from 1815 to 1919, when it was divided into the Upper and Lower Silesia provinces, and briefly again from 1938 to 1941. As a Prussian province, Silesia became part of the German Empire during the Prussian-led unification of Germany in 1871. The provincial capital was Breslau (present-day Wrocław, Poland).
Restaurants in Silesia Province
1. National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio
Overall Ratings
5 based on 144 reviews
Reviewed By JonDoe04134 - Lidingo, Sweden
The building is not only beautiful from the outside, paying homage to the history and architecture of the region of Upper Silesia. It's also jaw-droppingly gorgeous inside. But even more importantly, the concert hall is cutting edge, which combined with excellent musicians results in an unforgetable experience.
2. Guido Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
Reviewed By Mateusz P - Warsaw, Poland
Are you tired looking for a good place in Katowice to go for a date or just spend an interesting Sunday afternoon? You may visit Guido coal mine.
Guido coal mine offers several sightseeing tours and occasionally hosts cultural events. This review covers 2 sightseeing tours: level 320 and 355.
Guido is a retired coal mine closed in 1996 after more than 130 years of operation. Since 60ties the coal mine was considered as an experimental and used to test innovations in the mining industry before applying them on a large scale in other more profitable mines. Almost 20 years after the last tone of coal had been excavated the mine was renovated, audited for safety and reopened for visitors by the State Mining Authority. Do not worry, neither a degree in mining nor prior experience is required to visit the facility! Though the tours are very popular among miners, who bring their wives and families to show how their work looks like.
Level 320 tour takes place 320 meters below the ground. You will reach it by an authentic elevator. The tour is walk-based. The guide will explain you how a coal mine operates and miners’ work. You will pass by tapes used to transport coal underground, understand how ventilation system works and see two different mining combines. At the end you will get a ride on an electric queue. The tour finishes in an underground bar where you can order a pint of a local craft beer or eat a hot meal. This tour does not require to be fit or have any special outfit. Before entering the facility you will be given a helmet to protect your head.
Level 355 Shift tour was created to offer an opportunity to provide an authentic coal miner’s work experience. Before starting the tour you will receive a helmet, lamp, special outfit, shoes, mask, googles and a safety bag which can produce oxygen in case of an emergency. I believe the safety bag was to help visitors realize how heavy and uncomfortable for regular miners is to carry it on every day. During the tour you will see the most important attractions prepared for the 320 level tour except the ride on an electrical queue. Instead, you will take part in a few team-building activities such as assembling a tape-based construction to transport coal or building a ventilation system. Perfect idea for a stag or an integration event. The most impressive part of the visit is going down to the excavation point abandoned before the mine was closed in 90ties. The channel was very narrow and built using explosives. It took us a while to get there taking into account all safety equipment we were carrying on with us. Then all tour members agreed to turn off their lamps for a while to experience total darkness. These conditions imitate emergency situations when lack of any source of light causes miners who got their lamps damaged to loose orientation. The tour lasts 4 hours and ends in the underground bar. After the sightseeing you can take a shower on the ground.
I highly recommend the tour to anyone who would like to experience how coal miners’ job looks like in terms of tools and machines operated by miners, their tasks and activities, required physical effort, safety and conditions underground. You may also get a better understanding of the local cuisine, which if famous from being heavy, and think about possible long term impact on health of people who are minders on a regular basis.
Groups for both tours are small, 10 people on average. All tours are guided.
How to get to the place?
Car is perhaps the most convenient way to reach the mine. There is a free, spacious parking next to the visitors’ office where you may leave your car. If you do not have your own car, you may take the bus from the Silesian Insurgents’ Square in Katowice. It takes around 45 minutes to get to the mine. One-hour bus tickets are available in the local transportation office in the Katowice railway station.
It is almost impossible to get a spontaneous tour. I highly recommend buying the tickets online or calling the visitor office to book your trip in advance.
3. Sanktuarium Matki Bozej Jasnogorskiej
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By Anselm D - Kuala Lumpur
The architecture, frescoes and ornate decorations of this sanctuary is just breath taking & one will quickly realize which this location of part of UNESCO's heritage sites. A site that is very close & dear to the Polish people, a steady stream of pilgrims, tourists and those attending Mass makes the overall location somewhat crowded.
4. Ogrodzieniec Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 320 reviews
Reviewed By Wojtek160 - Wroclaw, Poland
I would like to recommend Ogrodzieniec Castle. Great History, Great area for Families including 4 thematic parks. Nice Parking Area, good restaurants with good drinks. Really nice part of Polish History. That places really shows culture of Polish nation. Highly recommended for Polish Citizen and International Visitors.
5. Silesian Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 297 reviews
Muzeum Slaskie comprises a building complex erected at the site of the former mine and represents a perfect combination of the region’s identity with state-of-the-art architectural solutions. Such result was achieved thanks to the maximum use of underground space, and therefore relatively low interference with the local, post-industrial landscape. Impressive spaces are vast and modern and at the same time maintain the memory of place, which closely corresponds with the Museum’s cultural policy. The new building of Muzeum Slaskie, raised as a result of the local inhabitants’ needs and some brave decisions, has quickly and naturally become the crucial cultural centre of the region, a remarkably important Silesian social life hub and a significant contributor on the cultural map of Poland. The new building allowed us to display valuable exhibits, which we were unable to present to the visitors earlier, and create the “The Light of History. Upper Silesia over the Ages.” exhibition — an innovative event, which is both important for the region and emotional. However, opening new Exhibitions in just one of the goals fulfilled by the Silesian Museum. It is people who matter most to us and that is why we are proud to have established a dynamic and thriving meeting place.
Reviewed By bartonsmpson - Eccleshall
Great design in this modern building housing an art gallery with mostly home grown talent being shown
Also a few interesting building which were closed during our time there
Cost is under a fiver per person entry.
Coffee shop and visitor centre were available.
Great architecture throughout and a must see for this town
6. The Castle of Pszczyna
7. Jasna Gora
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 620 reviews
The holiest place in Poland and one of the world’s most important destinations for pilgrims. Every year several million pilgrims pray before the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
Reviewed By black325 - Prescott Valley, Arizona
We were on a Globus tour of Central Europe which included a visit to Jasna Gora. Our tour guide was Father Simon, who along with the historical narrative provided some hysterical (funny) narrative. Be prepared for security check at the entrance, including the inspection of women's purses. We were fortunate to to have an early morning tour as by the time we left there were very long lines. The history of the monastery was fascinating as well as the viewing of the "Black Madonna." It was a bit unsettling to walk through the church and around the back of the alter as Mass was being said, but apparently that is the norm.
8. Radiostacja Gliwice
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By rodneycs - Linz, Austria
The Radio Station at Gliwice is the highest wooden structure in the world at 111 metres high and this is where the second world war began with Nazi provocation which Hitler used to invade Poland and start the second world war. The Nazis took over the transmitter and broadcast radio programmes from nearby Breslau. The transmitter on top of the tower is still in use and there is a museum nearby. The whole area is in a park but no toilets At night transmissions from the Gliwice radio tower could be heard throughout Europe and daytime throughout all of Upper Silesia
9. Our Lady of Czestochowa / The Black Madonna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 241 reviews
Reviewed By SunitaF1 - Mumbai, India
I was a real experience for me. I had heard of the Black Madonna but after visiting the Church, I was amazed. I got to experience the opening ceremony as well as the closing ceremony of the veiling and unveiling of the Black Madonna.
10. Gora Zamkowa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Cieszyn has a lot to offer, it is old town in Poland ruins from XI century, including tower and hunting castle
Reviewed By Robert937 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands
A strategic hill with medieval ruins and high trees providing shelter against wind. Different shades of green and no doubt wonderful in autumn. Occasionally nice views on the hills, city and Olza river. History cloaked in mystery. Very pleasant romantic ambiance.
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