Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis is the largest metropolitan area in Poland, denying the stereotype of a big city poor in greenery.

Katowice, Strefa Kultury, fot. www.slaskie.travel, GdzieWyjechac.pl

Green Metropolis

There is no other such a metropolitan center in Poland, with one-quarter of its area being forests and parks, including the Silesian Park. More than 600 hectares of greenery hides a huge number of attractions: Silesian Theme Park "Legendia", Silesian Zoological Garden, Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory, Skansen "Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park, narrow-gauge railway, playgrounds, cableway" Elka "and many more.

Muzeum Śląskie, fot. Witalis Szołtys, arch. Śląska Organizacja Turystyczna

     Metropolis' cities are filled with castles, palaces and historic tenement houses. Lovers of active recreation will find here extensive green areas, through which lead hiking and biking trails, and water sports enthusiasts - numerous water reservoirs with full infrastructure. The metropolis also offers natural peculiarities that we will not meet in other regions of the country. Undoubtedly one of them is the Błędowska Desert.

 Pustynia Błędowska, fot. M. Wróblewski, arch. UM w Dąbrowie Górniczej

The post-industrial heritage has been turned into a tourist asset. The symbol and pride of the region is the Industrial Monuments Route. Many of the places located on this trail or the Wooden Architecture Trail can be found in the center of the Metropolis. Here you can also see places located on the Moderny Route, which covers the buildings of Katowice architecture of the inter-war period. The cultural offer is also impressive.

Nikiszowiec fot.City Hall of Katowice

Culturally

There are several theaters here, including one of the best musical theaters - Teatr Rozrywki in Chorzów, there is also a dramatic theater - Teatr Śląski im. S. Wyspiański in Katowice and one of the best opera scenes in Poland - Silesian Operetta in Bytom. Selected cyclical events that can not be missed: Off Festival, Tauron Nowa Muzyka, Rawa Blues Festival, Katowice Carnival of Comedy, Metropolitan Night of Theaters, Ars Cameralis Festival, Industriada, Silesian Tastes Festival.

Festiwal Tauron Nowa Muzyka. fot. arch UMK R.Kaźmierczak

Active

Walks in the cities of the Metropolis also provide great impressions - beautiful castles, palaces, historic houses, often with the preserved, original equipment from centuries will delight art and architecture enthusiasts. Lovers of outdoor activities will find here water reservoirs with full infrastructure and vast green areas that can be walked on foot or by bike.

Park Śląski fot. ŚOT Tomasz Gębuś

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Katowice - panorana fot. ilikesilesia.com