To the Space! To Katowice! (5,652 km)

(2024-06-09/11) Krakow and Katowice are only 80 kilometers apart. If they have the choice, nine out of ten tourists will probably choose Krakow; I am the one who goes to Katowice. Katowice doesn't have a medieval old town and there aren't excursions to Auschwitz on every corner, but the city has other highlights. The exceptionally good restaurant Śląska Prohibicja [Silesian Prohibition] advertises it like this:

"Conquest of space! This is the goal of the inhabitants of the world in the middle of the 20th century. After all, the race of powers was also held in the dark blue skies. Katowice is being built anew. All over again - in space style! Gagarin is greeted with flowers in Katowice by crowds and astral buildings are erected on empty squares. Spodek [UFO] lands in our city! [...] The new trend inspires architects working to expand the city. One after another, buildings are being built that refer to the astral current."

From the interstellar heights down to the lowlands of the Silesian coal mines: The Silesian Prohibition is not in the center, but in the middle of Nikiszowiec. This is a very well-preserved listed miners' settlement in the east of the city, with original brick buildings from the early 20th century. The contrasts are what make the town so charming. The individual tourist who has chosen Katowice over Krakow will definitely not regret their decision.