About the region
Upper Silesia is a region whose borders almost perfectly coincide with the borders of the Silesian Voivodeship. In its area, apart from Silesian cities, there are also Opole and Kędzierzyn-Koźle, belonging to the Opolskie Voivodeship. The capital of the Silesian Voivodeship is Katowice. It is the region with the highest degree of urbanization and population density in Poland.
- Modern Silesia
The Śląskie Voivodeship is the most industrialized region in Poland and one of the most industrialized areas in Europe. Until recently, it was mainly associated with mines and heavy industry, and recently it focuses on new technologies, the development of the meetings industry and tourism. Business tourism in the region of Upper Silesia, and especially in Katowice, is developing dynamically. In 2019, for the first time, the number of participants in business events in the capital of the region exceeded one million people. The Silesian metropolis is one of the most attractive cities for outsourcing, especially in the human resources sector. Many foreign investors choose Silesia as their location in Poland.A region with an extremely diverse landscape, mountains, lakes, rocks and numerous monuments, from fortified castles to historic mines. Visitors will find attractions for all weather and season in this region.
- Amateurs of cycling, climbing and canoeing will gladly choose the surroundings of medieval castles, fortresses and watchtowers on the Trail of the Eagles’ Nests.
- Sports enthusiasts will find hiking and biking trails in the mountains, and well-prepared ski runs in winter.
- The cities of the Silesian Metropolis open their doors to those who like bustling places where architecture combines history with modernity.
- Lovers of folklore and tradition will be pleased to discover local handicrafts, dialect and customs.
- And for seekers of unusual attractions, the Industrial Monuments Route awaits – the most interesting route of industrial tourism in Poland.
Hotels
The main base of conference and business hotels is Katowice and the entire Silesian agglomeration. It is worth paying attention to the objects in attractive landscape and tourist areas, such as Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska and the Beskidy Mountains.
Jura Krakowsko – Częstochowska:
- Hotel Natura Residence****
- Business & SPA 4**** (Siewierz)
- Hotel Centuria Wellness & Spa 4**** Ogrodzieniec
Beskidy:
- Hotele 5*****
- Crystal Mountian 5*****
- Wisła Hotele 4****
- Hotel Klimczok 4****
- Szczyrk; Hotel Meta 4****
- Szczyrk; Aries Hotel & Spa 4**** Wisła
- Qubus Hotel Bielsko Biała 4****
- Hotel Stok **** Ski & Spa Wisła
- Hotele 3*** Vestina 3*** Wisła
Conference and business venues
Both in terms of population and the choice of conference venues, Katowice is the largest city in the region. We can choose from facilities as large as the International Congress Center, the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra or the legendary “Spodek”.
There are other interesting places for conferences outside Katowice:
- Gliwice Hall, EXPO in Opole
- Exhibition and Congress Center in Opole
- The Hat Exhibition Hall in the Silesian Park in Chorzów can also boast a large volume
- Atrion Tychy Business Center.
It is worth paying attention to unusual objects, such as post-industrial buildings, including former mines, breweries, as well as castles and palaces. Upper Silesia also has a large selection of medium-sized hotels and conference facilities, such as: the Congress Center of the Polish Diaspora Academy in Częstochowa, Kamienica Pod Orłem in Bielsko-Biała, Dworek Eureka in Czechowice-Dziedzice as well as Hotel Okrąglak and Muza cinema in Sosnowiec. Substantive support is provided by the Katowice Convention Bureau and Śląska Regionalna Organizacja Turystyczna.
Local cuisine
Czech, Austrian, German and Jewish influences made Silesia one of the most culinary interesting regions of Poland. The trail’s restaurants present Silesian, Jurassic, Zagłębie or Beskid cuisine.
- On the Silesian table
From the typical Silesian cuisine, restaurants offer:
- roulade with dumplings and red cabbage,
- wodzionka or hekele (herring salad),
- from Zagłębie cuisine you can try zalewajki ( special soup) or roasted puffs.
The table of “jurajska” cuisine is dominated by Częstochowa’s pea soup and trout. The largest culinary event in the region takes place every year in June – the Silesian Tastes Festival, it is a culinary competition of professionals, amateur chefs and students of catering schools, accompanied by culinary demonstrations and numerous tastings.
The most interesting attractions
- Trail of the Eagles’ Nests
Unique, on a national and European scale, marked hiking and cycling route (approx. 163 km), stretching through the area of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland – from Kraków to Częstochowa. Leads, among others following the footsteps of castles built during the reign of King Casimir the Great, as part of the defense system of the former border of the Kingdom of Poland with the then Czech Silesia. Particularly limestone rock groups, called “outliers”, determine the picturesque landscape. The most popular objects on the Trail of the Eagles’ Nests in the Silesian Voivodeship are the following castles: Ogrodzieniec in Podzamcze, fortresses in Mirów and Bobolice, Bąkowiec in Morsko, Pilcza in Smolen and Olsztyn near Częstochowa.
- The Beskids
Located in the southern part of the Silesian Voivodeship, they include three mountain groups: Beskid Śląski, Beskid Żywiecki and the western part of the Beskid Mały. Their height is from 933 m above sea level. The Beskid region is well developed in terms of accommodation and catering facilities, tourist routes and ski infrastructure, as well as tourist attractions.
The Pearl of the Beskids ”is the town of Vistula (Wisła), situated at the source of the queen of Polish rivers. In summer, it offers 19 mountain hiking trails with a total length of over 150 kilometers. In addition, special walking routes and themed routes have been created. In winter, the Vistula becomes a paradise for skiers with 18 ski lifts and cross-country trails on Kubalonka. The symbol of the city is the ski jump name of Adam Małysz.
The winter capital of the Silesian Voivodeship is Szczyrk. Skiers can enjoy: the Szczyrk Mountain Resort ski resort with over 20 slopes, with a total length of almost 40 km (from 670 m to 2810 m), as well as the Central Sports Center and Beskid Sport Arena connected by one ski pass.
Special attention deserves “Beskidzka Tri-village”, which is made up of three charming mountain towns: Koniakowa, Jaworzynka and Istebna. The first of them is famous for the production of lace, Istebna boasts the most beautiful spruce trees in the world, which has been confirmed by Swedish scientists’ research, and Jaworzynka lies on the so-called Tripoint – that is, the intersection of three borders: Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Cyclists, cross country cyclists, horseback riding enthusiasts and skiers will find the possibility of active rest. ·
- Industrial Monuments Route
It is the most interesting route of industrial tourism in Poland, a thematic tourist and cultural route that connects the most important and most interesting objects related to the industrial heritage in terms of tourist, historical and architectural values. It consists of 43 objects related to the tradition of mining, metallurgy, energy, railways, communications, textiles, water production and the food industry. You can find out what the work of a miner used to look like, learn the secrets of producing clean water and beer, but also see industrial architecture. The trail includes, among others Lead, silver and zinc mine in Tarnowskie Góry, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Metropolis of Upper Silesia and Zagłębie
It is one of the most important metropolitan centers in the country. It is made up of 41 communes of Silesia and Zagłębie, with 1,200 km2 inhabited by two million people. Apart from the best investment areas in the country and an absorbing labor market, the Metropolis is characterized by a rich cultural offer and unique tourist attractions. The first place is occupied by the capital of Silesia, Katowice, known as the Polish city of Chicago, with the city’s symbol, the “Spodek” Sports and Entertainment Hall, the Culture Zone, and the Nikiszowiec and Giszowiec housing estates. Katowice prides itself on the title of UNESCO Creative City as the City of Music. Other attractions of the Metropolis include: the Silesian Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory in Chorzów, the Central Museum of Firefighting in Mysłowice, the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, the Tradition Park in Siemianowice Śląskie or the Radio Station in Gliwice – the German provocation organized there was a pretext for aggression against Poland in 1939.
An idea for incentives in Silesia
- Active
Amateurs of cycling, climbing and canoeing can devote themselves to their passions surrounded by medieval castles, fortresses and watchtowers on the Trail of the Eagles’ Nests. There are also hiking and biking trails in the mountains, well-prepared ski runs in winter, and breathtaking views all year round.
- Following the tradition
Culture enthusiasts will discover the treasures of centuries of history and tradition in the Beskids. Handicraft workshops, culinary workshops.
- Region of cultural events
Metropolitan cities open their doors to those who like bustling places. It is here that architecture combines history with modernity. Numerous cultural events tempt fans of shows, exhibitions, festivals and concerts.
- On the industrial trail
The Industrial Monuments Route – the most interesting route of industrial tourism in Poland, takes a journey in time. It allows you to take a close look at the miner’s work, taste freshly brewed beer and sail the labyrinth of underground corridors of the mining tunnel by boat.