Do you think that Katowice is still a city of coal and steel?
Although the city of Katowice owes its development to heavy industry, on the edge of XXI century these traditional regional trades are being replaced by modern economy branches. Different enterprises representing different industries are residing at the postindustrial areas, creating many workplaces. These changes, together with the modern infrastructure, ensure a brisk development of the city and the increase of its attraction for both citizens and investors.
Today Katowice is:
City of investments
 Every year, 30% of the communication and technical infrastructure of the city, is spent on developing settlement, modernisation and building of both educational and sport objects, as well as for the improvement of the citizens' security. New communication set (DTŚ) is being built, as well as new sewage system in the City Centre (the project co-funded by the European Union – ISPA) along with many other enterprises.
Friendly atmosphere for investors in Katowice is confirmed by the number of foreign investments located in the city. Since 1995 foreign firms have invested in Katowice about 2,5 billion PLN. The cost of projects currently realised is estimated to be higher than 2 billion PLN.
Academic centre
 Today, 23 high schools exist in Katowice, educating about 80 thousand students on almost twenty subjects. The number of people studying in Katowice has raised four times through the last 15 years, which is a great potencial for the city development.
Cultural centre
For a dozen years or so, Katowice has already been an important cultural centre. Here exists the base of the best symphony orchestra in Poland – National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio (NOSPR), as well as a few theatres (such as S. Wyspiański Silesian Theatre, „Ateneum” Theatre, Korez Theatre), Silesian Philharmonic, and galleries like BWA and many others. Remarkably active is the Cultural Centre of Upper Silesia (GCK). Katowice is host to many important festivals and competitions, such as the G. Fitelberg Contest of Conductors or the Festival of Directing Art „Interpretacje”. The city symbol – Spodek, attracts thousands of people eager to see the most important cultural and sporting events.
Green city
Our city is located among the most green cities in Poland.
More than 40% of the city's area in covered by forests, and together with other green areas this level increases up to 60%. A part of the forests are nature reserves with protected species of both flora nad fauna. Hence, Katowice doesn't lack places with the possibility to rest surrounded by the nature.
City of sport and recreation
Each year in Katowice, new sporting objects are created. In most schools already exist modern sports fields and gymnasiums. Numerous sporting objects, such as Sporting Centre „Słowianin” or sports hall „Jantor” with modern ice rink, present possibilities for both active recreation and physical improvement.
Along over 80 km of traced and signed bicycle routes, all bicycle admirers will find something special for themselves.
 Katowice is the city with a number of water sports centres, body building gyms, fitness clubs, and even a place to practice skiing.
In 2005 Our City celebrated its 140th birthday. Municipal rights were given to Katowice on the 11th of September 1865.
Visit us, you will find out how does it really look like!
Centre of Information about the City
4 Młyńska Street, 40-098 Katowice
ciom@um.katowice.pl
Katowice City Hall - www.um.katowice.pl
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