Poland is a neighboring Slavic state with a territory resembling a shield 600 by 600 kilometers in size. In its southeastern part is a region that is historically called Silesia. It is divided into Upper and Lower. If you look at the map, you can see that Upper Silesia is located south of Lower Silesia.
History of the region from antiquity to 1900
The term "Upper Silesia" began to be used from the XV-XVI centuries, that is, from the turn of the Middle Ages and the New Age. It was called the upper one because it is located in the upper reaches of the Odra River. Due to the specific history of the region, its name is often used in German, Czech and Polish (including the Silesian dialect).
The history of Upper Silesia is not as interesting as that of Greece or southern Italy. Civilizations of antiquity did not get here. The first people appeared here about 800 thousand ago.
In the IX-X century it was part of the Great Moravian state, thenthere was closer to the Czech Republic, and not to Poland. However, in 985-990, the Polish king Mieszko I took possession of it. I must say that for the history of Poland this is an important historical figure, like Vladimir I the Saint for Kievan Rus. He baptized the Poles and expanded the borders of his state.
In the XI-XIV century Upper Silesia was the arena of confrontation between the Czech and Polish kingdoms, and between the Polish princes. The most unexpected event for its population was the appearance of the Mongol-Tatars in 1241. Shortly after the capture of Kyiv, they reached the city of Legnica and defeated the Polish army of Henry II.
In 1348, the most famous Czech king, Charles IV, annexed Upper Silesia to his possessions. It was under him that the first university in the country was founded and the famous Charles Bridge was built.
In 1526, the region came under the rule of the Habsburg dynasty, who from their capital (Vienna) ruled it until the 1740s, until they lost two wars with Prussia. If you look at the modern map of the world, it is not immediately clear what kind of country Prussia is. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, until 1871, this was the name of a part of modern Germany, Poland (north-western lands), Russia and Lithuania. The Kaliningrad region and Klaipeda have been part of Prussia since 1525.
There was an interesting episode in the history of Prussia: in 1760 its capital (Berlin) was occupied by the Russian army for a short period. In the "Prussian" and "German" (from 1871 to 1918) periods in Upper Silesia, the economy was developing, railways and mines were being built, andPolish national movement. For example, the first Polish deputy appeared in the Reichstag in 1903.
Upper Silesia in the 20th century
In 1919-1922 the region was the subject of a territorial dispute between the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. He survived three Polish uprisings. As a result, the region was divided. One part of it became the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland, and the other part became part of Germany, which was then called the Weimar Republic. The republic included a land called the "Free State of Prussia", therefore, the Prussian province of Upper Silesia arose in its composition.
After the Second World War, the German population was evicted to Germany. The territory of Upper Silesia was divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia. Most of it went to the Poles as the Opole Voivodeship. Therefore, during a trip to Poland, those wishing to visit Upper Silesia should get to the cities of Opole and Katowice. They are interesting in their own right and can be used as a starting point for trips around the region.
City of Opole and its attractions
A relatively small city with a population of 130 thousand people. Its flag is interesting because it resembles an inverted Ukrainian one. Like any regional center, it contains various beautiful religious buildings - Catholic churches of different years:
- Cathedral. Together with the Gothic towers, its height is 73 meters.
- Baroque church of the Holy Trinity. Built at the beginning of the 14th century.
- Church of St. Sebastian. Built at the end of the 17th century on the site of a tavern where the plague began in 1680.
- Church of St. Wojciech. The oldest in the city, known since the 10th century, but the modern Baroque was built in the middle of the 18th century.
Besides this, there are other interesting objects:
- The tower of the Piast castle. Height - 42 meters. Remains of a 12th-century castle.
- Town Hall. Relatively young building in 1864, rebuilt in the 30s on the model of a Florentine palace. One of the most unusual town halls in Poland.
- Neogothic water tower.
- Ceres Fountain.
- Zoological Garden.
- Museum of Silesia. An analogue of local history museums in Russia.
- Open Air Museum. It features rural buildings in the local style of architecture. An analogue of Vitoslavits in Russia.
- Museum of Polish Song. The city is hosting a song festival.
- Modern Art Gallery.
What to see in Katowice?
He is larger than his neighbor, there are about 300 thousand inhabitants. Its historical center differs from other cities in Poland in that it has almost no representation of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance. It was formed at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, therefore, such styles of architecture as neo-Renaissance, eclecticism, functionalism and modernity are represented.
In Katowice you should pay attention to such objects:
- Silesian Parliament Building.
- Church of St. Mary.
- Altus Skyscraper.
- Parachute tower,the only one in Poland.
- Model museums (cities, voivodships, archdioceses), as well as car and computer museums.
Which cities in Upper Silesia are worth visiting?
There are many interesting small towns around Opole and Katowice. For example, Racibórz, which can also be called Ratibor. Many architectural monuments have been preserved there: churches, the castle of local princes, a prison tower, neo-Renaissance buildings. The local museum is housed in a Gothic church.
From Opole on a local train (similar to an electric train) you can ride to the north-west, towards Wroclaw, to the city of Brzeg. It is translated as "Beach", as it is located on the banks of the Odra River. It has a beautiful historic center with a castle and a 16th-century town hall.
From Katowice it is worth going to Gliwice, where there is a unique wooden radio mast. The city also has a castle and an original fountain with dancing fauns.
