Katowice is a one of a kind relict of socialism in Poland. This city shows us how did people live in communism era. If You’re interested in modern history of Europe, You should see Katowice with such places like Gi?owiec, where the stamp of soviet jurisdiction is imprinted very visibly. Off course not only communistic remains are worth to see here. What else? You can find it out below.

Giszowiec

Giszowiec - located between the forests, district of Katowice in the south-eastern part of the city, away from the center of about 7 km. Giszowiec is surrounded by two major routes: No. 86 national road and motorway A4. The majority of the buildings are made of big slab(the cheapest, dangerous-one of the ingredients is asbestos, building material during the communistic era), built in the years 1960-1990. These edifices can be found next to the historic houses, mostly one-and two floors, which were erected for miners in 1903. The district was designed in the beginning of twenty century as a rural settlement for workers with a large number of trees and green terrains.

Cinema theatre Rialto

Cinema theatre Rialto was built in 1912. The facility was opened on 7 November 1912. The building housed the projection room of 800 seats, with the podium for 20-members orchestra, on the first floor there were smoking room, wine bar and a pub. In the fifties the cinema theatre underwent a complete renovation. In April 1959 the opening of the facility was honoured by the first Polish western “Texas Rancho”. Since 2004, the building was remodeled once again and the renovation was finally completed at the end of 2005. From October 2006, the Rialto Cinemas belongs to one of the Cinema’s chain.

Jewish Cemetery

Jewish Cemetery in Katowice was founded in 1868. The area was enlarged in 1927. During World War II the cemetery was devastated by The Germans. After the war, a further enlargement of the cemetery area took place. On the surface of 1.1 hectares there are approximately 1,400 graves. At the cemetery there is a monument dedicated to victims of Jewish Holocaust. The first person buried in this cemetery was a four-year Carl Münzer. At the cemetery there are buried members of families such as Goldstein, Glaser, Schalsch.