Upper Silesia - history and features of the region

Poland is a neighboring Slavic state with a territory resembling in shape a sheath measuring 600 by 600 kilometers. 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, it is noticeable that Upper Silesia is located south of Lower.

The history of the region from antiquity to 1900

The term "Upper Silesia" began to be used from the XV-XVI century, that is, from the turn of the Middle Ages and New Time. Upper it was called due to the fact that it is located in the upper reaches of the Odra River. Due to the specifics of the region’s history, 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. The 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 Empire, that is, it was closer to the Czech Republic, and not to Poland. However, in 985-990 it was captured by the Polish king Meshko I. It must be said that for the history of Poland it is an important historical figure, like Vladimir I the Holy for Kievan Rus. He baptized the Poles and expanded the borders of his state.

In the XI-XIV century, Upper Silesia was an 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. Soon after the capture of Kiev, they reached the city of Legnica and defeated the Polish army of Henry II.

In 1348, Upper Silesia was joined to its possessions by the most famous Czech king, Charles IV. It was with 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, which from their capital (Vienna) ruled it until the 1740s, until they lost two wars with Prussia. If you look at the modern world map, it’s not immediately clear that Prussia is a country. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, until 1871, that was the name of part of modern Germany, Poland (north-western lands), Russia and Lithuania. 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. During the "Prussian" and "German" (from 1871 to 1918) periods in Upper Silesia, the economy was developing, railways and mines were being built, and the Polish national movement was developing. 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 became part of Germany, which was then called the Weimar Republic. As part of the republic was a land called "Free State of Prussia", therefore, the Prussian province of Upper Silesia arose in its composition.

After World War II, 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 themselves, they can be used as a starting point for trips around the region.

Opole city and its attractions

A relatively small city with a population of 130 thousand people. Its flag is interesting in that it resembles an inverted Ukrainian. Like any regional center, it contains various beautiful religious buildings - Catholic churches of different years:

1. Cathedral. Together with the Gothic towers, its height is 73 meters.
2. Baroque church of the Holy Trinity. Built at the beginning of the 14th century.
3. Church of St. Sebastian. It was built at the end of the 17th century on the site of a tavern, where the plague epidemic began in 1680.
4. Church of St. Wojciech. The oldest in the city, known since the X century, but a modern baroque erected in the middle of the XVIII century.

In addition to this, there are other interesting objects:

1. Piast Castle Tower. Height - 42 meters. Represents the remainder of the castle of the XII century.
2. Town Hall A relatively young building in 1864, rebuilt in the 30s on the model of the Florentine palace. One of the most unusual town halls in Poland.
3. Neo-Gothic water tower.
4. Fountain of Ceres.
5. Zoological Garden.
6. Museum of Silesia. An analogue of local history museums in Russia.
7. Open-air museum. It features rural buildings in the local style of architecture. An analogue of Vitoslavits in Russia.
8. Museum of Polish Song. The city hosts a song festival.
9. Gallery of modern art.

What to see in the city of Katowice?

He is larger than his neighbor, there are about 300 thousand inhabitants. Its historical center differs from other cities in Poland in that Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance are almost not represented in it. It was formed at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, therefore, such architectural styles as neo-Renaissance, eclecticism, functionalism and modernism are presented.

In Katowice, it is worth paying attention to such objects:

1. The building of the Silesian Parliament.
2. Church of St. Mary.
3. Skyscraper Altus.
4. The parachute tower, the only one in Poland.
5. Typical museums (cities, voivodships, archdioceses), as well as museums of cars and computers.

Which cities of Upper Silesia are worth a visit?

Around Opole and Katowice there are many interesting small towns. For example, Raciborz, which can also be called Ratibor. Many architectural monuments have been preserved there: churches, a castle of local princes, a prison tower, buildings in the Neo-Renaissance style. The local museum is located in a Gothic church building.

From Opole by local train (analogue of the train) you can take a ride to the north-west, towards Wroclaw, to the city of Brzeg. It translates as "Coast", 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’s worth a trip to Gliwice, where there is a unique wooden radio mast. The castle has also been preserved in this city, and there is an original fountain with dancing fauns.