Discover Gleiwitz: City History and Culture

City History and Industrial Traces

Rynek in Gliwice was laid out in the second half of the 13th century. Since its creation, it has been the city’s most important center of political, economic and social life. This long-standing urban role gives the square a different historical perspective from the individual buildings and collections you can discover in Gleiwitz.

Cmentarz Hutniczy also tells the story of people connected with Gliwice’s industrial development. Those buried there include John Baildon, machine builder August Holtzhausen and sculptor Theodor Kalide, all of whom made a significant contribution to the city’s industrial development. Radiostacja Gliwice adds another dimension to the history of industry: in 2017, it was added to Poland’s Pomniki Historii list and is located on the Szlak Zabytków Techniki Województwa Śląskiego, which is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

The Willa Caro and Zamek Piastowski are markedly different in architectural terms. The well-preserved Willa Caro is a 19th-century residence in the style of Renaissance villa architecture. At Zamek Piastowski, you will find a Gothic building whose origins date back to the 14th century and are connected with the construction of Gliwice’s city walls. The two buildings thus offer different ways to explore architectural and urban history.

Exhibitions with Different Perspectives

Willa Caro houses a permanent exhibition on the living quarters of Upper Silesian industrialists in the 19th century. Exhibits at Zamek Piastowski include guild mementos from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as memorabilia relating to the Silesian Uprisings and the plebiscite, and the activities of the Union of Poles in Germany. There is also a collection of photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries, showing Gliwice and industrial sites in Upper Silesia.

The permanent exhibition “Żydzi na Górnym Śląsku” at Dom Pamięci Żydów Górnośląskich offers another historical perspective. It explores the history, significance and contribution of the Jewish community to the development of Upper Silesia from the Middle Ages to the present day. The exhibition “Słusznie słyną dziś Gliwice” focuses on a different subject: four cubes shaped like blast furnaces contain multimedia presentations and exhibits on various topics. The exhibitions described thus range from regional history and communities to topics presented through multimedia in a distinctive setting.

Palmiarnia and Green Spaces

Palmiarnia Miejska, which dates back to the 19th century, is now home to more than 6,000 specimens of flora and fauna. Visitors can see citrus plants, spice plants such as pepper, cinnamon and cardamom, and exotic palms and cacti from Australia, Africa and both Americas. Alongside the historical themes, it offers a collection whose plant diversity spans several continents.

Park Chrobrego has a playground with spring riders, various swings, carousels and a large climbing net. There is also a pétanque court and nine disc golf baskets near the park. When planning your trip, you can consider these activities separately from the historical and museum themes; the pétanque court and disc golf baskets are near the park, but not necessarily within its boundaries.

Whether you are particularly interested in city history, industrial heritage, exhibitions, plants or outdoor activities, each of the places mentioned offers its own focus. These differences provide a practical basis for planning your exploration of Gleiwitz around the themes you want to prioritize on your trip.

More destinations in the same higher-level area

Sośnicowice, Bojszów, Paniówki, Paczynka, Knurów, Rudziniec, Niewiesze, Chudów

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Gliwice.