Museums

Silesian Planetarium

Opened on 4 December 1955, the Silesian Planetarium remains the largest planetarium in Poland: its 23-metre dome provides about 800 m² of screen, and the auditorium seats 300. It stands on Góra Parkowa in Silesian Park in Chorzów, at 316 m above sea level, and has been listed as a historic monument since 2013.

A 136-million renovation

After a four-year rebuild (2018–2022, cost PLN 136 million) the planetarium reopened on 11 June 2022. At the heart of the projection system is an analogue Chiron III projector with some 100 million stars, backed by ten digital SONY projectors in True 8K resolution. The legendary Zeiss UPP projector from 1955, weighing more than 2 tonnes, has passed into history — it ran continuously for 63 years.

Not just the stars

The planetarium also runs a working observatory: an optical PlaneWave CDK700 telescope with a 70-cm mirror, commissioned at the end of 2023, and a radio telescope with a 5-metre dish. Add a climate and seismological station, and you get an unusually broad set-up for a single science centre. The programme covers astronomy shows, performances for children and concerts under the dome.

Practical tips

The building sits on Góra Parkowa in the middle of Silesian Park, easily reached by rail via the Chorzów Batory or Katowice hubs. Shows run to a fixed schedule, so buy your ticket online and check the show time before your visit — admission is tied to a specific screening, not to the building itself. For a family visit pick shows aimed at younger children; adults tend to choose the evening screenings, and can stay afterwards for a walk in the park.