Mariacka Street

Mariacka Street (say "mar-YATS-ka") is the liveliest pedestrian street in central Katowice, lined with 19th-century townhouses and closed at one end by the soaring neo-Gothic spire of St. Mary's Church. By day it is a relaxed spot for coffee and architecture photos; after dark it turns into the city's main bar strip. It starts right by the railway station, so it is often the first thing visitors see of Katowice.

Where is Mariacka Street?

The street runs for about 380 m (1,250 ft) through the Śródmieście (downtown) district of Katowice, the main city of Upper Silesia in southern Poland. It begins at Dworcowa Street, a few minutes' walk from Katowice railway station, and ends at Father Emil Szramek Square in front of the church. The Market Square (Rynek) is about five minutes away.

Katowice is roughly 80 km (50 miles) west of Kraków – about an hour by train – and Katowice Airport (Pyrzowice) is about 30 km north. There is a bus stop called "Katowice Mariacka" and a city bike station on the street; if you drive, use paid parking downtown or the garage at Galeria Katowicka mall by the station.

A short history

Mariacka was laid out in the second half of the 19th century, when Katowice was booming thanks to the railway and coal industry, following an urban plan by Nepilly from 1875. When the town was part of Germany it was called Richard-Holtze-Straße (from 1876), a name revived during the Nazi occupation of 1939–1945.

Between the wars it had hotels, banks and restaurants. German film star Willy Fritsch was born at No. 18 in 1901. In 2008 the city turned it into a pedestrian zone at a cost of around 12 million PLN, and since then it has become a stage for open-air concerts and the heart of Katowice nightlife.

Things to see on Mariacka Street

• St. Mary's Church (Church of the Immaculate Conception) – built 1862–1870 to a design by Alexis Langer, with a 71 m (233 ft) tower; it is the oldest brick church in Katowice.
• Historic townhouses – some 35 buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s with ornate facades, balconies and doorways.
• The classic view – stand at the Dworcowa end and look east for the perfect frame of the church spire at the end of the street.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes – it is free, central and full of character. A stroll from end to end takes 10–15 minutes; allow about an hour with a coffee and a look inside the church (open around Mass times). On Friday and Saturday nights the street is loud and crowded with bars and outdoor seating, which is great for nightlife but less ideal for families with small children. In winter the terraces close, but bars and cafés stay open. Prices are in Polish zloty (PLN), and cards are widely accepted.

The street is flat and step-free, so it is easy with strollers and wheelchairs.

Things to do nearby

• Market Square and Korfantego Avenue – a few minutes on foot.
• Culture Zone – NOSPR concert hall, Silesian Museum and Spodek arena, about 15–20 minutes' walk.
• Nikiszowiec – the famous red-brick miners' estate in the east of the city.
• Valley of Three Ponds – a large park south of downtown.