Mariacka Street in Katowice

Mariacka Street is a promenade in the centre of Katowice, leading from the crossing with Dworcowa and Mielęckiego streets to St Mary's Church. It takes its name from that church. It is one of the more important streets of the district, and since 2008 it has been pedestrian only.

Where the street and its name came from

The street was built up in the second half of the 19th century according to the Nepilly plan of 1875. In 1876 it was given the name Richard-Holtze-Straße, in honour of the physician and chairman of the then Katowice Town Council. The name remained in force until 1922, and then again in 1939-1945.

In the interwar period the street held banks, hotels, restaurants and offices. Among them were a branch of the Bank Śląski, the Europejski hotel built in 1930-1931 and the Astoria confectioner's. In the restaurant of the Savoy hotel on 20 June 1922 a breakfast was held, attended among others by Wojciech Korfanty and Józef Rymer. They met there with Stanisław Szeptycki.

Tenement houses along the promenade

The buildings date mainly from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The tenement house at number 2, built in 1901 to a design by J. Koenigsberger, has a corner oriel with a balcony and a small tower at the corner of the roof. In the carriage gateway the stucco decoration of the walls and ceiling has survived.

The tenement house at number 10, on the corner with św. Stanisława street, was built in 1873 in the neo-Renaissance style. At numbers 4 and 6 stands the former Savoy hotel, two tenement houses joined in 1911. On the façade of number 6 hangs a plaque about the first meeting of the Democratic Club in Katowice, held on 31 March 1938. In the tenement house at number 18 Willy Fritsch, a star of early German cinema, was born on 27 January 1901.

The promenade today

The street was rebuilt in 2008. The competition design provided for trees planted on both sides, which was meant to recreate the original character of an avenue closed by a view of the church. On the promenade stand modern benches and an Elipse table designed by Maciej Rutkowski, which won an award in the Śląska Rzecz competition.

The street has an art gallery, a hotel, restaurants, travel agencies and law offices. Attractions in the area include the Katowice History Museum, the Rialto Cinema-Theatre and the Cathedral of Christ the King in Katowice.

Practical information

• Location: Katowice, Śródmieście district, a promenade from Dworcowa street to Blessed Fr Emil Szramek Square beside St Mary's Church.
• The street is entirely pedestrian and crosses św. Stanisława and Francuska streets.
• Venues and galleries have their own opening hours, which need to be checked before your visit.