Obelisk of the Silesian Eagles in Katowice

The Obelisk of the Silesian Eagles stands in central Katowice, on Plac Bolesława Chrobrego, at the corner of Jagiellońska and Józefa Lompy streets. It is crowned with a sculpture of two eagles taking flight. The monument was unveiled in 1984, and its creator was the sculptor Zygmunt Brachmański.

What the place is for

The obelisk stands where before the Second World War a modern building of the Silesian Museum was planned. The construction was not completed: it was interrupted by the German occupation, and the structure was pulled down. For the following decades the site remained empty. The history of the pre-war museum is recalled by a commemorative plaque at the base of the monument.

The sculpture also symbolises the return of Silesia to Poland. Today's Silesian Museum in Katowice is in another part of the city, and the junction itself lies close to the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Practical information

• Location: Plac Bolesława Chrobrego, corner of Jagiellońska and Józefa Lompy streets in Katowice.
• The monument stands on an open square and can be viewed at any time; while there it is worth reading the plaque at the base.
• It is a short stop on a walk around the city centre, not a destination for a separate trip.