Pod Lipami Square in Katowice

Pod Lipami Square (Plac Pod Lipami) is the heart of Giszowiec, a company housing estate built in 1907-1910 for miners. The initiator of the construction was Anton Uthemann, director of the company Georg von Giesches Erben, and the whole layout, together with the square, was designed by Emil and Georg Zillmann of Charlottenburg.

Layout of the square and surrounding buildings

The square is rectangular, with a perimeter of 410 m and a longer side of 135 m, and together with the surrounding streets it covers 9,500 sq m. Originally it was surrounded by an inn on the east side, the head forester's house with the forestry office on the north, a complex of Catholic school buildings on the south and a co-operative shop with stores on the west. There was also the building of the manorial district office.

The square today

The square was rebuilt in 2014-2015: the roadway was paved with granite setts and the pavement with granite slabs. A city bike station operates by the square. From Giszowiec it is not far to Nikiszowiec, another workers' housing estate from the early 20th century, less than three kilometres away.

Practical information

• The square is in the Giszowiec district, free entry.
• A good start for a walk around the estate, which has kept its historic layout.