Walenty Fojkis Square

Walenty Fojkis Square is a tree-lined square in the Wełnowiec-Józefowiec district of Katowice, between Gnieźnieńska, Modelarska and Karłowicza streets and Korfantego Avenue. Its main feature is a monument dedicated to the veterans of the Silesian Uprisings.

Patron and name

The square is named after Walenty Fojkis, an insurgent and a national and independence activist in Upper Silesia, born in Wełnowiec. In 1983-2012 the place functioned as Walenty Fojkis Plaza (plac), and since 2012 it has been called a square (skwer).

The monument on the square

In 1938 the Monument to the Silesian Insurgent by Wincenty Chorembalski was unveiled here, identical to the monument on Wolności Square in Tychy. It was destroyed during the Second World War; the plinth and the wall around it survived. On this spot stands a post-war monument commemorating the fallen and deceased veterans of the Silesian Uprisings. To its left is a plaque with the names of nineteen murdered insurgents. Protection covers the park layout of the square together with its tall greenery, small architecture and the monument itself.

Nearby

The square is a local place for reflection and a short walk, not a destination for half a day. About two kilometres away lies the Silesian Park, and next to it the Silesian Planetarium.

Practical information

• Location: Katowice, Wełnowiec-Józefowiec district, between Gnieźnieńska, Modelarska and Karłowicza streets and Korfantego Avenue.
• Open to the public; the square is a memorial and park, so keep a quiet tone during your visit.