Śląskie

Ślęza means a dismal swampy place and gave its name to a river, and later to the geographical region known in English as Silesia, in Polish as Śląsk (pronounced "Slonsk"), in German as Schlesien , and in Czech as Slezsko . Modern Poland is divided into 16 Provinces or "Voivodeships", and the Silesian Voivodeship described on this page only covers the southern third of that region.

Silesia was part of Poland since that country's foundation in the 10th century, but for a millennium it was often a cockpit of war as rival local duchies or foreign powers grabbed territory that they liked the look of. The area around Katowice was industrial from medieval times, as a string of little forest villages mined coal and metal ores, and dwelt in a fug from their furnaces. But they couldn't mine deep because of flooding, until 17th / 18th century technology enabled a big expansion. Away went the forests as the villages coalesced into sprawling grubby towns. In came an influx of settlers, predominantly German-speaking, and the struggle for profitable territory grew into a feeding frenzy. Poland was carved up and ceased to be a nation: much of Silesia fell to Prussia while the mountainous south was held by Austria, and Sweden and Russia also made brief forays.

Poland was re-born in 1918 and the border was re-drawn: some Silesian towns voted to stay part of Germany, while others joined Czechoslovakia. In 1939 Nazi Germany seized all of Silesia, but the territory was regained in 1945 and the border again re-drawn. The post-war communist regime doubled down on heavy industrial development, but in the 1980s Poland's smokestack economy collapsed along with communism. This has left many post-industrial towns and brownfield areas struggling to re-invent themselves, but has left a rich heritage for visitors to explore.

Śląskie enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the best conditions for outdoor activities with mild temperatures and fewer crowds. July and August are the peak tourist season. Winter brings opportunities for winter sports in mountainous areas and atmospheric Christmas markets in towns.

By train is usually the best inter-city option, with frequent services and subsidised fares. An extensive tram network links the towns around Katowice.

Buses serve feeder routes from the stations but are either sparse or slow and roundabout between lowland towns. They're a better option in the southern uplands, such as the spa towns around Bielsko-Biała. A few places such as Ogrodzieniec are tedious to reach by public transport so you need wheels: bike-on-train would work.

• Katowice
• Czestochowa
• Gliwice
• Bielsko-Biala
• Sosnowiec
• Zabrze
• Bytom
• Rybnik
• Tychy
• Chorzow
• Cieszyn
• Wisla
• Ustron
• Szczyrk
• Pszczyna
• Tarnowskie Gory
• Zawiercie
• Zywiec

Silesian cuisine is distinctive. Local specialties include:

Wodzionka or brołtzupa (literally "bread soup") is a soup with garlic and squares of dried rye bread.

Żur soup is made of soured rye flour and meat.

Kluski śląskie (Silesian dumplings) are rounded dumplings made of mashed boiled potatoes, finely grated raw potatoes, an egg, grated onion, wheat flour and potato flour; srvd with gravy.

Szałot is a salad of squares of boiled potatoes, carrots, peas, ham, various sausages, pickled fish, boiled eggs, all bonded with olive oil or mayonnaise.

Krupniok is a blood sausage made of barley groats and animal blood.

Żymlok is like krupniok but with bread roll ( żymła ) instead of groats.

Knysza is pita bread with meat and lots of cabbage.

Bejgli is variously concocted from finely ground poppy seeds, raisins, almonds, candied citrus peels, honey, sugar, pudding, and flavoured with rum. Decorated with fingers of crumbling.

Makówki or moczka is a Christmas Eve dessert, of poppy seeds, gingerbread extract, nuts and dried fruit, strawberry compote and almonds.

Kopalnioki are hard candies of sugar, anise oil, essence of St John's wort, honey and peppermint. Its black colour comes from charcoal food dye.

Śląskie has a vibrant cultural calendar with local festivals, concerts, and seasonal events. Cultural venues include museums, theatres, and galleries throughout the region. Traditional folk culture remains alive in rural areas, with regional costumes, music, and craft traditions.

1. Exploring historic old towns and architectural landmarks
2. Hiking or cycling through the region's natural landscapes and national parks
3. Sampling local cuisine at traditional restaurants and milk bars (bar mleczny)
4. Visiting museums and cultural institutions
5. Attending seasonal festivals and cultural events