Surrounding Katowice is the Upper Silesian Industrial Region. Its two main branches are mining and metallurgy. Except for old factory buildings, the architectural highlights include characteristic miners’ housing estates well preserved in several cities. Katowice (350,000 inhabitants) has been developing rapidly since the mid-19th century, following the progress in mining and metallurgy. Today the city is also an important scientific and cultural centre. Its centre has a couple of Art Nouveau buildings preserved in a decent shape. Worth a visit is the Museum of Silesia with a valuable collection of art from the 19^th and 20th centuries. Between Katowice and Chorzów, there is a big recreation centre with the ethnographic museum, zoological garden and amusement park. The Museum of Silesia in the nearby Bytom houses a significant collection of Polish and European painting from the 16th-20th centuries. Untouched by war, Gliwice (200,000 inhabitants) has largely managed to maintain its medieval urban arrangement. The town hall dating from mid-16th century is surrounded by numerous Baroque and neoclassical buildings. The castle of Piast Princes has been now turned into a Museum of Upper Silesia, including archaeological and ethnographical sections. The castle in Pszczyna was built in 15th century and later altered in the 19th century in the Baroque style. The museum has a display of historical furnishings from the turn of 19th century. In Zabrze, there is a Coal Mining Museum Królowa Luiza with exhibitions illustrating the life of mineworkers.  

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