Dąbrowa Górnicza is a city with a very diverse landscape. On the one hand, the urban landscape is dominated by industrial plants, on the other hand, by picturesque recreational areas and interesting natural and industrial monuments.
With 860 ha of four beautiful and clean Dąbrowa’s lakes, 4100 ha of forests and 180 ha of parks, the city is a recreational base for the whole Silesian region. This ‘magnet’ in connection with its cultural offer, modern facilities – Nemo-Water World Aqua park, Sports and Entertainment Hall and natural attractions of the only one in Europe Błedowska Desert results in Dąbrowa Górnicza surprising with interesting possibilities of spending leisure time.
Centre for Summer and Water Sports, Complex of 4 lakes ‘Pogoria’ is one of the most interesting and attractive places in Dąbrowa Górnicza. As of today, this lake is used for tourist and recreational purposes. Although all the lakes were created the same way, each of them is different and offers different attractions. Pogoria 1 with the best developed accommodation base will be the best place for fans of a long rest at the lake. For fans of wildlife and fishing – Pogoria 2. If someone loves sailing, swimming, or windsurfing, Pogoria 3 will be a must. In a nutshell, there is something for everyone. All four lakes are surrounded by marked cycle paths and trails. Dąbrowa Górnicza was appreciated by the organizers of the national Wind and Water Fair in 2005. In the category of cities, it won the first edition of the “Przyjazny Brzeg” award.
The Centre for Summer and Water Sports over Pogoria 3 provides active forms of recreation. You can play beach volleyball, climb the artificial wall, ride on rollerskates or skateboards in the skate park or spend time at covered barbecue places. There are also a lot of tennis courts, playgrounds for the youngest, guarded swimming pool, and a picturesque pier on Pogoria 3 with a representative promenade as if in a seaside resort.
The Błedowska Desert is an attraction for lovers of nature and impressions. The desert covers an area of 20 km2, consisting of two parts divided by the valley of the Biała Przemsza river. During the Second World War, there was a military training ground for Gen. Erwin Rommel’s Africa Corps units, and after the war, for Polish troops. In the 1960s Jerzy Kawalerowicz’s movie “Pharaoh” was shot in the location. In 1999, as part of international manoeuvres, NATO troops did their training exercise there. Currently, a large area of the Desert is overgrown, mainly as a result of the conscious introduction of a sand blower plant (a coastal dune plant) and a Caspian willow in the 1960s.
In the recent times, there have been people rushing on quads and cross-country motorcycles at crazy speeds. Events are also held there to exploit its potential.
It was built in the socialist-realist style in 1951-1958, entirely according to Zbigniew Rzepecki’s design. It is the largest cultural and educational institution in the city. The Palace houses many institutions and clubs of interest. Volume of 63 thousand m3 places the Palace of Culture among the largest institutions of this type in Poland. Dąbrowa’s Palace of Zagłębie Culture is a place favoured by famous artists. Among others, Anna Maria Jopek, Wilki, Krzysztof Krawczyk, actors from Chorzów Entertainment Theatre and actors from Cracow’s Old Theatre performed here. There is also an offer for art lovers. Good painting, graphic art or sculpture is a “repertoire” that the Palace Art Gallery can boast about, presenting works of both amateurs and artists with a very long and rich artistic experience.
Since 2007, the “KADR” Studio Cinema has been operating, presenting mainly ambitious European cinema. There is also an Amateur Film Club and a Film Discussion Club.
The sports hall in numbers: it was built in 2003-2004, it is the second largest facility of this type Silesian Province. The hall is located in the very centre of the city – the Haller Park, which directly affects the high accessibility of the city’s residents.
Despite a short period of its activity, the Hall can boast about organization of many prestigious events of national and European rank, but the most important thing for all fans from Dąbrowa Górnicza is that the hall is the arena of the struggle of Dąbrowa Górnicza’s volleyball players, i.e. MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza, competing with the best volleyball teams in Poland and Europe. First league basketball players also play here.
Anyone who would like to see the office of the first mayor of Dąbrowa Górnicza or how the Zagłębie nation fought for their independence should visit the City Museum, called “Sztygarka”. In the museum, you can also see how a coal mine really looks like and how the former “Katowice Steelworks” / now ArcelorMittal Poland/ were constructed. Those who decide to visit it will find many more interesting things, e. g. learn about non-European culture from India, Papua and New Guinea, South America, or Madagascar. It is also possible to see a collection of Indian dolls in costumes from different regions or learn that the industry in Dąbrowa Górnicza started much earlier than everyone thinks. It was not the “Paryż” Coal Mine or “Huta Bankowa” that were the first ones. The beginnings of industry go back to the Middle Ages…. And these who are most interested in the history of the city, but not only, should draw their attention to the Treasure of Steelworker, dating back to the 12th century , which is located in our museum.
The most characteristic monument of Dąbrowa Górnicza is Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Neo-Gothic style, designed by Stanislaw Pomianowski in 1898.
Particularly noteworthy is also the Civic Club (Polish: Resursa) building erected in 1895. Meetings with eminent cultural personalities hosted in Dąbrowa took place in the Resursa. During World War II the building was taken over by the Germans. Today it is the seat of many institutions, mainly financial ones.
A kind of Colony for French civil servants and staff of “Huta Bankowa”. It was created around 1918, simultaneously with the colony “Green”. It consisted of 10 residential buildings with 272 2-bedroomr flats.