The Symbols of Katowice City

The most important symbols of Katowice City are: its coat of arms, flag and anthem. There is also a logo used for promotional purposes.

 The Coat of Arms

The Katowice's coat of arms was established in 1936 (the Katowice City Council resolution of 17 December 1936). Its upper part on the golden background depicts a black water-powered hammer with a die, a cogwheel and a brown girder. The appearance of the hammer forge device refers to equipment of the former Bogucka smithy.

The lower part of the coat of arms is blue and symbolises the Rawa River that flows through Katowice. The coat of arms in this shape may be found, inter alia, in the oldest document of 26 March 1816 concerning the village of Katowice.

On 29 May 1937 the design of the Katowice's coat of arms was officially approved by the Polish Minister of the Interior.

The Flag   

The municipal flag of Katowice City is a banner of two equally sized horizontal bands of yellow and blue colours referring to the traditional colours of Upper Silesia. It also has the municipal coat of arms in the middle. The origin of the Upper Silesian colours goes back to the Middle Ages and the Silesian Piasts who were one of four lines of the Polish Piast dynasty. The yellow and blue bicolour has been officially used since 1937, when it was approved by the City Council resolution of 26 November 1937.

The Anthem

The anthem is the latest symbol of the city. It was composed by Adam Biernacki, who became the winner of a special contest for the Katowice City anthem organised in March 2002. The anthem is played every day from the "townhall tower" of the building at the corner of Młyńska and Pocztowa Streets.

Rules for use of the city badges are regulated by the Katowice City Council resolution no. XXXII/636/04 of 25 October 2004.

The logo

The logo consists of two parts. Its black base depicts the cultural and industrial heritage of Katowice, while the upper layer represents the current potential of the city, built on the Silesian traditions. The multicolour visualisation reflects the following characteristics of the city: its metropolitan character (blue), an alternative (magenta), heritage & multiculturalism (red), transformation (yellow), activity (purple), eco-responsibility (green), business (gold), energy (graphite grey). The logo is closely associated with the slogan "KATOWICE for a change".

Using the logo ought to be consulted with the Promotion Department of the Katowice City Hall. It should be used in compliance with the visual identification of the sign.  

REFERENCES:

• City Guidebook – KATOWICE... EVERYDAY AND FOR THE WEEKEND, ALATUS Publishing House – M. Pleszniak, ul. Pogodna 2, 40-319 Katowice, Katowice 2012 r.
• Katowice między wojnami. Miasto i jego sprawy 1922-1939 r., Wydawnictwo: Księży Młyn, Wojciech Janota, listopad 2010 r.