Ligota-Panewniki

Location Ligota-Panewniki is one of the 22 districts of Katowice, numbered 6, and serves as a sub-unit of the gmina. It is the westernmost district of the city, and it forms part of the western district group together with Załęska Hałda-Brynów and Brynów-Osiedle Zgrzebnioka. Its center is located approximately 7 km from the center of Katowice. The district borders Ruda Śląska and the Załęska Hałda-Brynów district to the north, the Piotrowice-Ochojec district to the east and south, and the towns of Mikołów and Ruda Śląska to the west. Its boundaries are: • To the north – it runs along the border between Katowice and Ruda Śląska, parallel to the Kłodnica river, from the intersection with the railroad tracks to the watercourse at Zamiejska Street. It then continues along this watercourse to the northeast to the railroad tracks at J. Wybicki Street in , after which the border runs along to the next intersection with the Kłodnica river. It then continues along the riverbed eastward to the western edge of ; • To the east – it runs southwest along the edge of T. Kościuszko Street, then along Kolejowa and Stalowa streets, parallel to the north of Sarmacka Street to the railroad tracks near Zadole Street. The boundary then follows these tracks south toward stream; • To the south – westward along the Ślepiotka riverbed, and past the Nad Ślepiotką Square, the boundary turns south, encircling Zadole Park from the south, from where it runs toward the industrial areas near A. Asnyk Street, dividing them into two parts. Further on, the boundary follows the Starganiec hiking trail to the city limits of Katowice and Mikołów at the pond, then runs northwest along the city boundary to the tripoint of the city limits of Katowice, Mikołów, and Ruda Śląska at the ; • To the west – in a straight line along the border between Katowice and Ruda Śląska, running along the railway. According to physio-geographical regionalization, Ligota-Panewniki is located in the mesoregion, which forms the southern part of the Silesian Upland macroregion. The Silesian Upland itself is a part of the subprovince. In terms of historical regions, the district is located in the eastern part of Upper Silesia. Historically, however, also extends into the areas of the present-day districts of Załęska Hałda-Brynów and Piotrowice-Ochojec. It borders and to the north, Brynów and to the east, to the south, and and Kokociniec to the west, while borders Ruda Śląska and Załęska Hałda to the north, Mikołów to the west, Ligota to the east, and Zadole and Zarzecze to the south. The historical boundary of Gmna Ligota runs through the area of present-day Brygadzistów, , and Wodospady streets, then along the Kłodnica and east of Rzepakowa Street, and further along Kolejowa Street and along the Ślepiotka. The historical boundaries of Gmina Panewniki in the north and west coincide with the boundaries of the city of Katowice; in the south, they extend to parts of the forests within today's Piotrowice-Ochojec district, while the boundaries between the historical gminas of Ligota and Panewniki run from the north as follows: roughly along J. Wybicki and streets to the intersection with the , then along this stream westward to its confluence with the Kłodnica, and then along the river toward the Panewniki basilica, encircling it from the east. Further on, this border runs south to Ślepiotka. in an area with horst structures. At the turn of the Devonian and Carboniferous periods, the Paleozoic bedrock of the Silesian Uplands was disturbed by the formation of a sinkhole, which during the Carboniferous was filled with conglomerates, sandstones, and shales containing bituminous coal deposits. Formations from this period form the bedrock of the district directly beneath Quaternary formations only in the northern part of the housing estate, and the rest of the bedrock formed on Neogene rocks is separated by a fault. These are outcrops of the Orzesze formation (Westphalian B), a massive sequence composed mainly of shales with intercalations of sandstones, siderites, and over 50 seams of coal. Directly beneath the Quaternary layers, these formations constitute almost the entire surface of Ligota-Panewniki, with the exception of northern Kokociniec, which was built on Carboniferous rocks beneath the Quaternary. On the surface, however, Miocene sediments are absent. Most of Ligota-Panewniki is composed of Pleistocene fluvioglacial sands and gravels, with a smaller proportion of glacial sands and gravels containing boulders on till (mainly along the line from through and to , as well as in the southern sections near the border with Piotrowice-Ochojec) and tills (the northern sections of the district and in isolated patches in Wymysłów and south of ). In the present-day Holocene, Pleistocene sediment layers are being eroded and stripped away. In terms of soil quality, poor and very poor soils (soil quality classes V and VI) prevail in Panewniki. Soils in the district are subject to intense anthropogenic pressure Terrain Ligota-Panewniki is located in the Silesian Upland, on the Bytom-Katowice Plateau, which is part of the mesoregion. In terms of morphological units, the district is almost entirely located within the Kłodnica Graben, a tectonic depression drained by the upper section of the Kłodnica river and its tributary, the . The Kłodnica valley has also formed within this graben. The highest point in the district is located on the border between Ligota-Panewniki and Piotrowice-Ochojec, near the shopping center (at the intersection of Kolejowa and streets). The elevation there reaches over 285 meters above sea level. The lowest-lying area of the district stretches along the Kłodnica valley on the border between Katowice and Ruda Śląska. It is also one of the two lowest-lying areas in the entire city (the other being the valley on the border between Murcki and Tychy), situated below 245 m above sea level. The topography of Ligota-Panewniki was mainly shaped by the Mindel glaciation and the maximum stage of the Riss glaciation, while in recent times, human activity related to settlement and mining has had a significant impact. This led to the destruction of the natural substrate and the formation of new landforms. The river valleys have undergone significant transformations – some of them were filled in, including the right tributaries of the in the area of Kijowska and Zielona streets, and the water was diverted into the sewer system. The slopes of the Kłodnica river along Panewnicka Street were reinforced, and the riverbed was concreted. Industrial activity in the 19th century left behind industrial deposits, including glassy slag on the hill separating the Kłodnica river valley and the Kokociniec Stream, as well as embankments along St. Hadyna Street. Land subsidence occurred there as a result of mining activity, especially on the border of Katowice, Ruda Śląska, and Chorzów, as well as in the Kokociniec housing estate between and Krucza streets, where the subsidence contributed to the demolition of some apartment buildings. Waters Ligota-Panewniki is located entirely within the Oder drainage basin, in the basin of the Kłodnica. The Kłodnica is a foothill river characterized by a steep longitudinal gradient and variable flow, passing through the district in a course roughly parallel to the latitude, forming part of the border of Ligota-Panewniki and Załęska Hałda-Brynów, as well as of the cities of Katowice and Ruda Śląska. It flows into Ligota-Panewniki from the east at the intersection with . It flows westward, parallel to , crossing the Katowice– railway, , Kalwaria Panewnicka, and the , Krucza, Gościnna, and streets. Within the district's boundaries, two right-bank tributaries flow into it: the (before it crosses Krucza Street in ) and a stream near E. Bojanowski Street. The Kokociniec Stream itself flows from in a southwesterly direction, crossing St. Hadyna and Kijowska streets. and the other near of the University of Silesia in the vicinity of Śląska Street. In the past, all the rivers in the district were strongly meandering streams, and the Kłodnica river beyond Stare Panewniki has remained partly in this state. All the rivers, however, have been regulated. "Buried Valley of the Upper Kłodnica River", is located near Panewniki. It is a Quaternary, covered basin whose aquifer thickness varies between 4.8 and 22.0 m, and the average depth of the intakes is approximately 60 m. The aquifers of this reservoir consist of glacial sands and gravels. Climate The climatic conditions in Ligota-Panewniki are similar to those of Katowice as a whole. They are influenced by both climatic and local factors. The average annual temperature for the 1961–2005 period at the nearby station in was 8.1°C. The warmest month during the study period was July (17.8°C), and the coldest was January (–2.2°C). The average annual sunshine duration from 1966 to 2005 was 1,474 hours, while the average cloud cover was 5.3. Throughout the year, westerly and southwesterly winds predominate (20.7% and 20.4% of all winds, respectively), while winds from the north are the least frequent (5.7%). The average wind speed was 2.4 m/s. The climate of Ligota-Panewniki is influenced by local factors (microclimate), which depend on land cover as well as on the area's location relative to river valleys. In the valley bottoms of the Kłodnica, Ślepiotka, Kokocińca, and other streams, there is an unfavorable microclimate typical of built-up valley bottoms. On clear nights, pockets of cold air form, and local radiation-advection frosts are possible. In the higher-elevation areas of the district, conditions are moderately favorable. Nature and environmental protection The natural vegetation in Ligota-Panewniki has been developing since the last glaciation, which occurred 12,000–16,000 years ago, and over the past 200 years it has been subjected to significant anthropogenic pressure. Originally, the northern and eastern parts of the district were covered by hornbeam-oak forests, the western part by coniferous forest, and the river valleys by riparian forests and alder carrs. These original forests were part of the historic . The vegetation of Katowice, like other elements of the natural environment, has been significantly transformed as a result of urbanization and industrial activity. Despite the ongoing impoverishment of the city's flora, the diversity of existing plant communities there remains high. The southwestern part of the city, including parts of Ligota-Panewniki, still has an open character. Urban-industrial areas are located there within an agricultural-forest landscape, and over time, there has been increasing pressure to develop vacant land. In urbanized habitats, ruderal communities have developed, mainly in anthropogenic built-up areas and on urban wastelands within the district. Some areas of Katowice, including Ligota-Panewniki, have retained natural and semi-natural landscapes. The complex, in particular, is characterized by high natural and landscape values. These forests are one of the most important elements of the region's ecological structure. Areas within Ligota-Panewniki that possess exceptional natural and landscape values, are significant for the conservation of valuable plant and animal species, biodiversity, ensuring ecological connectivity, and landscape protection include: As of 2023, there are no designated nature conservation areas within the district. The only natural monument is a pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) with a height of 22 m and a diameter at breast height of 349 cm, located on the grounds of the Franciscan monastery in Panewniki. It was designated a natural monument on 12 December 1953. Zadole Park and Kalwaria Panewnicka are among the most important landscaped green areas in Katowice, while is one of the green areas serving an integrating function within one of the urban planning schemes. Zadole Park, covering an area of 7.76 ha, is a forest park with a forest stand of average compositional and natural value. The park serves as a venue for neighborhood mass events. It was established in the 1960s within a recreational area. The publicly accessible Kalwaria Panewnicka, covering an area of 10.55 ha, is a green space of natural and cultural value that meets the recreational needs of the district's residents. Due to its sacred character, no sports or recreational facilities are located within its boundaries. There are three complexes of Family Allotment Gardens in Ligota-Panewniki (2007): • Bronisławy (Warmińska Street) – 1.22 ha; 30 plots; • Olszynka (Piotrowicka Street) – 4.04 ha; 110 plots; • Pod Lasem (Bałtycka Street) – 5.19 ha; 110 plots. == Name ==

The name Ligota-Panewniki is a compound name consisting of the names of the two main parts of Katowice that comprise it: and . The name Ligota, which historically was also known as Ligota Pszczyńska, means wola. One of the German names for Ligota is Ellgoth. leading to the – was introduced by the German occupiers during World War II to replace the earlier Ellgoth. Originally, however, Panewniki was referred to in the singular form, Panewnik. The plural form of the name appeared when Panewniki was incorporated into Katowice in 1951. == History ==

To the 19th century The first mentions of Ligota-Panewniki date back to the 14th century. A document from 1360 issued by the then-owner of these lands – Duke Nicholas II – to mentions, among other things, as a village in the Pszczyna land. This document mainly attests to the progress of colonization and the degree of land development. It also indicates the existence of villages organized there under German law (Ligota was presumably founded under these same laws). This is also the first mention of Ligota. Chronicles record Ligota as an abandoned settlement in the 16th century and in the first half of the 17th century. It was likely deserted due to a spreading epidemic or the destruction caused by military operations during the period of conflict between the Silesian dukes. It was founded around 1580 by the Kłodnica river at the mouth of the – later known as and its establishment was favorable due to the long period of peace prevailing at the time, during which the then rulers of Pszczyna initiated settlement campaigns. Panewniki first appeared in written sources in 1586. It is likely that Panewniki was initially one of the service settlements in which pans were produced ) In the 17th century, two hamlets were established in Panewniki: and . It was founded by the landowners and operated as part of the manor's overall economy. The hammer mill ceased operations in the mid-18th century with the emergence of competition in the form of finery forges. With the closure of the facility, however, the number of peasant farms increased. – dates back to 1681 (according to , Wymysłów was founded as early as the 14th century), and its establishment is likely linked to the development of the hammer mill that existed at that time in Kokociniec. In 1718, 12 cotters lived in Ligota, and by 1740, there were 23. From the mid-18th century until the 1920s, a watermill operated on the Ślepiotka, which for many years was owned by the Materla family, with soils of low fertility. Real industrial development began in the 1830s with the emancipation of the peasants, who from that moment on were able to travel freely, joining the ranks of industrial workers. Ligota's population grew rapidly in the first half of the 19th century. put into service on 1 December 1852. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, many industrial plants were established in Ligota, such as a paint factory, an oil refinery, and a brickworks; as industry developed, the population grew, and service and educational activities expanded. The was built between 1846 and 1847 on the site of the former Kokociniec iron works. It consisted of two blast furnaces fueled by coke and charcoal and one smaller one, and was owned by the Pszczyna dukes. In the 19th century, was founded as a hamlet of Piotrowice by the Ślepiotka. The settlement grew gradually alongside the industrial development of present-day Katowice, especially from the second half of the 19th century, following the construction of the Katowice–Rybnik railway. In 1828 (or 1825), The Franciscans of Panewniki established, among other things, the tradition of setting up one of the region's most famous nativity scenes inside the church. In 1909, the first sisters from the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Conception arrived in Panewniki from Poręba near Góra Świętej Anny and took up residence in the building that would later become the Panewniki kindergarten, located at the corner of present-day Panewnicka and Medyków streets. Interwar period and World War II At the start of the First Silesian Uprising on 17 August 1919, the insurgents captured the for a few hours, cutting off the connection between Katowice and Żory. They also attacked a Grenzschutz outpost, seizing weapons in the process, but the Germans quickly sent reinforcements, and the insurgents were forced to retreat toward the forest in . After the uprising ended on 26 August 1919, some of the insurgents fled to the Dąbrowa Basin, with the possibility of returning without facing consequences for their participation in the uprising only after 1 October, under an agreement between the Polish and German governments. No specific information has survived regarding the participation of the residents of Ligota and Panewniki during the Second Silesian Uprising. During the 1921 Upper Silesia plebiscite, 71% of voters from Gmina Ligota and 82% from Gmina Panewniki voted in favor of Upper Silesia joining Poland. During this uprising, Ligota served as one of the staging grounds for insurgent forces prior to the attack on Katowice, and trains departed from the Ligota railway station to join the fighting along the Oder river and near Góra Świętej Anny. Among those originating from Ligota were battalion commanders Alojzy Kurtok and Leopold Kocima, a recipient of the Virtuti Militari. These battalions belonged to the 1st Pszczyna Regiment fighting along the Oder line (Obrowiec – – Stare Koźle). After the Silesian Uprisings, Upper Silesia, including the Ligota-Panewniki district, was incorporated into Poland in 1921. A Polish administration was established there, including in Ligota and Panewniki. On 15 October 1924, Ligota was incorporated into the city of Katowice. Immediately after its annexation to the city, a decision was made to build residential houses for employees of the Silesian Voivodeship Office. This "Civil Servants' Colony" was established between the Ślepiotka river and Piotrowicka and Panewnicka streets, while the center of Ligota shifted to the area of Franciszkańska and Smolna streets. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, a modern school was constructed in Ligota, currently the seat of Scout Defenders of Katowice High School. After the Germans occupied the present-day Ligota-Panewniki at the start of World War II, in September 1939 they murdered scouts and insurgents – defenders of Katowice – in the . After the war, their remains were exhumed and reburied in the cemetery on Panewnicka Street, and in 1961, a monument was unveiled at their mass grave. During the German occupation of Poland, many residents of Ligota and Panewniki perished, including the brothers Ludwik, Jan, and Wilhelm Wieczorek (Ludwik died in Buchenwald concentration camp in 1942, and the other two brothers died in 1944 in the Katowice prison). On 13 October 1944, scout activist Jan Giemza was shot at the edge of the Panewniki Forests. The Red Army entered Ligota-Panewniki from the direction of Stara Ligota on 27 January 1945. Post-war period After the war ended, efforts began in Ligota and Panewniki to establish the structures of the new communist regime. The headquarters of the Polish United Workers' Party committee was initially located in a building at the intersection of Książęca and Piotrowicka streets. On 1 April 1951, the Katowice County was abolished, and with it Gmina Panewniki, which was incorporated into the city of Katowice. The Ligota-Południe District National Council operated from January 1955. During its operation, until 1973, it carried out several major projects, including the construction of a sports and recreation center with a swimming area on Wczasowa Street, a park and amphitheater in Zadole, and street lighting. The Polish People's Republic period was also a time of many new developments in Ligota-Panewniki. In the early 1950s, construction began on a residential complex in Ligota designed to house several thousand residents in the area of Panewnicka, Piotrowicka, Zielonogórska, and Kołobrzeska streets; in 1959, Katowice's first "Millennium School" was completed. The first elections to the Council of Auxiliary Unit No. 6 Ligota-Panewniki took place on 22 February 1994. Three years later, on 29 September 1997, as part of the administrative reform of Katowice, a new district – Załęska Hałda-Brynów – was separated from Ligota-Panewniki; the district includes, among other areas, part of . After 1989, many renovations and development projects were also carried out in Ligota-Panewniki. Among other things, the headquarters of the , the building of the former Panewniki Municipal Office, and a number of educational institutions in the district were renovated. The infrastructure of the main streets and sidewalks was expanded, and a new retail and service network also developed. Near the intersection of and Kolejowa streets in the district, one of the largest retail and service complexes in Katowice was built – – with its construction completed in November 2018. After 1989, the construction of many new housing estates intensified in Ligota-Panewniki. Between 2007 and 2010, was built in the area of the intersection of Książęca and Piotrowicka streets, and in October 2011, the design of this estate received the 2010 SARP Award of the Year. Between 2014 and 2022, another large housing estate – – was also built near Kijowska Street. == Demographics ==

Some of the earliest demographic data on Ligota-Panewniki date back to the 16th century. Records from 1586 indicate that approximately 40 people lived in , including 8 smallholders, while in 1620, there were 9, and in 1629, the first cotters appeared there. , on the other hand, was described in chronicles as an abandoned settlement in the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century, and it was repopulated in the second half of the 17th century. The first cotters began settling there in 1680. In 1718, there were 12 of them, and in 1740, 23. while Panewniki had 145 inhabitants at that time. In the first half of the 19th century, Ligota's population grew rapidly – in 1830, the settlement had 105 inhabitants, including 680 Catholics and 3 Evangelicals. in 1905, the population was 2,823 In 1855, this number rose to 648, In 1905, Panewniki had a population of 1,000, all of whom were Polish. and in 1933, there were 2,338, including 2,316 Catholics, 14 Evangelicals, and 4 people of other faiths. In 1940, Panewniki had 3,738 inhabitants, in 1951 there were 3,859, In 1988, the Ligota-Panewniki district had a population of 33,252. At that time, the largest group was people aged 15–29, while the smallest group was those over 60. At the end of December 2007, 31,879 people lived in the district, which at that time accounted for 10.1% of Katowice's population. At that time, this district was the most populous district in the city after Śródmieście, with a population density of 2,533 people per km², which was higher than the population density for the entire city, which stood at 1,916 people per km² at the time. and between 2007 and 2011, the district's population showed fluctuating trends – in 2007, Ligota-Panewniki had 31,805 inhabitants, in 2010 this number dropped to 31,498, and in 2011 it rose to 31,387, with a population density at that time of 2,493 people per km². In 2010, 13.9% of the district's residents were of pre-working age, 67.5% were of working age, and 18.6% were of post-working age. At the end of 2013, the district had a population of 30,774, and 2,680 people aged 75 and older. In a survey conducted in 2011 among a group of 116 residents of Ligota-Panewniki, 43.1% identified as Poles, 15.5% as Silesians, and 41.4% as both Poles and Silesians. ImageSize = width:500 height:250 PlotArea = left:50 right:20 top:25 bottom:30 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = late Colors = id:linegrey2 value:gray(0.9) id:linegrey value:gray(0.7) id:cobar value:rgb(0.2,0.7,0.8) id:cobar2 value:rgb(0.6,0.9,0.6) DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:0 till:35000 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5000 start:0 gridcolor:linegrey ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:2500 start:0 gridcolor:linegrey2 PlotData = color:cobar width:19 align:left bar:1783 from:0 till:225 bar:1855 from:0 till:1090 bar:1861 from:0 till:1284 bar:1885 from:0 till:1448 bar:1890 from:0 till:1453 bar:1905 from:0 till:3823 bar:1988 color:cobar2 from:0 till:33252 bar:2005 from:0 till:32016 bar:2010 from:0 till:31498 bar:2015 from:0 till:29749 bar:2020 from:0 till:28286 PlotData= textcolor:black fontsize:S bar:1783 at: 225 text: 225 shift:(-8,5) bar:1855 at: 1090 text: 1090 shift:(-11,5) bar:1861 at: 1284 text: 1284 shift:(-11,5) bar:1885 at: 1448 text: 1448 shift:(-11,5) bar:1890 at: 1453 text: 1453 shift:(-11,5) bar:1905 at: 3823 text: 3823 shift:(-11,5) bar:1988 at: 33252 text: 33252 shift:(-14,5) bar:2005 at: 32016 text: 32016 shift:(-14,5) bar:2010 at: 31498 text: 31498 shift:(-14,5) bar:2015 at: 29749 text: 29749 shift:(-14,5) bar:2020 at: 28286 text: 28286 shift:(-14,5) Sources: 1783 (including 80 in Ligota together with Kostuchna and 145 in Panewniki); 1890 (including 683 in Ligota and 770 in Panewniki); 2005 (31 December); 2015 (31 December); == Politics and administration ==

District No. 6, Ligota-Panewniki, is one of the 22 districts of Katowice, constituting a local administrative unit of the gmina. It was established by a resolution of the Katowice City Council as Local Administrative Unit No. 6, Ligota-Panewniki, on 1 January 1992. Ligota-Panewniki comprises two historical administrative units – the former gminas of Ligota and Panewniki. In the early 16th century, representatives of two bourgeois families from Kraków – the Thurzós and the Salomons – took an interest in the Pszczyna lands due to the favorable conditions of the area, namely the presence of iron ore, hammer mills, and easily exploitable forest lands. In 1517, purchased Pszczyna from Wenceslaus II, who later ceded the land to his brother Jan in 1525. In 1527, these lands were granted the status of a state country. In 1548, Jan Thurzó sold the Pszczyna estate to the Bishop of Wrocław, Baltazar Promnitz, and from that time until 1763, the Pszczyna lands were under the rule of the , and later the Anhalt-Cöthen family. The Hochbergs succeeded the Anhalt family. In 1847, following the death of Prince Henry von Anhalt-Cöthen, the Pszczyna estate was taken over by . In the 17th century, Panewniki had a gmina council headed by a wójt, Gmina Panewniki had seals with a coat of arms originally depicting a cauldron with a long handle standing on three legs on a wide base, with a fire beneath it. The emblem depicted only the cauldron with a long handle standing on three legs between 1863 and 1913. After 1742, when Ligota-Panewniki became part of the Prussian state, counties were established in Upper Silesia, and the district's territories were incorporated into the Pszczyna County. On 1 January 1874, new administrative units, known as administrative districts () were established in Silesia, encompassing several gminas and manorial estates. In the Pszczyna County, the following administrative districts were established, among others: the Piotrowice administrative district, encompassing, among others, the rural Gmina Ligota (the first head of the district held office in Mikołów), and the Śmiłowice administrative district with the rural Gmina Panewniki (the first official held office in Śmiłowice). On 1 May 1913, the new Ligota administrative district was formed from the gminas of Ligota and Panewniki. In 1922, the present-day Katowice, along with the former gminas of Ligota and Panewniki, was incorporated into Poland and became part of the Pszczyna County in the autonomous Silesian Voivodeship. In 1923, the Panewniki Gmina Office at today's 75 was opened, By an act of the Silesian Parliament of 15 July 1924, it was decided to expand the boundaries of the city of Katowice to include the gminas of Bogucice, Brynów, Dąb (excluding ), and Załęże from the Katowice County, as well as Ligota Pszczyńska from the Pszczyna County. This act came into force on 15 October 1924. In 1925, Katowice was divided into four districts, including the Ligota-Brynów district. In 1936, the Duke of Pszczyna, Hans Heinrich XV von Hochberg, met with the Voivode Michał Grażyński to settle relations with the Polish state; a year later, he ceded part of his lands, and the Pszczyna fee tail was abolished. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, on 1 April 1938, Katowice was expanded to include parcels from the gminas of Piotrowice and Panewniki, with an area of 182.91 hectares. At that time, the territory of a single-family housing development and forests south of present-day Panewnicka Street and the vicinity of present-day Kolejowa Street were incorporated. Both gmias, by a decision of the Silesian Sejm of 7 March 1939, were excluded from the Pszczyna County on 1 April of that same year and incorporated into the Katowice County. In 1973, the division of Katowice into districts was abolished. Local Government Unit No. 6 Ligota-Panewniki was established on 1 January 1992. In 1997, the administrative division of Katowice was reformed, separating the northern part of Ligota-Panewniki and establishing a new district – Załęska Hałda-Brynów – which encompassed Stara Ligota. == Economy ==

Ligota-Panewniki is a mixed-use district, mainly residential and local commercial, with logistics, warehousing, and industrial functions serving as a significant complement to its economy. The district's industrial and service areas, including warehouses and railroad sidings, are concentrated mainly in several places, including Kolejowa Street, where, as of early 2023, logistics companies such as (17 Kolejowa Street), Transbud-Katowice, and, in the vicinity at 1 Stalowa Street, the steel products distributor ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions Poland have their seats. Other areas of concentrated economic activity include and Książęca streets (Research and Development Center of Zakłady Remontowe Energetyki Katowice – 12 Książęca Street), A. Asnyk and Śląska streets (building products manufacturer Farby KABE Polska – 88 Śląska Street), and Owsiana Street (steel elements distributor Stalprofil – 60a Owsiana Street and automotive parts manufacturer Autoneum Poland – 60a Owsiana Street). The shopping center is located on in Ligota-Panewniki. The mall consists of over 150 stores and service outlets, as well as a food court. It also has cultural and recreational facilities, including a Helios cinema, a bowling alley, and a fitness center. The district has also seen the emergence of important local service and commercial centers, dominated by retail and basic services. Four such centers have developed in Ligota-Panewniki: (the area of Zadole, Zielonogórska, Kołobrzeska, and Gorzowska streets), (intersection of Panewnicka, Medyków, and Kijowska streets), (between Kijowska and Mała streets), and (Panewnicka Street from Franciszkańska Street to Mazowiecka Street, Piotrowicka Street from Franciszkańska Street to Słupska Street, Franciszkańska Street, and Grunwaldzka Street). At the end of 2013, there were 4,058 businesses registered in the REGON system with headquarters in Ligota-Panewniki (8.9% of all companies in Katowice; the highest percentage after Śródmieście), of which 3,895 were micro-enterprises (127 entities per 1,000 residents). At the end of 2013, there were 801 registered unemployed residents living in Ligota-Panewniki, which at the time accounted for 2.6% of the district's population. Historically, one of the first craft workshops in Ligota-Panewniki was the hammer mill in Kokociniec. It was established in the early 17th century, while according to and , it was founded in 1650. It was located on the shore of a hammer mill pond, formed by damming the waters of the and the Kłodnica river, and was one of four such facilities operating at various times within the Duchy of Pless. It was not a large establishment – it was equipped with a low electric arc furnace, and in 1670, 440 buckets of iron ore were smelted there. Two craft workshops and two inns were also in operation in the 19th century. From the 19th century onward, it transformed into a resort village. The ironworks lagged behind other Upper Silesian facilities of this type in terms of equipment, and at that time, the Duke of Pszczyna also decided to focus his activities on the mining industry. Ultimately, in 1861, the blast furnaces at the ironworks were shut down, and at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, all production buildings of the former Ida Iron Works were demolished. The Szadok Coal Mine operated in Kokociniec from 1845 to 1853. Its exact location is unknown, but it is estimated that it was situated in the area of the present-day housing estate. It was established to supply coal to the nearby Ida Iron Works. In 1849, it supplied 6,100 tons of coal. The mine was shut down in 1853 – work was briefly resumed between 1881 and 1883. Since the Ida Iron Works had not been in operation since 1862, the reactivated mine produced only about 500 tons of coal annually for local needs. It was finally closed in 1897. In the 1970s, a new, large mine, known as Panewniki or Radoszowy, was planned for this area. Construction began as the Western Field of the Wujek Coal Mine, but ultimately only one shaft was built, named Radoszowy, which became the shaft of the nearby . The construction and expansion of the railway running through Ligota significantly contributed to the development of industry and construction in the area. Ligota transformed from an agricultural center into an industrial settlement. Industrial plants were established in the area of the railway spur built in 1851 to the Ida Iron Works (along the current T. Szurman and Książęca streets). After the ironworks was closed, the spur was not dismantled, and other plants began to be built along it. From the late 19th century, the Silesia Chemical Factory operated on pesent-day Piotrowicka Street, at the site where the Netto grocery store is located today. Among other things, it produced hydrochloric acid and sodium sulfate. This factory was one of the largest chemical plants in the region. It existed until the 1960s, and the only remnant of it was the building at 100 Piotrowicka Street, Nearby was the Ligota Chemical Factory (Refinery), which initially produced oxygen and hydrogen; after being converted into a refinery, it processed kerosene, mineral oils, and machine greases. After World War II, the site housed CPN fuel depots, and later an Orlen base. In the interwar period, a facility belonging to the Poznań Society of Engineering Works (with its own railway siding) was established on Stara Kłodnicka Street – later becoming the Silesit Aggregate Production Plant, and after the war, a fuel depot and a building materials warehouse. In the vicinity of the plant, the Wilczek Technical Fats Factory was established, followed by Walenty Jerzykiewicz's factory producing mineral paints, and after the war, the Barwint Workers' Cooperative, later P. P. Mikrogran. Further east, Franciszek Czaja established a fish smokehouse that operated until the 1990s. At the turn of the 1920s and 1930s, the Dissous Gas Plant was established on present-day Kolejowa Street, followed by Gazakumulator. Toward the end of its existence, in the early 21st century, it was part of Polgaz. During the Polish People's Republic, industrial development continued in Ligota-Panewniki. The site of the Ligota Sawmill was taken over by the Mining Equipment Assembly Company (later the Steel Structures and Mining Equipment Assembly Company, with its own vocational school, initially located on Kijowska Street and later on Książęca Street), established in 1951 on the basis of the Mining Equipment and Mine Dust Collector Factory, which had been transformed into the Main Mechanical and Boiler Workshops in 1948. Also operating in the vicinity during that period were: chemical warehouses (19 Kolejowa Street) and the Industrial Construction Transport Base – later Transbud-Katowice (17 Kolejowa Street). This was also a time of transformation for large enterprises in Ligota-Panewniki, including the restructured PEMUG and the liquidated WIMACH, as well as the site of the former House Factory. == Technical infrastructure ==

The supply of running water to Ligota-Panewniki is provided through network reservoirs in Mikołów and Murcki. These are fed from water treatment plants in , Goczałkowice-Zdrój, and Kobiernice. This water is pumped into the common distribution system of the Upper Silesian Waterworks Company, from where Ligota-Panewniki is supplied with water via the main water mains and distribution network of Katowice Waterworks. Ligota-Panewniki is intersected by the GPW transit water main running meridionally near . The main water pipes of Katowice Waterworks run along the district's major streets, one of which is the 500-mm-diameter Panewniki–Ligota water main. The sanitary and combined sewer systems in the district are operated by the Sewer Network Operations Branch – South, which is part of Katowice Waterworks, the storm sewer system is managed by the Municipal Roads and Bridges Authority in Katowice. The sewer system in Ligota was built in the early 1930s. The Panewniki Wastewater Treatment Plant was commissioned in the 1960s as a mechanical treatment plant mainly to treat wastewater from earlier residential developments, mostly in Ligota, and a sewer line running from Ligota also enabled Panewniki to be connected to the treatment plant. This network crosses Ligota-Panewniki between Wymysłów and Kokociniec, and the Ligota 110/20 kV substation is located near the hospital complex of the Medical University of Silesia. In December 2004, it was operating at 35% capacity. Ligota was electrified in 1913 and was supplied by Überlandwerk Ellgoth GmbH (Ligota Regional Power Plant), established in 1917. In 1934, this company was absorbed by the Elektro Works. It operated transmission lines, including the 20 kV line between , Murcki, Ligota, and Panewniki. The electricity distributed at that time came from the mining power plants of the Duchy of Pless, and partly from the Elektro Works and the . Part of Ligota is supplied with heat from Division No. VI Wujek of the former ZEC Katowice (now Dalkia Polska Energia), while part of that section of the district, as well as part of Panewniki, remains outside the coverage area of Katowice's district heating systems. The district is supplied with high-methane natural gas (GZ-50), while Katowice's gas supply system does not have its own sources and is supplied by nationwide networks. The gasification of Ligota began gradually in the 1960s and 1970s. == Transport ==

Road transport No trunk or voivodeship roads run through Ligota-Panewniki. • – a local road in the central part of the district, located in , running almost entirely in a roughly parallel direction, directly connecting the Ligota railway station at in the east with the grounds of the Panewniki monastery complex in the west. It is a local county road; • – a road in the central part of the district, running northward from to through . It is a distributor county road; • – a road in the eastern part of Ligota-Panewniki, running approximately parallel to the latitude lines. It connects Nowa Ligota with Brynów in the vicinity of the Brynów Transit Center in Piotrowice-Ochojec. It is a local county road; • – one of the most important roads in the district, approximately 5 km long. It runs roughly parallel to the latitude across the entire district and connects this part of Katowice with Ruda Śląska. In terms of internal connections between the individual macroregions of Katowice, and Brynów have very good links with the city center – access is possible via two street routes: Ligocka– and Rolna streets (or Kłodnicka–Tadeusz Kościuszko streets). Regarding links to other macroregions, the quality of connections is insufficient between Bogucice and , as well as between and Koszutka, while the quality of connections is very good between Piotrowice and Kostuchna. The travel time by car during rush hour from Stare Panewniki to the center of Katowice is approximately 20 minutes, and from Ligota approximately 10–15 minutes. Another problem with the district's road network is the lack of parking lots and parking spaces, and with the development of new housing estates, traffic through these areas has also become an issue due to the congestion forming in their vicinity. It enters Ligota-Panewniki from the north via Załęska Hałda-Brynów, initially forming the boundary between the two districts. The railway then runs south, crosses Piotrowicka and Ligocka streets via a two-level crossing, and then the Kłodnica, after which it enters the area. Further on, it turns southwest and, after crossing , enters Piotrowice-Ochojec; • – a first-class railway of national importance, electrified and double-tracked, on which freight traffic operates. • – a first-class railway of local importance, • – inactive since 2021, a non-electrified, single-track railway used for freight traffic. Within the boundaries of Ligota-Panewniki, it runs parallel to the Katowice–Zwardoń railway; • – a freight railway closed before 2015. Within the district, it runs parallel to Katowice Ligota–Gliwice railway; • – a freight railway that has been out of service since 2021. Within the district's boundaries, it runs parallel to Katowice Ligota–Gliwice railway. The is located in Ligota-Panewniki, between Zielonogórska and Kolejowa streets. It has a station building, traffic lights, additional tracks, and two covered platforms accessible via a subway. The station building is located at the intersection of Panewnicka and Franciszkańska streets, with a Koleje Śląskie ticket machine. The station is equipped with electronic timetables and surveillance cameras; next to it, there is a parking lot and bicycle racks. According to the schedule valid from 11 December 2022 to 11 March 2023, trains from Koleje Śląskie and Leo Express stopped at the Katowice Ligota railway station, with destinations such as , Częstochowa, , Katowice, , Praha hlavní nádraží, , Tychy Lodowisko, Wisła Głębce, Zakopane (seasonal), , and Żywiec. The railway network in Ligota-Panewniki developed after 1850, when Upper Silesia was undergoing a process of expanding local rail connections to facilitate the transport of raw materials and products from industrial plants to markets in the west. On 1 December 1852, the railway between Katowice, Ligota, and was put into service, leading to the Emanuelssegen Coal Mine (Murcki). It was financed by the Upper Silesian Railway and leased to the Racibórz-based Wilhelm's Railway. It ran along the route of present-day T. Szurman and Książęca streets. Wilhelm's Railway undertook new railway projects. One of these was the railway from to and further to Ligota. The section between Mikołów and Ligota was opened on 20 December 1858, connecting it to railways of the Upper Silesian Railway. In the spring of 1887, the station's track layout was rebuilt, and a year later, a new railway station building was constructed. The former waiting room and ticket office of the second Ligota railway station is located at 13 Franciszkańska Street. A station building with an apartment on the upper floor was also constructed at 13a Franciszkańska Street. On 1 October 1904, the Ligota– railway (and further to Gliwice) was opened, and on 2 November 1912, the Ligota––Tychy railway. or between 1909 and 1914, a new large railway junction with a classification yard was built south of the existing station, extending to Zadole Street. During the same period, a six-track viaduct was also built over the then-new road from Panewniki to Brynów, along which Kłodnicka Street now runs, During the Polish People's Republic, work began on the electrification of the railway network, including the Ligota-Panewniki area. The Katowice Ligota–Tychy section was opened following electrification on 4 March 1961, while the Katowice Ligota–Mikołów route was opened on 2 December 1977. In the early 1970s, the existing railway station building at Katowice Ligota was demolished, The 1980s and 1990s were a time of gradual reduction and suspension of passenger service. On 25 September 1994, passenger service was suspended on the Katowice Ligota–Katowice Murcki–Tychy route, and on 1 June 1997, on the Katowice Ligota––Gliwice route. Between 2014 and 2015, the station building at Katowice Ligota was renovated and opened on 25 September 2015. At the beginning of 2023, the following types of bike paths existed in Ligota-Panewniki: • No. 2 Kościuszko Park – Załęska Hałda-Brynów – Ligota-Panewniki (streets: St. Hadyna, Kijowska, Medyków, Śląska and Wczasowa – Zadole Park – Studencka and Śląska streets – Panewniki Forests – Owsiana Street – Katowice/Mikołów city boundary); • No. 3 Giszowiec – Piotrowice-Ochojec – Ligota-Panewniki (Studencka Street – Panewniki Forests – Owsiana and Kuźnicka streets – forest in Stare Panewniki); • No. 103 Silesian Park – Osiedle Tysiąclecia – Załęże – Osiedle Witosa – Załęska Hałda-Brynów – Ligota-Panewniki (Ogrodowa Street – city of Katowice boundary); • No. 122 Ligota-Panewniki (streets: Medyków, Ludowa, Krucza and Ogrodowa) – Załęska Hałda-Brynów. Part of the city's bike-sharing network – Metrorower – operates in Ligota-Panewniki, having replaced the system. It was the largest system of its kind in Metropolis GZM and was operated by Nextbike. At the beginning of 2023, there were 10 City by bike stations in the district: Os. Franciszkańskie (Książęca Street), Kokociniec S.P. nr 67 (Zielona Street), Ligota – Centrum Przesiadkowe (Panewnicka Street), Skwer Bolesława Szabelskiego (Piotrowicka Street), Ligota Medyków (Medyków Street), Panewnicka Szkoła Podstawowa nr 9 (Zamiejska Street), Rondo Huchrackiego (Panewnicka Street), Galeria Libero (Kolejowa Street), Zadole Kościół (Gdańska Street), and Śląska – Medyków (Studencka Street). Public transport Public transportation within Ligota-Panewniki is provided exclusively by bus routes organized by the Metropolitan Transport Authority, while the main operator of the lines running through the district is . Bus stops are located at important points throughout the district, The travel time by bus during rush hour from Ligota to the city center is approximately 26 minutes, and from Stare Panewniki about an hour. These buses provide connections both to other parts of Katowice and to other cities in Metropolis GZM, including Chorzów, Ruda Śląska, and Gliwice. The first buses from the transit center began operating on 5 November 2018, and at the time of its opening, four bus lines stopped there: the existing lines 13 and 51, and two new ones – 912 and 913. The construction of the transit center cost approximately 9.1 million złoty. == Architecture and urban planning ==

The buildings in Ligota-Panewniki are diverse in terms of both architectural style and the period in which they were built. Single-family homes predominate west of Piotrowicka Street, as well as along Panewnicka Street, which is also the site of a concentration of new single-family and row houses. Medium- and high-rise multi-family housing is located in , , , and the central part of (). Originally, Ligota's settlement developed near present-day in the Katowice district of Załęska Hałda-Brynów (the area of today's Ligocka, Załęska, Hetmańska, and Rolna streets), The map of from 1749 shows the outline of today's Panewnicka Street. At that time, Ligota's buildings were concentrated near Stara Ligota, and the present-day intersection of Piotrowicka and Panewnicka streets was covered by forest. Near the crossroads to Kokociniec and Panewniki, there were several peasant farmsteads, and in Wymysłów, the farms were concentrated closer to the confluence of the Ślepiotka and Kłodnica rivers. The settlement of Panewniki at that time stretched from the current intersection of Panewnicka and Owsiana streets to the intersection of Panewnicka and Kuźnicka streets (the area of present-day Stare Panewniki). Maps published up to the first half of the 19th century show a gradual increase in building density in Kokociniec, Wymysłów, and Panewniki, and the further development of Ligota-Panewniki in the 19th century is linked to the industrialization of these lands. The general map of the Duchy of Pless from between 1863 and 1867 indicates that new development in Ligota had already reached the area of the present-day Ligota-Panewniki district, on the other side of the Kłodnica, after which it heads south, although at that time the intersection of Panewnicka and Piotrowicka streets and the section of Panewnicka Street up to the intersection with Kijowska Street were still undeveloped. Some 19th-century rural cottages have been preserved in Stare Panewniki along Panewnicka Street. the Renaissance Revival Franciscan monastery complex was built between 1905 and 1907, designed by . Since the establishment of the Franciscan monastery at the beginning of the 20th century, the buildings in Ligota and Panewniki slowly began to converge, and the boundary between the two historic gminas began to blur (it was no longer visible in the building line). On a map from 1914, the current Panewnicka Street was already fully developed between the present-day Kijowska and Krucza streets, as well as around the monastery. In the interwar years, Brynów and Ligota were districts of Katowice that were partly agricultural in character, with recreational areas and plots of land designated in part for single-family housing. New development in Ligota arose to the east and south of the Panewniki monastery, while in Panewniki near Owsiana Street, and in Wymysłów, there was a slight expansion of rural development during this period. Kokociniec also expanded northward and southward. In the area of Medyków Street, near the monastery, a new center of Panewniki (known as ) was established. Later development in Nowa Ligota during the German occupation and the Polish People’s Republic disrupted the original urban design concept of the housing estate. On the north side of Panewnicka Street, in the area of Emerytalna and Zagrody streets, The years between 1945 and 1989 were a time of urban assimilation for Zadole, Ligota, Panewniki, and Kokociniec. Stare Panewniki expanded eastward, and a church was built there. In Wymysłów and Kokociniec, new housing estates were created between the old farms. In Ligota, further expansion took place between the railroad line and the civil servants' housing estate. During this period, a complex of hospitals and university dormitories was also built. The square initially served as an estate park; today it is commonly referred to as Ligota's central square. The Katowice City Council bestowed its current name on 31 May 2010. It was developed by the Sadyba Housing Cooperative and consists of over a dozen three- and four-story apartment buildings designed by the architectural firm AIR under the direction of Ryszard Jurkowski. Since 1989, the architecture and urban planning of the southern part of Katowice have been characterized by a trend toward the construction of new residential buildings, mainly single-family and townhouses, as well as mixed-use developments. This area has seen the highest number of mixed-use developments in Katowice. The new buildings blend in with the district's existing constructions, especially in terms of height. At that time, new development in Ligota-Panewniki was taking place mainly between Stare Panewniki and Kokociniec. Additionally, the location of many housing developments in the south, on previously undeveloped land, necessitates the construction of commercial, cultural, and entertainment facilities. The largest facility of this type is , located on Tadeusz Kościuszko Street, whose construction was completed in 2018. Between 1989 and 2011, the following residential developments, among others, were built within the boundaries of Ligota-Panewniki: • Zielona Aleja (Panewnicka Street) – a gated community consisting of 24 houses, developed by Centrum Developer; • Koszykowa Street – a complex of 46 single-family homes and 2 multi-family apartment buildings, each with 9 units, developed by Dombud; • Koszykowa Street – a complex of 5 multi-family buildings, developed by Exland; • Łąkowa Street – a gated community consisting of 32 single-family homes and 3 multi-family buildings, each with 6 apartments, developed by Exland; • Owsiana Street – a complex of 4 single-family homes and 1 apartment building with 14 flats, developed by Exland; • Panewnicka Street – a complex of 3 multi-family houses with 30 apartments, developed by Dombud; • Panewnicka and Partyzantów streets – a complex of 2 apartment buildings with 70 flats, developed by Exland; • Osiedle Uroczysko (Bałtycka Street) – a complex of 3 three-story buildings with 25 apartments, developed by J. W. Construction Holding; • Panewnicka Street – a gated community consisting of 59 townhouses, developed by PB Feniks; • Panewnicka Street – a gated community consisting of approximately 100 single-family homes in row and semi-detached configurations, developed by Dombud; • E. Bojanowski and Zamiejska streets – a complex of 59 single-family homes and 8 multi-family homes, developed by Dombud; • Ogrody Colony (Panewnicka and Rzeczna streets) – a gated community consisting of 9 row houses, developed by Eurodom 2004; • Sadyba housing estate (Jutrzenki, Urocza, Szojdy, and Szafirowa streets) – a mix of single-family and multi-family housing from the 1990s; • Zielona Street – a complex of two 4-story multi-family buildings, developed by Dombud; • Osiedle Świerkowe (Twarda Street) – a gated community consisting of 25 single-family homes, developed by Katowice Housing Cooperative; • (Piotrowicka Street) – a complex of 22 apartment buildings, each with 10 flats, developed by CK Modus; • Borsall Apartments (Franciszkańska and Smolna streets) – an exclusive apartment building, developed by BD Inwestor; • Żeromskiego Apartments (S. Żeromski Street) – a 4-story apartment building, developed by BD Inwestor. Between 2007 and 2010, was built near the intersection of Książęca and Piotrowicka streets, • – a part of Katowice, located on the border of Piotrowice-Ochojec and Ligota-Panewniki, in the area of Zadole, Śląska, Studencka, Traktorzystów, A. Asnyk, Armii Krajowej, and Polarna streets. It was established as a hamlet of Piotrowice in the 19th century. The Renaissance Revival church in Panewniki is built on a Latin cross plan. It has three naves, including a main nave 76 m long and 12 m wide; at the intersection of the main nave and the transept stands a 3-meter-high dome crowned with a 7-meter-high gunmetal statue of St. Francis of Assisi. • building (79 ) from the 1920s–1930s with preserved historicist elements on the façade; • building (10 K. Opaliński Street) from 1935 in the brick historicist style; • buildings (2 K. Grzesik Street; 91, 93, and 95 Kijowska Street) from the early 20th century in the brick historicist style; • residential building with commercial space (63 Piotrowicka Street); • house with a garden (26 Zagroda Street); • houses (23 , 37 ) from the 1940s; • multi-family houses, the so-called "barns" (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48 Piotrowicka Street) from the 1940s; • houses with gardens (48, 49, 51, 53/55, 63, and 67 ); • tenement (30 Panewnicka Street) from the 1930s in the International Style; • tenement – formerly a restaurant and guesthouse (40 Panewnicka Street) from the 1930s; • tenements with gardens (4 Franciszkańska Street; 36/38 Panewnicka Street; 58/60 Piotrowicka Street) from the 1930s in the International Style; • school (13 Panewnicka Street) from between 1936 and 1938 in the International Style, rebuilt in the 1950s; • villa with a garden (13 Smolna Street); • villa with a garden (61 Piotrowicka Street) from the first quarter of the 20th century in the modern style; • villas with gardens (4, 6, 7 and 9 O. K. Bik Street; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 Kaszubska Street; 7 ; 1, 3, 5, 9, and 11 Mazowiecka Street; 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Mazurska Street; 27, 34, and 38a Panewnicka Street), mostly from the 1930s in the International Style; • multi-family residential buildings 1–15 odd, 4–22 even, 10a, b and c, 22–44 even, 34a, b, c and d, 36a, b, c and d Kołobrzeska Street; 26a, b, c and d, 30a, b, c and d, 34, 36, 46a, b and c, 50a, b and c Piotrowicka Street; 2–14 even, 1–13 odd Słupska Street; 2, 2a, b and c Koszalińska Street) from the 1950s in the socialist realist style. The following conservation zones or areas proposed for protection are located in Ligota-Panewniki: • (), planted on 18 May 2008; • Kalwaria Panewnicka – a complex of 14 stations of the Way of the Cross and 15 Rosary chapels covering an area of 8 hectares. This site also has a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes from 1905. The calvary grounds include boulders commemorating the arrival of the Franciscans in , the 650th anniversary of , and the 430th anniversary of Panewniki. Kalwaria Panewnicka was built over many years, between 1936 and 1963, and one of the initiators of its establishment was the Panewniki parson, Father ; • shrine (Panewnicka Street 274) – brick, from the early 20th century; • roadside cross (260 Panewnicka Street) from the early 20th century; • cross commemorating the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944 (Panewnicka Street; Franciscan basilica – side chapel); • cross of prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Oświęcim (Panewnicka Street; Franciscan basilica – side chapel); • plaques commemorating places of execution from World War II (). Zoning Ligota-Panewniki is one of the areas with a high concentration of single-family housing – as of December 2007, these areas covered more than 100 hectares. There was also a clearly defined area of multi-family housing there. At that time, significant areas (50–100 ha) were also occupied by industrial and commercial zones, and over 75 ha of the district consisted of undeveloped green spaces. The share of developed land in Ligota-Panewniki in 2007 was 22%, the floor area ratio (net) was 0.37, and the average number of stories was 1.68. In the Study of Conditions and Directions of Spatial Development of the City of Katowice, the city was divided into urban planning units, including the Ligota-Panewniki unit, which extends to both the district and part of Piotrowice-Ochojec up to Tadeusz Kościuszko Street and the Katowice–Mikołów railway. In terms of actual land use in January 2008 for the Ligota-Panewniki urban unit (1,563.22 ha), the largest areas were occupied by: single-family residential areas (155.05 ha), service areas (100.74 ha), transportation areas (116.99 ha), undeveloped green areas (116.51 ha), and forests (740.22 ha). The smallest areas were those of technical infrastructure (2.33 ha), agricultural land (10.71 ha), water bodies (15.53 ha), and wasteland (4.69 ha). As of July 2009, 3.72% of the Ligota-Panewniki urban planning unit was covered by local zoning regulations, while plans for 99.50% of the unit's area were in the process of being drafted at that time. == Education ==

At the beginning of 2023, the following educational and childcare facilities were located in Ligota-Panewniki: • Nurseries: • Private Puchatkowo Nursery Academia Malucha (7 Huculska Street); • Private Elementarz Przyjazny Rodzinie Nursery (20 Studencka Street); • Private Konsek Świata Nursery (4 Braci Mniejszych Street); • Private Wesołe Misie Nursery (76c Piotrowicka Street); • Municipal Nursery in Katowice – Branch of the Municipal Nursery (24a Zadole Street); • Kindergartens: • Municipal Kindergarten No. 16 (6a Koszalińska Street); • Municipal Kindergarten No. 40 (73 Panewnicka Street); • Municipal Kindergarten No. 99 (6 J. Płocha Street); • Private Elementarz Kindergarten (20 Studencka Street); • Private Madzik Place Kindergarten Language Kindergarten (14 Szafirowa Street); • Private Sezamkowo Kindergarten (154 Panewnicka Street); • Private Skrable Kindergarten (5 Szafirowa Street); • Private aAcademy Special Kindergarten (1 Zielonogórska Street); • Private Edmund Bojanowski Kindergarten of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Servants (63 Panewnicka Street); • Primary schools: • Private Special Arka Noego Primary School (59 Gromadzka Street); • Private aAcademy Primary School (1 Zielonogórska Street); • Jan Brzechwa Primary School No. 9 (172 Panewnicka Street); • Special Polish Knights of Malta Primary School No. 61 (8 Kołobrzeska Street); • Mountain Rescuers Primary School No. 64 (27 Medyków Street); • Commission of National Education Primary School No. 67 with Integration Classes (5 Zielona Street); • High schools: • Scout Defenders of Katowice High School (13 Panewnicka Street); • School complexes: • School-Kindergarten Complex No. 14 (23 Zielonogórska Street): • Municipal Kindergarten No. 15 with Integration Classes (23 Zielonogórska Street), • Municipal Kindergarten No. 76 (20a Kołobrzeska Street), • Municipal Kindergarten No. 89 (26a Zadole Street), • Adela Korczyńska Primary School No. 35 with Bilingual Classes (23 Zielonogórska Street); • School-Kindergarten Complex No. 15 (3 Zielonogórska Street): • Municipal Kindergarten No. 17 (6a Zielonogórska Street), • Nicolaus Copernicus Primary School No. 34 (3 Zielonogórska Street). Originally, students from Ligota and Panewniki attended school in Mikołów. The first mention of the school at the Parish of St. Adalbert dates back to 1575. Students from Ligota and Panewniki attended this school only in special cases – according to statistical data from 1818, 15 children from Panewniki attended school in Mikołów. In 1819, a school in Piotrowice began operating in a new building, and the gminas of Ligota and Panewniki also contributed to the cost of its construction. In 1824, 72 children from Panewniki and 36 from Ligota attended this school. The first school in Panewniki was opened in 1828 (or 1825) Construction of a new brick school in Panewniki began in 1831, The new school was located at the present-day 435 Panewnicka Street and was built with the support of the Duke of Pszczyna. In addition to classrooms for about 100 students, the building housed apartments for the teacher and his assistant. It served its purpose until the construction of a new building in 1913 (later J. Brzechwa Primary School No. 9). The first school year in Polish schools began on 5 September 1922 with a Mass at the church in Panewniki, from where the students dispersed to their respective schools. In 1938, a new school was opened at present-day 13 Panewnicka Street, After the entry of German troops entered Ligota and Panewniki at the start of World War II, the schools were seized by the new authorities. The new German school year began on 1 April 1940. After the hostilities and liberation from German occupation, the new school year in Ligota-Panewniki began on 20 February 1945. At that time, two schools operated in the present-day district: • Public Primary School No. 31 (13 Panewnicka Street; the so-called "forest school"); • Seven-Class Public King John Sobieski Primary School (435 Panewnicka Street). In 1948, Primary Schools No. 8 and No. 31 on Panewnicka Street were merged into a single school. In 1959, the school was designated No. 7, becoming a Primary School and High School (now the Scout Defenders of Katowice High School), and a kindergarten also operated there. In 1961, a new wing was added to the existing building. On 9 May 1961, the school was named after the Scouts Defenders of Katowice, and on 1 September 1966, the primary school and high school were separated – the newly established Primary School No. 29 was dissolved during the 1969/1970 school year. In 1952, construction began on the building that would become the current M. Copernicus Primary School No. 34, located at 3 Zielonogórska Street. Before the school opened, the children attended classes on one of the floors of the building housing High School No. 7. The new school building was opened in the fall of 1956. Mountain Rescuers Primary School No. 64 at Medyków Street 27 was established in 1966, also as one of the "Millennium Schools". In late 1966, construction began on the clinical and educational complex of the Silesian Medical Academy, located on the border between Ligota and Panewniki; this included the construction of dormitories and a hotel for nurses in 1971. In 1975, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Nursing were established. In the 1970s, the Medical Academy became the largest university of its kind in the country. From the very beginning, it became an important research center – by 2010, approximately 60,000 publications of various types had been produced there. Since 1996, the university has also been accredited to offer English-language medical programs, thanks to which students from many countries around the world study there during the academic year. In 2007, the Silesian Medical Academy was renamed the Medical University of Silesia. From 1 October 2019, the Faculty of Medicine has been known as the Faculty of Medical Sciences in. In 1995, National Education Commission Primary School No. 67 was opened in Kokociniec. As a result of the 1999 education reform, some of the schools in the district were converted into gymnasiums: Later, these school complexes were dissolved and transformed into independent gymnasiums. In 2000, General Education School Complex No. 21 was transformed into Gymnasium No. 21, and on 3 December 2004, the school was named after . == Public safety and social welfare ==

In terms of crime rates, Ligota-Panewniki is one of the safer districts in Katowice. In 2007, there were 2.21 crimes per 100 residents (the average for Katowice as a whole at that time was 3.08 crimes). In 2013, there were 530 crimes in Ligota-Panewniki, which translates to 1.7 crimes per 100 residents of the district. Of these, 7 were robberies, and 27 were acts of hooliganism. In a 2011 survey, 70.7% of Ligota-Panewniki residents surveyed stated that they felt safe in their district, 26.7% disagreed, and 2.6% found it difficult to assess this situation. The 3rd Precinct of the Katowice Municipal Police Headquarters is located at 20 Książęca Street in Ligota-Panewniki. Part of the city's municipal monitoring system, managed by the Crisis Management Department of the Katowice City Hall, also operates there. The district is home to the city's surveillance monitoring center. There are several medical facilities in Ligota-Panewniki: • Hospitals of the Medical University of Silesia – (one of two facilities; 14 Medyków Street) and (16 Medyków Street); The first director of the Central Clinical Hospital was Dr. , who took office on 1 January 1974. In 2016, this hospital was merged with the into a single facility – the K. Gibiński University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Silesia. a railway hospital was put into service, and in 1982 it was expanded with a new building on Medyków Street. At the end of 1996 – 22 years after the programmatic, technical, and economic plans were approved – Hospital No. 6, the , was established. It was opened on 29 May 1999. It is one of the largest children's hospitals in Poland. In 2007, the hospital admitted 16,342 patients. there is a branch of Local Social Welfare Center No. 7, a Shelter for the Homeless, and a Social Welfare Home. The Local Social Welfare Center serves Ligota, Panewniki, and Brynów. == Culture ==

The beginnings of cultural activity in Ligota-Panewniki date back to the second half of the 19th century. In 1881, a library of the People's Libraries Society was established in Kokociniec – one of the first in Upper Silesia. In 1910, the Lutnia Choir was founded in Ligota – initially named after S. Wyspiański, and later after P. Maszyński. It remained active until 1954. Cultural traditions in Ligota-Panewniki flourished during the interwar period. In 1923, the Wanda Choir was founded in Panewniki; in addition to choral performances, it frequently organized amateur theatrical productions. During the interwar period, a library run by the People's Libraries Society operated in Ligota. In 1935, the Ligota branch held 1,330 volumes, which were used by 346 readers at the time. During the Polish People's Republic, the PEMUG Works Cultural Committee operated for a short time, occupying the premises of the former Hildebrandt restaurant. In the 1950s (or during the interwar period), the Bajka Cinema, which no longer exists today, was built. In addition, as of early 2023, other branches of the Katowice Municipal Public Library were also operating in Ligota-Panewniki: no. 5 (2 Braci Mniejszych Street), no. 18 (16 Studencka Street), no. 34 (14 Medyków Street), and no. 38 (16 Medyków Street). In 1982, Elżbieta Jasiok, who headed one of the Community Music Centers, secured the premises at 33 Franciszkańska Street, now home to the , to serve as the center's headquarters and a branch of the Katowice Municipal Public Library. A year later, the Municipal Cultural Center was established there, Between 1991 and 1993, the building underwent a major renovation, and new rooms were added on the west side. The event takes place at the amphitheater in Zadole. Between 1990 and 2003 and between 2008 and 2019, the district hosted the Ekosong Environmental Song Festival. It was held annually at Kalwaria Panewnicka in front of the Seventh Station of the Cross by the Franciscans of the . It is one of the cultural departments of the University of Silesia. The station began broadcasting on 21 November 1969, gradually expanding its coverage to include additional dormitories in Osiedle Akademickie of the University of Silesia. The station mainly airs original programming covering various cultural fields, while also collaborating with other cultural institutions and publishers. == Religion ==

The following religious communities are based in Ligota-Panewniki: • Buddhist Kwan Um School of Zen – Katowice Zen Center (22 Zagroda Street); • Roman Catholic (36 Zadole Street); • Roman Catholic (451 Panewnicka Street); • Roman Catholic (76 Panewnicka Street). The largest religious community in the district is the Roman Catholic Church; originally, Roman Catholic parishioners from Ligota-Panewniki belonged to the Parish of St. Adalbert in Mikołów, which was formerly part of the Diocese of Kraków and had been part of the Pszczyna deanery since the mid-14th century. The parish of St. Adalbert in Mikołów, established in 1222, encompassed, among others, the areas of Podlesie, Piotrowice, Panewniki, Ligota, and Zarzecze. With the development of industry in Katowice during the 19th century, Protestants and Jews also began settling there. In 1840, 13 Protestants lived in Panewniki – the largest number among all the present-day southern parts of Katowice. At that time, few Jews settled in the southern districts, and there were none at all in Ligota. Father , who would later become a social activist and suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Katowice, was born in Ligota in 1881. The Franciscan monks moved into the new monastery building in September 1907, and the new church was consecrated in 1908. That same year, the annual tradition of building the Panewniki nativity scene began. In 1914, the Franciscans took over pastoral care in Ligota, Panewniki, Piotrowice, and Kostuchna without establishing a separate parish. The curacy was created on 1 September 1933, and on 12 February 1934, it was elevated to the status of a parish. On 17 March 1923, the Panewniki house was incorporated into the Province of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and at that time, it became the residence of the provincial superior. From 1921 to 1929, a Seraphic college was located there, and in 1932, a novitiate and a printing press were established. Between 1934 and 1935, the parish Community House was built. Construction on the Kalwaria Panewnicka chapels began in 1937, and was completed after World War II; between 1955 and 1963, the Rosary chapels were built. and until 2017, seminary students published, among other things, the quarterly journal ''''. On 13 May 1955, the Katowice-Południe deanery was established; it was renamed the Katowice-Panewniki deanery on 1 January 1998. It includes, among others, all Catholic parish communities in Ligota-Panewniki. On 23 February 1958, a Franciscan chapel dedicated to St. Anthony was opened in Stare Panewniki, in the building of the former Valeska Schwertfeger restaurant at present-day 463 Panewnicka Street. The furnishings were moved from the chapel of the Marianówka nursing home. Between 1965 and 1968, the former dance hall was converted into the church nave; the religious house was established in 1980, and on 22 March 1981, a new Roman Catholic parish was established In 1966, the Franciscan Center for Academic Ministry was created. In 1974, the Church of St. Louis the King in Panewniki was elevated to the rank of minor basilica. In 2012, the Franciscan monastery in Panewniki was home to 34 friars, 33 seminary students, and 14 brothers. Within the original Piotrowice Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. John Bosco, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary was built in Zadole between 1985 and 1992. The Katowice Province of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Servants is located at 63 Panewnicka Street. The provincial house serves as a candidate house, postulancy, and second-year novitiate, and the Sisters of the Servants function as catechists and nurses at the Regional Railway Hospital, provide outpatient care for the sick, and also conduct catechesis and operate a soup kitchen for the poor. The convent also houses a Edmund Bojanowski Private Kindergarten and the Retreat House of the Archdiocese of Katowice. In 2006, 47 sisters lived in the Provincial House, while 36 retired sisters lived in St. Anne's House at 84 Panewnicka Street, some of whom were working at the hospital at the time. Cemeteries The municipal cemetery is located at 45 Panewnicka Street Plans for this cemetery were drawn up in 1913; the Franciscans were to establish it, but Oppeln did not approve. It was then decided that the gmina would establish its own cemetery. It was built across from the church. The founder and initiator of the cemetery was Nepomucen Wielebski, head of the gmina and district office in Ligota Pszczyńska. Initially, the cemetery served exclusively for monks, but over time it also became a resting place for other believers. Bolesław Szabelski – composer and founder of the Silesian school of composers – is buried there. == Sport and recreation ==

Sports and recreational activities in Ligota-Panewniki are supported by a number of facilities and locations, mainly the and Zadole Park, as well as family allotment gardens. The Zadole Recreation and Leisure Center is located in Zadole Park at 8 Wczasowa Street. Its facilities include tennis courts, a swimming pool, a skatepark, a multipurpose hall, a gym, changing rooms, and restrooms. The Volks- und Jungendspiele initiative marked the beginnings of organized sports activities in Ligota-Panewniki. In 1910, after the Duke of Pszczyna became its patron, the initiative developed in this area. In Ligota, it played a pioneering role in the formation of organized physical culture. The program of the Ligota Turn- und Sportverein movement included: palant, fistball, and tamburine. Recreational activities began to develop in the early 20th century, when so-called "public bathing areas" began to appear along the Kłodnica river in Ligota and Panewniki. Among them was the area between Kijowska Street and the stretch between the Kłodnica river and the Kokociniec Stream, locally known as Kryminowa. Originally, it was a post-industrial site of the former , and from the early 20th century, it became a recreational area. In the 1970s, toboggan runs were built there. Tourism, meanwhile, emerged from the initiative of the German organization Beskienverien, based in Bielsko at the beginning of the 20th century, along with the first clubs in the area of present-day Katowice, including in Ligota. After the war, the first Polish physical culture organizations were established in the present-day district. The Ligota branch of the Sokół Gymnastic Society was founded on 14 March 1920 on the initiative of Augustyn Świtała. In 1935, it had 62 members. In 1924, the sports club was founded in Ligota and reactivated in 1945. The club had a playing field on Książęca Street and ran sections for soccer (in 1938, the club was promoted to the Silesian League), ice hockey, and theater. The first sports club founded in Panewniki was the First Panewniki Sports Society, established in 1925. Until 1939, this club operated exclusively a soccer section. In 1945, it was reactivated by Emmanuel Koczurowski. In the 1940s, it had 43 members. From 1950, the club competed as LZS Panewnik. The Budowlani Ligota Sports Club was active from 1959 to 1964 (known as KS Elektrobudowa from 1956 to 1958) and is considered one of the successors to Ligocianka Ligota. In 1964, the club merged with . Budowlani Ligota had sections for men’s soccer, weightlifting, and volleyball. Sparta Katowice was founded in 1946 as Tęcza Katowice. It has operated under its current name since 1956. Initially, it was affiliated with the Voivodeship Sports Association. The club had sections for: acrobatics, artistic gymnastics, basketball, soccer, handball, weightlifting, volleyball, and diving. Among the more notable athletes of Sparta Katowice were Barbara Eustachewicz, Rudolf Hoeflich, Jan Suski, , Stanisław Wygas, and Ryszard Zawadziński. The club's headquarters are located at 4 S. Żeromski Street. The Travos Katowice sled dog racing club also operated in Ligota-Panewniki. It was active during the first two decades of the 21st century. In 2019, it was liquidated. In 2007, there was 1 sports club in Ligota, 2 in Panewniki, and 1 in Kokociniec. ==Famous people==

• Jerzy Kukuczka • Herbert Ruff, pianist and composer ==Gallery==

Basilica Panewniki facade.jpg|Facade of the Basilica of Saint Louis in Panewniki Katowice Franciszkańska25 Biblioteka.jpg|Library in Ligota KokociniecResidential.jpg|Modern housing in Kokociniec Pomnik Edmunda Bojanowskiego w Panewnikach.jpg|Edmund Bojanowski monument in Panewniki ==References==