The region of Upper Silesia was ruled by the Polish Piast Dynasty until it came under the Habsburgs of Austria. The city of Katowice itself was only founded in the 19th Century while the area was under Prussian rule. It was inhabited by Silesians, Germans, Poles and Jews. After the Silesian Uprisings in 1918-1921 it became part of the Polish Republic. Its rapid economic development was due to the large coal deposits, and coal mining and steel industry marked its prosperity during the period of the Industrial Revolution. The heavy industry was the cause of much pollution all the way through the communist regime, but the recent shift towards small business and the measures for environmental protection have started to change the aspect of the city.

Modern Katowice has five theatres, a dozen art galleries, several concert halls and as many as eight universities. It hosts an international Blues Festival, a Metalmania Festival, international competitions for conductors and for army bands, and an international exhibition of graphic art. Most artistic and cultural events take place at the Spodek - a large sports center and concert hall with the distinctive shape of a flying saucer, the city's instantly recognizable landmark. The Spodek contains an ice rink, a variety of sports halls, a restaurant and a hotel.

The city center contains mostly building in Art Nouveau style. The Rynek - the old center and marketplace has been pedestrianised and, together with the neighouring streets, forms a nice shopping area. An interesting construction is the wooden complex of the St. Archangel Michael complex in the Kosciuszko Park. It used to be part of an ethnographic park in Syrynia and was moved to Katowice in 1938. Major ecclesiastical buildings include the city's Cathedral, the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, and the Evangelical Church of the Resurrection.

The two major museums in town are the Katowice History Museum and the Silesian Museum.  The former presents pastels by Witkacy, locally produced china and home interiors. The latter has a vast collection of exhibits related to the history of the Silesian region, and some paintings. The Museum of Coal Mining focuses on the city's industrial history.

The town's best known monument is undoubtedly the Monument to Silesian Upsurgents, a bronze sculpture erected in 1967 and designed by G. Zemla and W. Zablocki. It commemorates the three Silesian uprisings, in 1919, 1920 and 1921.