Pyskowice: Old Town, Railway History and the Drama Valley

Pyskowice combines an old town with a medieval layout, exhibitions on the town’s history and railway history, and a location in the valley of the Drama River. This lets you plan your stay around different interests: the historic townscape, the development of a railway junction, or the riverside landscape. These themes give you concrete points to consider when deciding whether Pyskowice suits your travel plans.

Old Town and Historic Market Square

The medieval layout shapes the Old Town. Its historic centre includes the market square and the town hall. The square is where the town’s architectural history is particularly visible: most of the townhouses there are listed in the heritage register. The market square is therefore a good starting point if you are interested in the townscape that has evolved over time.

The town hall also connects the historic town centre with the town’s current exhibition programme. Exhibitions on the history of Pyskowice and the region have been held in its rooms since 2003. You can also visit the permanent exhibition “PYSKOWICE MIASTO” at the Pyskowice Town Hall Exhibition Centre. It reopened in 2025 and is accessible during the Exhibition Centre’s opening hours. Archival materials and memorabilia tell the story of the development of the town and the railway junction between 1945 and 2005. Plan your visit around the Exhibition Centre’s opening hours.

Railway History in Two Exhibitions

The history of the railway junction is also explored in the publicly accessible spaces of Stacja Kultury MOKiS Pyskowice. The permanent exhibition “STACJA PYSKOWICE I” features photographs illustrating a brief history of its development. “STACJA PYSKOWICE II” adds another perspective with exhibits and memorabilia from the Pyskowice engine shed, as well as models. One notable item is a faithfully recreated five-chamber light signal. It was saved from destruction when the Drama sand railway station was dismantled. The exhibition can be visited during opening hours or at special events.

Together, the town hall exhibition and the two displays at Stacja Kultury offer different perspectives on the same main theme: urban development and the railway. The town hall focuses on archival materials and memorabilia from a clearly defined period; Stacja Kultury features photographs, models and individual exhibits. If you are interested in technology and local history, Pyskowice offers more than one historical point of interest.

The Drama Valley and Town Park

Pyskowice lies in the valley of the Drama River, which feeds the artificial Dzierżno Małe Reservoir. This landscape offers a different focus from the Old Town and its exhibitions: here, the river valley shapes the character of the place. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you are mainly looking for historical urban themes or would also like to focus on the landscape around Pyskowice.

The history of the town park includes the idea of creating a place for walks among greenery and quiet sitting. This describes its original purpose when it was established. At the park entrance from the road to Gliwice stands the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. So, even beyond the exhibitions, you can encounter historical connections with the townscape and its surroundings.

Further Historical Traces

The section from the main altar to the pulpit is all that remains of the Gothic brick Church of St. Nicholas. This precise description makes clear which part of the former church has survived. Another historical landmark is the restored Pyskowice milestone, which was placed in a square opposite the former Hotel Germania at ul. Powstańców Śląskich 7.

These different points of interest can help guide your choice of a holiday apartment in Pyskowice: if you would like to explore the historic town centre and its buildings, the townscape takes centre stage; if railway history is your main interest, the three exhibitions will shape your focus. The Drama Valley complements these cultural aspects with a landscape perspective. This lets you begin by choosing where to stay based on what you would like to discover during your trip.

Discover more destinations: Bojszów, Poniszowice, Paniówki, Chudów, Knurów, Sośnicowice, Przyszowice, Niewiesze.

For the broader travel overview: Gliwice.