Description of the attraction
The Goldstein Palace is a neo-Renaissance building located in the western part of the Katowice city center, at the corner of Freedom Square and Jan Matejko Street. The palace also has other names: Palace of Industrialists, Villa Goldstein.
The building was built in the second half of the 1870s by order of two brothers, Abraham and Joseph Goldstein. The name of the architect is still unknown. The palace consists of two floors, the outer facades are richly decorated with stucco and stonework, as well as three female sculptures representing industry, science and art. From the exquisite interior of the palace, one can guess about the high financial situation of the owners. The stairs are traditionally decorated with marble and sandstone. Bedrooms, bathrooms and staff rooms are located on each floor.
The Goldstein brothers owned several sawmills in different cities, including Katowice. In 1892, the sawmill, which was located near the palace, burned down, and the brothers decided to move to Wroclaw. The palace was sold to one firm.
Until the outbreak of World War II, the building housed the Chamber of Commerce, and in the post-war years (since 1952) the Druzhba cinema and the Polish-Soviet Friendship Society were opened in the palace. From 1960 to 1970 the avant-garde theater "12a" functioned in the basements, which was named after the actual number of the house. Also, until 2010, there was a restaurant "Columbus" in the palace, but later the Civil Status Service was opened.
At the moment, the Goldstein Palace belongs to the administration of the city of Katowice.
