The advantages of living in Mikołów

Fiołkowa Góra, the Silesian Botanical Garden, the charming old town, the idyllic parish garden by the Sanctuary of Our Lady Protectress of the Natural Environment in Bujaków, and the Wooden Architecture Trail – these are only some of Mikołów's attractions that set it apart from other Silesian towns and make it an ideal place both for recreation and for living permanently.

• Idyllic? A green oasis with low flat prices
• A town with a future and low unemployment
• An enclave of poets
• Recreation and entertainment in Mikołów
• And finally, a curiosity about Mikołów…

Mikołów is a small, atmospheric town with medieval roots. It received its town charter in 1547. Today it has slightly over 40 thousand inhabitants. It is a small, close-knit and exceptionally active community. Historically the town lies in Upper Silesia, but it is completely unlike the stereotypical image of Silesian towns. Instead of lunar landscapes created by mining, here we have meadows, forests and gardens, which are the town's showpiece. Because of the huge area taken up by green spaces, the town is called the green lungs of Silesia. It is a garden town. Anyone who has ever visited the Silesian Botanical Garden, located on the border of Bujaków and Mokre, can confirm this without hesitation. It is one of the most picturesque places on the map of Mikołów. It is also the largest garden of its kind in Poland.

Idyllic? A green oasis with low flat prices

Mikołów has earned a reputation as a relatively quiet town. It is often chosen as a place to live by mobile Millennials (the generation of people born in the 80s and 90s of the 20th century), who work for large corporations with headquarters in Katowice. Yet day to day they dream of escaping the big-city jungle. Thanks to the internet they are citizens of the "global village", but they value relaxation in the lap of nature. And green Mikołów gives them moments of respite.

The town lies right next to the Panewniki forests, Ruda Śląska and Tychy, and we can reach the centre of Katowice in just 23 minutes via the DK 81 national road. Thanks to good transport links, many people decide to buy a flat here, choosing peace and convenience over the crowded centre of the conurbation. And what if we do not have wheels of our own? If we do not drive, we can use public transport. Bus routes serve all the surrounding towns. A proper transport interchange will also be built soon. The railway can be an alternative, because Mikołów lies on the route linking Katowice with Rybnik, served by modern trains.

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Another incentive to settle here is the price of flats on the primary market, which ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 thousand PLN per square metre. Compared with prices in other popular locations, flats in Mikołów are an attractive bargain that draws new residents. In Katowice or Tychy a home costs about 6 thousand PLN per square metre, which is a considerable difference for a future buyer's wallet. Another undoubted advantage is that the town is well kept, and its captivating old town can rival many European cities.

A town with a future and low unemployment

The unemployment rate in Mikołów County (data for January 2019) is at a record low of only 3.3 per cent. Meanwhile, in the Silesian Voivodeship unemployment stands at 4.5 per cent, and nationwide it is as high as 6.1 per cent.

READ ALSO – IS IT WORTH BUYING A FLAT IN MIKOŁÓW?

In a word, it is a town with a future, and its development is also shaped by the residents themselves, among other things through participation in the Civic Budget. This year the projects being carried out include a brine graduation tower, a gym with a relaxation zone on Konopnickiej Street, and the construction of many playgrounds – including in Borowa Wieś and Śmiłowice.

An enclave of poets

Mikołów is also on the trail of Polish poets. Rafał Wojaczek, a writer counted among the "accursed poets", came from here. His flat is located near the Market Square, on Jana Pawła II Street. In 1997 it was converted into the seat of the Mikołów Institute, which is engaged in publishing.

Recreation and entertainment in Mikołów

The border of Mikołów runs right next to the Aquadrom water park in Ruda Śląska, which is particularly popular with residents of Borowa Wieś. However, the town also has its own swimming complex – Aqua Plant – with two pools, a jacuzzi and two saunas. Lovers of hiking will certainly be pleased that several tourist trails run through the town. The most interesting of them is the 1060 km "Wooden Architecture Trail", which includes as many as 93 sites. Taking this route, we will visit the historic church of St Nicholas from 1640 in Borowa Wieś and the church of Sts Peter and Paul in Paniowy. It is worth setting out on a walk along the blue "Trail of the Defenders of the Polish Border", leading among other places through Śmiłowice, Paniowy and Bujaków, or along the green "GOP Edge Trail". One of its attractions is a viewpoint on Gronie hill in Mikołów, from which, in good weather, you can see the Silesian Beskids. The last one worth mentioning is the "Trail of the Heroes of the Parachute Tower", leading through all the major points of the defence of Katowice in 1939.

And finally, a curiosity about Mikołów…

The town is home to the "Barbara" Experimental Mine, the only one in Poland, which has an underground testing ground! What experiments are carried out there? Is it a state secret? No! The facility, operating as part of the Central Mining Institute, deals with safety and with combating gas and dust hazards. Equipment is also tested there before being approved for use in mines.

Mikołów is an interesting place to live. In recent years many people have decided to move to this town. If you are interested in property in Mikołów, be sure to contact the REMAX Gold office, which will present the most interesting listings.