Mikołów is a city with a population of approximately 40 thousand people and area of 70 square kilometres. It is located near Katowice, Tychy and Ruda Śląska.

Mikołów has a historic Old Town with a fountain and a city hall, but the city’s true showpiece is the Silesian Botanical Garden, which protects biodiversity and conducts a wide range of educational activities. It is home for more than 250 species of rare plants and animals.

In the city there is an underground research training site of the experimental mine “Barbara”. It is the only research and development facility of this type in Poland and Europe. Controlled coal dust and methane explosions are carried out there, whose aim is to test the performance of mining equipment, machinery and materials and safety procedures in mines under extremely difficult conditions. These tests are carried out in the real-life conditions found down the mine.

It was in Mikołów where, in 1845, Tomasz Nowacki founded the first Polish printing house in Silesia. It was used for printing calendars, songbooks, religious magazines and educational and entertainment journals.

Thirty years later Karol Miarka started his publishing activity here. Rafał Wojaczek, Polish poet counted among the so-called poètes maudit (cursed poets), was born here. Lech Majewski directed a feature film titled “Wojaczek”, presenting the poet’s life. Dagmara Drzazga made her documentary titled “Martwy sezon” (Dead Season).

One of the most characteristic landmarks in Mikołów is the City Hall.