A long time ago, when there wasn’t a parish church yet,

the settlers, who had settled down on the lands of the

later Tychy town, had to go to a temple in Mikołów

village a mile away. The route winded through forests

spread between Mikołów and Tychy full of predatory

wolves. The pious pilgrims could frequently hear a

horrible howling of the packs and hence the later

settlement „Wilkowyje” took its name from it. Number of

times they were also forced to run away from those

creatures and therefore, they reached their places

gasping for air. And that is what the name of the

settlement came from. First, it was called „Dychy”

(Polish „dyszeć” – „to gasp”), and later it evolved into

„Tychy” the name as it is now.

In Tychy coat of arms thereis a hunting horn since thetown, surrounded by thickforests for quite a long time,was a favourite place tohunt in by the princes ofPszczyna. The first imprintof the Tychy seal dates backto the 18th century andconstitutes the beginning ofthe history of our town’scoat of arms. The actualcoat of arms came intobeing no later than in 1951and you can see it now inthe blue background.

The municipal theatre, situated in 1 Hlonda street, does not have its

own staff but functions as an managing theatre. In the same building there is also „Obok” art gallery (1st storey). The edifice

has all facilities for disabled people. The theatre was first open

in 1965 as a company culture house of KWK Ziemowit mine, and later – of FSM Automotive Company. In 1991, the building

was taken over by The Town Council and after being renovated

in 1994 it became the headquarters of Municipal Culture

Institution. Since 1st January 2000 it has been an institution

financed by the Tychy Municipal Council.

From May to Septemberevery Sunday culturalevents take place in thesquare and in December amagical Christmas Fair isheld there as well. On aregular basis it is a place forstrolling and meeting ofinhabitants and residentsdoing their errands orgetting relaxed after work.In the centre of the squarethere is an imposing andunique beautifully lit upfountain in a shape ofdandelion.

Before II War World the OldTown was the centre of thewhole town. Down the OldTown there is the oldest StMary Madeleine's Churchand Mały Theatrementioned above. When itcomes to architecture theOld Town consists of two-storey blocks of flatserected in 60’s. They allhave little shops on theground floors. In the centralpart of the Old Town there isa brand new fountain withthe sculptures of otters.

It was erected about 1480 inso called „Początkowizna”that is in the place whereStarokościelna Street joinsBielska Alley. At the templethere could have been agraveyard called„Kościelisko”. It is the oldestchurch in Tychy and issituated in the Old Town. A lotof parishers go to the churchespecially on Sundays andreligious celebrations to feelthe spirit of antiquity andenjoy the services deliveredwith piety and sense ofbelonging.

One of the most modern

blocks of flats in Tychy.

There is also a municipal

library.

The historic Hunting Castle in Promnice was designed by Olivier Pavelt in the English neogothic style for the prince Jan Henryk XI Hochberg and built in 1861. It has been standing there in an unchanged form harmoniously integrated into the forest landscape since its beginning. It is open for visitors all year round and it’s been adapted as a place for wedding ceremonies and other festive celebrationsnow.