Originally opened with much propagandist fanfare as a symbol of Poland's post-war 'rebirth' in 1956, this Social Realist behemoth was the region's premiere sports arena for decades. Famously described by visiting journalists as the 'Witches Cauldron,' Silesian Stadium held over 100,000 people before proper safety standards came into place, and was the largest venue in the country. Such memorable footballing nights as when Poland beat the USSR here in 1957, an impressive run for Górnik Zabrze in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1969/70 season, and most memorably, when Poland beat England here in 1973 as part of World Cup Qualifying. Not only was the stadium used for football but Speedway too, and it was here in 1973 (a good year for the stadium!) that the Individual Speedway World Championship final was won by Pole Jerzy Szczakiel (the first Pole to win, and to date, one of only two!). From 1993 until only recently it was the official home of the Polish national team, while also hosting concerts by über-groups like U2 and the Rolling Stones. With the spate of new stadiums built across PL for the Euro 2012 football championships, Silesian Stadium's status diminished for a time until October 2017 when it was officially reopened following extensive modernisation. It now has a 54,378-fan capacity (85,000 for concerts!) which features a new roof and athletic track. There are also 25 VIP boxes, 1777 business class spaces and 106 disabled seating spaces. You can read more about it here. Guided tours take place every 2 hours (lasting 2 hours), Mon-Fri at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00. At the weekends, tour are at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 on Sat & Sun. It's best to call in advance if you wish to book an English speaking tour.