Kobior

Kobior is the only place in Poland that carries such a name. Linguists were wondering about its etymology and came to the conclusion that its name may come from kobior , i.e. the slang for butterbur or kowior, i.e. the slang for the plant-covered water (“w” was replaced by “b”). An unquestionable advantage of this region is its location among forests, which is perfect for hiking and cycling enthusiasts. The greatest attractions of Kobior Commune is undoubtedly the Shooting Lodge in Promnice and the Assumption of Mary Church, where we can find a replica of the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Kobior TOURISM

Kobior is an interesting place, both historically and culturally. The commune may boast of many monuments. Worthy of visit are: the Shooting Lodge in Promnice from 1868, i.e. the present Noma Residence hotel, Smolarnia regional museum with a lot of valuable exhibits, the Assumption of Mary Church from the early 20th century and the cross at Rodzinna 97 Street from 1890.

An unquestionable advantage of the commune is its location among woods; therefore, hiking and cycling enthusiasts will not be disappointed. There are a few bike trails in Kobior. They are of different length and difficulty. The first one, called The Princely (Polish: Książęca) connects Katowice, Tychy, Kobior, Pszczyna, Goczalkowice and Bielsko. It begins in Promnice and is about 16 km long. The second, called Plessowka is approximately 45 km long and goes from the square in Pawlowice through Suszec, Kobior and ends in Pszczyna (near the town castle). The third bike trail, known as Niedzwiedziowka, is about 9 km long and runs from Kobior Zorek through Zgon, Kobior Forest, Miregowka and finishes in Kobior. The last one, the so called Smolarnia (Kobior Forestry Management – Smolarnia – Church – the Princely Route – the Centre of Kobior) is 8,6 km long and is a theme route. Here you have a chance to admire the most important monuments of the commune.

GEOGRAPHY

Kobior is a sizable village in the Silesian Voivodeship, in Kobior Commune. It is located in the eastern part of Raciborz-Oswiecim Basin, at the altitude of 250 meters above the sea level. Kobior Commune is rather big with the area of 49,49 km2 and population of 4.600. The village is well-located as it is easy to get to many Silesian towns and cities from there.

HISTORY

First records about Kobior come from 1467. In the 18th century there was a stud farm with 200 horses in the village. In 1840s the folwark was liquidated and its building was taken over by the forest service. An intense development of the village was in between 1862 and 1863, i.e. when a road connecting Kobior with Tychy and Murcki was built and when the Szopienice-Dziedzice railway connection was established. The founding of the railway ended up the era of delivering mails by horses and gave Kobior its own post office.

In 1914 the First World War began. It was hard times for Kobior inhabitants. They had to give their crops to the governors and were taken horses away. Men were forced to join the army so children, old men and women had to do all the farm work.

The electrification of Kobior started in the interwar period. In 1935 a commune house was erected and from then on it has been the inhabitants’ favourite place for meetings.

In 1939 Kobior was invaded by Germans. They murdered men, burnt houses and took hostages. Three years later, in the present Lesnikow street, three barracks were built . They turned out to be the KL Auschwitz – Birkenau sub-camp, which could hold more than 200 prisoners. This camp was liquidated in 1943 and in January 1945 the Red Army came to Kobior forcing German troops to withdraw.