Beboki Figurines

The Beboki are small bronze figurines of Silesian folk goblins placed around Katowice as a free public-art trail, and people visit to hunt them out one by one while wandering the city. There are more than 40 of them, and the collection keeps growing, so no two walks turn up quite the same set. It is a playful, low-key way to see Katowice on foot rather than a single fixed monument.

Each bebok is a compact bronze sculpture of a goblin-like creature, tucked onto pavements, ledges and corners across the city centre. The figures are small, so they reward looking down and around rather than up at facades. Because they are spread across many streets, the appeal is in the search itself: spotting one, then setting off to find the next. The count sits above 40 and continues to rise as new figurines are added.

A bebok is a creature from Silesian folklore, traditionally invoked to frighten children into behaving. The figurines turn that piece of regional storytelling into something visible and friendly on the street, giving an old local character a modern, physical form. Over time the trail has become a distinctly Katowice symbol, tying the city's public art to its own heritage rather than a generic theme. It is a small idea that says a lot about local identity.

The Beboki work well for families with children, anyone travelling on a budget, and visitors who prefer exploring at their own pace over ticketed sights. There is nothing to book and no fixed route, so you can dip in for twenty minutes or make a longer afternoon of it. Comfortable shoes help, since finding several figurines means covering ground across the city centre. For current locations and maps, check official Katowice tourism channels, as the list changes when new figures appear.

Because the figurines sit along everyday streets, the hunt naturally threads past cafes, squares and other sights, making it an easy layer to add to a day out rather than a separate trip. It pairs well with a general walk through the centre and gives structure to aimless wandering. For ideas on what else to combine it with, see our Katowice guide. Treat it as the connective tissue of a day in the city.