When I visited my parents at the beginning of April, the weather was absolutely gorgeous – the kind that practically begs you to go out and explore. So, I decided it was the perfect time to check out the newest attraction scattered across my hometown, Katowice – the Beboki.
Now, you might be wondering — what on Earth is a Bebok?
Well, a Bebok is a creature straight out of Upper Silesian folklore—a spooky, shadowy figure parents used to scare their kids into behaving. Think of it as the Upper Silesian version of the boogeyman, lurking in dark corners and basements, always on the lookout for naughty little ones.
The very first outdoor Bebok sculptures popped up in Katowice as part of the Ślonski Godki Trail (the Silesian Language Trail). These little figures, inspired by the Wrocław dwarves idea, were meant to symbolize words or characters from Upper Silesian tradition and encourage people to discover the rich local culture. Sadly, the first batch met a grim fate – many were vandalized or stolen.
Luckily, the idea got a second life a few years later!
In 2021, the Beboki made a return, brought to life by the Katowice artist Grzegorz Chudy. The first new Bebok was set up in the historic district of Nikiszowiec, and since then, more and more have been appearing across the city.
Each Bebok now has a name rooted in the Silesian language or inspired by local characters – like Heksa (witch), Sztrōmek (derived from “electricity”), or Taryfiorz (taxi driver).
Hunting for Beboks turned out to be such a fun way to explore the area. Even though I lived in Katowice for 22 years (and visit often!), and my mom has lived there her whole life, we still ended up discovering places we’d never been before. One day we rented scooters and zoomed around town; another day we grabbed bikes and turned it into a full-blown biking adventure. Highly recommend giving it a try — it’s seriously a blast!
Some of the Beboks I found 🙂
My Little Story With the Silesian Language
Personally, it makes me super happy to see the Silesian language getting more love these days.
When I was a kid, there was a big push to speak “proper” Polish. Kids who spoke Silesian were corrected, and my parents’ generation even got punished in school for using it. So while I grew up hearing bits and pieces (especially from my grandparents), I wasn’t fully immersed like some of my friends who came from more traditional areas of Upper Silesia.
Funny thing is, I didn’t even realize my Polish was a little… different until I moved abroad and met people from other regions. Sometimes they had no idea what I was saying! 😂 I truly thought I was speaking perfect Polish.
I understand most of Silesian, but switching consciously between Polish and Silesian? Nope. It’s all blended into one language in my head — which honestly feels like a bit of a loss.
That’s why I’m thrilled that more books are being translated into Silesian, and projects like the Beboki are keeping the language and culture alive.
Where to find the Beboki
The Bebok family keeps growing! Businesses, schools, and institutions can sponsor their own Beboks, so more and more keep appearing around Katowice.
You can check the full list on Wikipedia or download the app Śląskie Beboki from the Google Play Store.
The app is super helpful – it gives you a map and makes finding Beboks really easy!
Bebok Hunter Badge
Want to make it official?
Grab a special stamp booklet – you can pick one up at the Tourist Information Point on Katowice’s Market Square or at places where Beboks live. Every time you find a Bebok, collect a stamp (most stamps are inside the businesses related to the Bebok).
Once you collect at least half of the available stamps, you can claim your Bebok Hunter Badge!
The badge can only be picked up at “Atelier z akwarelami” (Nikiszowiec, ul. Czechowa 10/9), and you’ll even get your name written down in the legendary “Book of Bebok Hunters.”
Small Catch:
The stamps are usually inside shops or offices, meaning you can only collect them during opening hours — and a lot of places are closed on weekends (the prime time for Bebok hunting!).
During my visit, despite seeing tons of Beboki, I only managed to snag a couple of stamps. 😭 Good thing my mom plans to go on a school trip with her students soon — she’s promised to hunt down the missing stamps for me! In the meantime, at least I’ve got plenty of photos to remember the adventure.
