Discover Wałbrzych

• The Palm House is a glass-and-metal building constructed in the early 20th century.
• The visitor route at Stara Kopalnia passes through the engine house of the “Julia” shaft.
• It houses two historic electric hoisting machines and rotary converters, which were in operation from 1911 until the mine closed.
• The permanent exhibition at Stara Kopalnia includes historic maps, mining equipment and a mine control room, among other things.
• SOWA is a small science, experience and workshop centre with nearly 30 interactive stations across more than 500 m².

The places mentioned appeal to different interests. The Palm House stands out for its architecture and the distinctive lining of its interiors. Those interested in industrial history will find tangible examples of technology and an exhibition on mining work and traditions at Stara Kopalnia. SOWA, in turn, focuses on independent exploration, logical thinking and solving puzzles. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between architecture and materials, mining history and interactive experiences, rather than treating the attractions as a single programme.

A highlight of the visitor route is the engine house of the “Julia” shaft. It contains two historic electric hoisting machines and rotary converters. They were in operation from 1911 until the mine closed.

The permanent exhibition complements this technical insight with several themes. Historic maps and memorabilia cover surveying and lighting. There are also objects related to mine rescue and miners’ traditions, miners’ work equipment, and a mine control room. Alongside the machinery, the exhibition focuses on tools, rescue and navigation in mining. If you are primarily interested in seeing individual pieces of equipment, you can distinguish the visitor route from the broader themes of the permanent exhibition.

As a building, the Palm House is defined by its glass-and-metal construction and its lining of solidified lava from Mount Etna. It was built in the early 20th century. These architectural and material details make it a different kind of attraction from Stara Kopalnia.

At SOWA, by contrast, the focus is on activities at interactive exhibition stations. The small science, experience and workshop centre offers nearly 30 such stations across more than 500 m². Visitors can explore independently, think logically and solve puzzles. If you are looking for an attraction that involves hands-on exploration, these features distinguish SOWA from the Palm House and the mining-history exhibits.

To compare other destination pages, you can also visit Mieroszów, Głuszyca, Unisław Śląski, Szczawno-Zdrój, Głuszyca Górna, Jugowice, Boguszów-Gorce and Sokołowsko.

What is the Palm House in Wałbrzych made of?

Built in the early 20th century, the building is made of glass and metal. Its interiors are lined with solidified lava from Mount Etna.

Which technical installations are included in the visitor route at Stara Kopalnia?

The route passes through the engine house of the “Julia” shaft. It contains two historic electric hoisting machines and rotary converters, which were in operation from 1911 until the mine closed.

What topics does the permanent exhibition at Stara Kopalnia cover?

It features historic maps and memorabilia related to surveying and lighting, objects related to mine rescue and miners’ traditions, miners’ work equipment, and a mine control room.

What can visitors do at SOWA?

At nearly 30 interactive exhibition stations across more than 500 m², visitors can explore independently, think logically and solve puzzles.

For the broader travel overview: Wałbrzych County.