Tarnowitz: Mining History, Culture and Trails
Accommodation in Tarnowitz
Tarnowitz combines underground mining routes with museums, historic buildings, and opportunities for cycling and hiking. Which of these aspects interests you most can help you decide whether Tarnowitz is the right destination and place to stay.
Tarnowitz at a glance
- The Sztolnia Czarnego Pstrąga offers a 600-metre underground boat ride and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Zabytkowa Kopalnia Srebra also has an underground visitor route with a boat ride and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The cycling network includes more than 30 km of cycle paths, shared pedestrian and cycle paths, and on-road cycle lanes.
- Park Miejski was created on former mining land and is the best-preserved, largest and most diverse of the parks established on such land.
Which mining experiences define Tarnowitz?
The underground boat ride in the Sztolnia Czarnego Pstrąga covers 600 metres. The site is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Shaft No. 13, also known as Ewa, is the entrance to this visitor route. Both the underground route and its entrance are therefore among the destination’s distinctive mining attractions.
Another way to discover the mining history is the underground visitor route at the Zabytkowa Kopalnia Srebra, which also includes a boat ride. The Kopalnia Zabytkowa Rud Srebronośnych is described as a 1,700-metre underground visitor route, with a 270-metre section travelled by boat. These specific distances help distinguish between the different descriptions of the mining routes. Both sites mentioned are associated with UNESCO World Heritage.
What cultural attractions can you discover in the city?
The Sedlaczek Inn building is considered the best-preserved example of the city’s historic secular architecture. Its Renaissance features include ceilings, portals and vaults. At the Muzeum w Tarnowskich Górach, you can find memorabilia relating to the city’s history as well as a collection of early modern Western European paintings.
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is also distinguished by its architectural and artistic features: its 16th-century tower is almost 60 metres tall. Inside, tombstones, a stained-glass group and several high-quality paintings have been preserved. The Dzwonnica Gwarków was moved to Plac Gwarków in 1955. Those interested in technology can visit the Skansen Maszyn Parowych, a site of about one hectare featuring an industrial landscape and technical inventions. The Gwarki-Pochód is included in Poland’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Which routes are suitable for active exploration?
There are several named options for exploring on foot or by bicycle. An official railway and cycling route runs by bicycle or on foot through Tarnowitz and Park Repecki, then follows the Drama towards Zbrosławice. The cycling network in Tarnowskie Góry covers more than 30 km and includes cycle paths, shared pedestrian and cycle paths, and on-road cycle lanes. It is complemented by the Szlak Donnesmarcków, the Szlak Gwarków and the Szlak UNESCO.
A narrow-gauge railway runs through Tarnowskie Góry. In Radzionków, the Droga Św. Jakuba “Via Regia” passes through. This pilgrimage route is intended for individual pilgrims and small groups, regardless of denomination or nationality, and leads to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Which other places and themes can you include?
The Muzeum Chleba, Szkoły i Ciekawostek in Radzionków has several thousand exhibits on baking, the history of bread and production technology. A culinary highlight is the XVIII. Festiwal Śląskie Smaki, held on 2 June 2024 in the market square of Tarnowskie Góry. Organised since 2006, the festival features regional dishes and culinary demonstrations. The Zabytkowa Stacja Wodociągowa Zawada is located in Karchowice on the grounds of a waterworks complex.
More local pages to help you plan: Pyrzowice, Miasteczko Śląskie, Nowe Chechło, Ziętek, Boniowice, Świerklaniec, Nowa Wieś Tworoska, Tąpkowice, Krupski Młyn, Księży Las, Szałsza, Kalety, Wieszowa, Tarnowskie Góry and Radzionków.
FAQ
How long is the boat ride in the Sztolnia Czarnego Pstrąga?
The underground boat ride is 600 metres long.
What cycle routes are there in Tarnowitz?
The cycling network includes more than 30 km of cycle paths, shared pedestrian and cycle paths, and on-road cycle lanes. It is also complemented by the Szlak Donnesmarcków, the Szlak Gwarków and the Szlak UNESCO.
When was the Festiwal Śląskie Smaki held in Tarnowitz?
The XVIII. Festiwal Śląskie Smaki was held on 2 June 2024 in the market square of Tarnowskie Góry.
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