Discover Zawiercie

Zawiercie County lies in southern Poland, in the northeastern part of the Silesian Voivodeship and in the heart of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, also known as the Wyżyna Krakowsko-Częstochowska. Historical attractions include the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze, a 14th-century fortress on the Trail of the Eagles' Nests (Szlak Orlich Gniazd). In Zawiercie itself, the TAZ workers' settlement is a distinctive part of the historical heritage: built between 1880 and 1910, it is listed as a unique monument with the Silesian Voivodeship Monuments Conservator in Katowice under number 1428/91.

The TAZ settlement offers a tangible place to explore the history of workers' settlements. The Municipal Museum Room provides another way to learn about regional history. It has been part of the Municipal and County Library since April 30, 1997, collecting, preserving and displaying memorabilia from the Zawiercie region. It is located in the attic of Pałacyk Szymańskiego, which also houses a branch of the Social Music Centers. The city library is on the ground floor, and a private restaurant is in the basement.

Smoleń Castle also brings history together with a protected landscape: the Smoleń Nature Reserve encompasses the ruins of a 14th-century castle, where a Gothic entrance gate has been preserved. Visitors can access a walking trail and parts of the castle, including the eastern and western outer wards, the upper castle and the castle tower. If you are interested in castle ruins, you can consider different fortifications and their surviving sections as part of your trip.

For an independent, interactive experience, visit SOWA, a small science center in the railway station building at 4 3 Maja Street in Zawiercie. Visitors can explore phenomena at research stations, change parameters, make observations and experiment. This makes the visit different from the historical attractions: here, hands-on exploration takes center stage.

Marked hiking trails are also part of what the county has to offer. The red-marked Trail of the Eagles' Nests and the blue-marked Jura Castles Trail (Szlak Warowni Jurajskich) run alongside the ruins of Bąkowiec Castle in Skarżyce. One variant of the Three Rivers Trail (Szlak 3 Rzek) starts at Zawiercie railway station and passes through Blanowice, Kromołów and Bzów. This information can help you consider these trails without assuming a particular distance or walking time.

In the county, climbing is popular seasonally from spring to autumn, particularly in Podlesice, Rzędkowice, Podzamcze and Ryczów. Cross-country skiing is also possible in the area around Podlesice. In Morsko, in the municipality of Zawiercie, there are ski slopes that can be used in winter.

For summer swimming, open bathing areas are available in Siamoszyce, Dzibice, Kostkowice and Przyłubsko in the municipality of Kroczyce. A source of the Czarna Przemsza is located in Bzów, behind the cultural center. In Zawiercie, the salt cave, also known as the salt mist tower, is on the grounds of the Sports and Recreation Center on Moniuszki Street. These places add more trip-planning options alongside the castles, trails and cultural attractions.

One distinctive culinary experience is the two- to three-hour class at the “Pod Berkową Górą” educational farm in Podlesice. Participants learn how to make the traditional potato dish “kluchy połom bite.” If you want not only to taste regional cuisine but also to learn how it is prepared, the class offers a hands-on introduction. When choosing accommodation, you can consider whether you want to focus mainly on Zawiercie's cultural attractions, trails and castle ruins, or on seasonal experiences in different parts of the county.

For orientation, see more town pages for Kroczyce, Morsko, Irządze, Podzamcze, Zdów, Podleśna, Gulzów and Ciągowice, as well as Goleniowy, Zawada Pilicka, Piaseczno, Pilica, Ogrodzieniec, Witów, Szczekociny, Łazy and Zawiercie.

Where is Zawiercie County?

It lies in southern Poland, in the northeastern part of the Silesian Voivodeship and in the heart of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland.

What historical attractions are there?

They include the castle ruins of Ogrodzieniec in Podzamcze and Smoleń, as well as the TAZ workers' settlement in Zawiercie.

Which activities are seasonal?

Climbing is popular from spring to autumn. The bathing areas in the municipality of Kroczyce are open in summer; the ski slopes in Morsko can be used in winter.

What does SOWA in Zawiercie offer?

The small science center has research stations where visitors can explore phenomena, change parameters, observe and experiment.

For the broader travel overview: Silesia.