Jubilee Mural in Tarnowskie Góry

Step off the train in Tarnowskie Góry and you walk straight into five hundred years of the town's history, painted on a single wall. The Jubilee Mural at the transport interchange next to the station is around 120 metres long and, according to the town hall, is the largest mural in Upper Silesia. It was created for the 500th anniversary of the town, celebrated in 2026, and reads like a comic strip – from legend to the UNESCO list.

The wall, the competition and the artist

Rebuilding the station area and demolishing several buildings exposed a wall 119 metres long and up to 10 metres high. It used to bear a faded slogan from decades ago: "Our goal: the strength of Poland and the prosperity of its citizens". In February 2024 the town launched a nationwide competition for a design covering 784 m². The three best entries chosen by a panel went to an online public vote, and the result was the sum of points from residents and the jury. The winner was Karolina Fabia. The mural was unveiled on 9 April 2025, when the scaffolding came down; it cost PLN 89,000 to paint.

What the mural shows

The story runs along the wall in chronological order:

• the peasant Rybka, who according to legend struck a lump of ore while ploughing, drawing prospectors for lead, silver and zinc to the area,
• the granting of the mining privilege and town rights,
• the growth of metallurgy and the start-up of a steam engine,
• the town's changing urban landscape,
• the Miners' Gate and the Miners' Bell Tower, symbols of Tarnowskie Góry,
• a reference to the inclusion of the town's underground workings on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Did you know?

The town's official birth date is 1526, when it was granted the privilege of mining freedom, which encouraged miners to settle and work here. Tarnowskie Góry received its own coat of arms in 1562. In the late 18th century the Royal Friedrich Mine put into operation the first steam engine in Upper Silesia, giving a boost to the region's industrial revolution – and this is the engine you see on the mural. Since 2017 the lead-silver-zinc mines together with their underground water management system have been on the UNESCO list. Jury member Witold Zaręba praised the winning design for its optimistic colours and for letting people rediscover the town.

Tripto tips

You view the mural from the pavement at the transport interchange, free of charge and at any time. A leisurely walk along the whole wall takes 15–20 minutes. The wall is long and hard to fit into one frame from close up – step back as far as you can for the full view and photograph the details section by section. Combine your visit with the Historic Silver Mine, the Black Trout Adit or a stroll around the market square: you will see the Miners' Bell Tower first on the mural and then for real.