City

Things to do in Zabrze

Zabrze lies in the western part of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, on the Kłodnica and Bytomka rivers, and is one of the best places in Poland to explore mining heritage. From 1915 to 1945 the town was called Hindenburg, and from the late 18th century its growth was driven by coal mines. At the Guido Mine you ride a cage hundreds of metres underground and see how miners once worked. At the Queen Louise Adit you can take a boat along part of the Main Key Hereditary Adit, and at the Maciej Shaft you will see a historic engine house. The Zandka workers' estate is a good example of the town's historic housing. All these sites belong to the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian region. Plan one to two days. Come by train from Katowice or Gliwice, or by car via the A1 and A4 motorways and the Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa. The underground routes are open all year, and booking ahead is advisable.