Zabrze - PKS - Buses and Buses - Transportation - Attractions and Sightseeing.

Zabrze is a mining city in the Silesian province located between Gliwice and Bytom on the Klodnica and Bytomka rivers. Its population is over 156,000.

The first mention of today's Zabrze neighborhoods dates back to the 13th century - the oldest district in the city is Biskupice. Initially farming was done there, later it was mainly hops and flax. After the industrial revolution of the 19th century, heavy industry came to the fore in Zabrze - thanks to the region's tycoon, Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck, coal mines and a steel mill were established.

Zabrze - must-see attractions

It seems that Zabrze is boring, gray and there is nothing in it. As a city, it may not be very glamorous, but it offers the kind of attractions that you can hardly find in other parts of the country. Nowadays, when mining in Silesia has been heavily restructured, many post-mining buildings are gaining a new face, being at the same time a reminder of the industrial history of the area. This is also the case in Zabrze.

Guido Mine

This former hard coal mine is one of the five Stars of Technology of the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Province. Visiting it you can get a closer look at the hard work miners face on a daily basis. One goes underground in a so-called "shola", which is an elevator similar to those used today in active mines.

Visitors have the opportunity to tour the facility on different levels along tourist routes totaling almost 5 kilometers. Among other things, you can enter the concert hall located 320 meters underground, or take a ride on an electric overhead train - the only mining train of its kind open to tourists. At Guido Mine you can also visit the lowest pub in Europe.

Królowa Luiza Adit

This above-ground and underground complex consists primarily of the former Królowa Luiza Mine and the Main Key Hereditary Adit, whose task was to drain this first state-owned mine in Upper Silesia, established in the late 18th century. Underground, visitors can see what mining looked like in the 1970s, learn about mining traditions, legends and the technology used to extract coal. One of the biggest attractions is a ride on the Karlik type mining railroad and the Underground Water Route, where at first a section of the pits is passed on foot, later 1100 meters of the route is passed already on boats.

In the above-ground part there is an open-air exhibition Park 12C, where issues related to the techniques used in the mines, the earth's elements or the energy circulating in nature are shown in an attractive way. A separate part of the Park is the ByteGruba, which is a toy mine accessible to the youngest visitors, as well as a barbecue area where one can have a snack and relax after an intensive tour. Right next door you will find the Military Technology Park with tracked vehicles, armored personnel carriers, rocket launchers or T-34 and T-72 tanks.

Maciej Shaft

This shaft is a complex of beautifully revitalized buildings of the former Concordia Mine plant from the early 20th century. It, too, is located on the Route of Monuments of Technology. Various events and concerts are organized in the Shaft, a restaurant and bistro are located in the former shaft building, and one of the most interesting attractions is the opportunity to descend to the shaft's drinking water intake combined with tasting. In addition, the highest point of the building offers a panoramic view of the Zabrze and Gliwice neighborhoods.

Steel House

This is one of the more unusual places on a national scale. The building was built in 1927 and remains inhabited to this day. It was erected in less than a month by joining together walls cast from steel at Zabrze's Donnersmarck Ironworks.

Municipal Botanical Garden

The garden was established in 1938. It has the most species-diverse collection of plants in Upper Silesia, including many species of roses, as well as plants rarely found in the wild, such as common periwinkle and fragrant hugel.