Slaskie (Silesian)

The outlines of foundries on the horizon. Factories and mining towers dominate the landscape of Silesia, one of the smallest Voivodships in Poland. There are not many rural landscapes here, but plenty of urban ones: 71, one next to the other, dense, as in any industrial anthill. Run away? Why, no! Stay – as long as possible.Ironically, the biggest industrial area in Poland is also one of the most interesting ones – from a visitor’s point of view. Located in the south of our country, the upper part of historical Silesia is as a treasure house full of riches industrial and natural.

The old, usually 19th century mines in Zabrze, Rybnik and Tarnowskie Gory have been turned into interesting underground trails, and the mine shafts into art galleries. In the Tarnowskie Gory you can boat along flooded tunnels and take the World’s oldest, still in use, narrow gauge train!

The vast fortunes made in the 19th century in coal and ore have produced a diversity of marvelous residencies across the landscape. Today some of them have been turned into luxurious hotels. The palace in Pszczyna and the hunting lodge in Promnice, once belonging to the Hochberg family are the most magnificent and best kept historical sites in this part of Europe.