Zabrze in the heart of Silesia is not really on the radar of many foreign tourists when it comes to the most beautiful destinations in Poland. Yet the city has a lot to offer and Zabrze has shed its gray veil in recent years to become a lively city. There is a lot to see and the city administration is doing a lot to preserve the historical heritage of the region and to break new ground in terms of tourism. Reason enough for me to pay Zabrze a visit and show you the most beautiful Zabrze sights!
The history of Zabrze
It’s hard to believe, but Zabrze will only be 100 years old in 2022! But how did this happen? The town is actually much older and, with a population of 150,000, was actually the largest village in Europe at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The citizens of Zabrze themselves were responsible for this curiosity, who resisted being recognized as a town for a long time for tax reasons.
The rise of Zabrze as an important mining location is closely linked to industrialization and from the 19th century onwards, numerous shafts were built here to extract coal. This was initially used as heating fuel, but with the invention of steel, the production of which required vast quantities of coal, mining intensified once again.
In 1915, the rural community was renamed “Hindenburg O.S.” (Upper Silesia) in honor of the then Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. (Upper Silesia) in honor of the then General Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. After the First World War, following three uprisings and a referendum and a plebiscite, Upper Silesia was divided between Poland and the German Reich, with Hindenburg remaining in the Reich and receiving city rights in 1922.
After the Second World War, the town became Polish and was given the name Zabrze again. With the fall of communism and the general coal crisis came the decline of the town, from which it did not recover for a long time. In recent years, however, a new spirit has taken hold in the city. The town is proud of its historical heritage, takes care of architectural traces of the past and has set up numerous exhibitions and experience worlds that revolve around its heritage as a mining town.
These are the most beautiful sights in Zabrze
Today, Zabrze is sometimes modern, sometimes just as it was 100 years ago and that is exactly what makes this place so special and why I would like to introduce you to the city in more detail here. But enough preamble, let’s get started with the most beautiful sights in Zabrze!
Guido Mining Museum
If you want to learn about the rich history of coal mining in Upper Silesia, there is no better place than the Kopalnia Guido show mine. In 1855, Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck founded a coal mine here, which ceased production after the Second World War and was later used as an experimental mine and museum. Today, an original elevator takes you down the “Kolejowy” shaft at a breathtaking speed of 4 m/second. You should hold on tight, because everything here is just as it was a few decades ago.
The vehicle plunges 320 meters into the dark, then the actual guided tour of the mine begins (also available in German and English). Along the way, you will learn all about the history of mining in the region and get a very clear explanation of how the mining of “black gold” has changed over the course of time. Incidentally, you can’t do the tour on your own – and that’s a good thing, because otherwise you’d be hopelessly lost in the intricate complex. In addition to lots of historical information and some stooping walks, a special surprise awaits you down below: the deepest pub in the world, according to its own statement, which even serves a beer brewed especially for the mine!
Arena Zabrze (Ernst Pohl Stadium)
The soccer club Górnik Zabrze is a cult club in Poland and is still the record champion today. In terms of fan base (and because of the miners’ history), it is perhaps best compared to Schalke or Dortmund. We will soon be publishing a separate article on the exciting past of the club where Lukas Podolski (“Poldi”) now plays. The stadium, named after the Silesian footballer Ernst (Polish: Ernest) Pohl, was built in 1934 and a roofed stand was constructed especially for a visit by Hitler. However, the dictator’s reception then took place at short notice at another location in the city.
This stand still stands today and makes the hearts of soccer romantics beat faster. But not for much longer, as a modern stadium has been built around it and the stand will soon be demolished so that all sides of the stadium, which was rebuilt in 2016, look modern and uniform. To feel the unique atmosphere in the stadium, it is of course best to attend a Górnik (translated: “miners”) match. Alternatively, you can also take part in a guided tour in English and, if you wish, you can even be picked up from your hotel by the team bus!
Church of St. Joseph
After leaving the stadium, I immediately noticed the neighboring church with its unusual arched front. After asking around, I found out that it was designed by Dominikus Böhm, who I had already read a lot about as part of my research for my Ulm and Neu-Ulm travel guide and who is definitely one of the most exciting church architects of the 20th century.
The building was constructed within just one and a half years in the Expressionist style and has nothing in common with the many Baroque and Gothic churches that are otherwise familiar in Poland. There are forty windows inside, symbolizing the 40-day wandering of the Israelites through the desert. With its unusual design, St. Joseph’s (Polish: Kościół św. Józefa) is definitely one of the most exciting churches in Silesia and one of the most important sights in Zabrze.
Queen Luise Gallery
The walk through the Guido mine was quite strenuous. It’s a good thing that there is still the Königin-Luise-Stollen (Sztolnia Królowa Luiza, formerly Hauptschlüssel-Erbstollen). There is a drainage channel here, which diverted the water from the newly built mines into a canal that then led into the Oder. The site was created as early as 1800 and, of course, no one thought of creating a special kind of tourist attraction here back then. And that is exactly what makes the tunnel so attractive.
Here you can travel through the tunnel on small boats, sometimes in complete darkness. In some places, Silesian legends are projected onto the wall in an effective way and through the skillful use of light. Then we walk on metal bridges through the underground – a unique experience that I will remember for a long time to come!
Military technology museum
The Muzeum Techniki Wojskowej ( Military Technology Museum ) is located right next to the Königin Luise Stollen, which also has a small recreational park with a beach, playground and barbecue huts. On display is heavy equipment from the Second World War, but above all from the time of the Polish People’s Republic, when Poland was still a socialist state. The exciting thing is that a lot of effort is made to get the old equipment up and running again, so that you can see a tank “in action” up close.
Park Miliona Świateł
Behind the beautiful name “Park of a Million Lights” lies a unique attraction that you can visit in the evening hours between November and February. Countless LED lights have been combined here to create unique works of art that are a real feast for the eyes, and not just for children. Glittering and sparkling everywhere, a lake has also been incorporated into the concept alongside a park landscape.
Whether you’re strolling through the “Allee der Verliebten”, drinking mulled wine at the small Christmas market, whizzing down a ramp on a tire or simply enjoying the unique interplay of lights and background music – you won’t want to leave!
Steel house
You first have to come up with the idea of building a house entirely out of steel. In the 1920s, there was a lot of experimentation with new designs and what could be more obvious than to try out the steel produced in the Donnersmarck-Hütte? It was tried at four other locations in the city, but the idea probably never caught on.
Although it was possible to build an entire house in just a few days, it really doesn’t look very cozy, especially as the floors and ceilings were made entirely of steel and lightning often struck here. The architects had at least thought of this; the house functions like a Faraday cage so that nothing can happen here, even if residents report that their hair often stands on end when there is lightning. I wouldn’t want to live here, but the house on Ulica Cmentarna certainly makes a great photo opportunity!
Jewish cemetery
The city’s old Jewish cemetery is just a stone’s throw away from the Stahlhaus. It was laid out in the 19th century and is unfortunately not in particularly good condition. However, this is also what makes this place so special and enchanted and bears witness to the rich Jewish history of Zabrze. Sometimes the graves are magnificent, sometimes very simple and both German and Hebrew inscriptions adorn the gravestones. There is also a mass grave here for Jews who were murdered in the Zabrze camp, a sub-camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. We can only hope that the money can soon be raised to restore this important memorial site.
Zandka colony
The name of this workers’ settlement not far from the Jewish cemetery is derived from the German word “Sand”. The complex was built for the workers in the Donnersmarck Ironworks and comprises several streets, with the houses in Ulica Krakusa being among the most beautiful. The houses were built in the first two decades of the 20th century, but if you forget the cars and satellite dishes, nothing has changed since then and you can experience a little journey back in time to the height of industrialization. Although many of the brick buildings have seen better days, this is what makes the streets lined with plane trees so charming.
Admiral’s Palace
The fact that many architecturally exciting buildings were created in the 1920s, which stood for the dawn of a new era, is not only evidenced by the Stahlhaus. The Admiralspalast at the station is another example of the creative energy of those years and was designed by Richard Bielenberg and Josef Moser. During the construction of the building, which was planned as a hotel, there was a surprise, as they had tried to build it right over a tunnel, which is why an additional reinforced concrete slab had to be installed to prevent it from collapsing. And so the Admiralspalast still stands today and even if a certain patina has already settled over the hotel, the building still fascinates with its rounded corners and expressionist design language.
District office
Before Hindenburg was granted city rights, several villages were administered from the building of the district administration office, which was built in 1875 and was located in the former Dorotheenstraße (today: Ulica 3 Maja). The beautiful building was recently restored and is now used by the Coal Mining Museum(Muzeum Górnictwa Węglowego). Unfortunately, it also has a dark past, as in communist times it was used by the UB – the Polish equivalent of the Stasi – which also ran a prison in the basement. Fortunately, none of this has remained and today spectacular temporary exhibitions are shown here, for which the historic rooms have been refurbished in a modern style. Don’t miss the wonderful staircase and the hall with the stained glass windows on the second floor!
Water tower
There used to be countless water towers in the city. One particularly beautiful specimen now houses an exciting exhibition, a café and a viewing platform. Built in 1909, the building has had a modern extension since 2022 and there is no other place in the city from which you have such a good view of Zabrze and the surrounding area as from here. The exhibition is entirely dedicated to the subject of coal, with a focus on its physical and chemical properties. From over 40 meters you can see how surprisingly green Zabrze is and on a clear day you can see as far as the Beskids. You can round off your visit to the latest sights in Zabrze with delicious cakes and tarts in the café!
Zabrze restaurants
Feeling hungry after visiting the many sights in Zabrze? No problem, here are some Zabrze restaurant tips for you, because the city also has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine! And if you’re still not sure what to eat, read our article on the most delicious Polish dishes!
- Szyb Maciej, ul. Srebrna 6 A chic restaurant and bistro has moved into the superstructure of the old “Concordia” coal shaft, where you can sample delicious classics of Silesian cuisine. The multi-award-winning restaurant even has its own top-quality water source, and you can take a guided tour of the old winding tower and enjoy the view over the city.
- U Kelnerów, plac Warszawski 5. “By the waiters” is the name of this restaurant, as the graduates of a waiter and cookery school have joined forces to open a restaurant here. In a modern ambience and with very friendly service, you can enjoy delicious pizzas, pasta and Polish dishes with a modern twist, with the presentation of the food itself being a real highlight.
- Valdi Classic, ul. Jerzego Wyciska 1 In a beautiful building from the early 20th century, Polish classics of the highest standard are served in a dignified ambience. You can even spend the night in the villa, some rooms are available to rent.
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