The website of the town of Zabrze

Location: southern Poland                                                                                              
Population: 171,691
Mayor: Małgorzata Mańka-Szulik
Distance from Nový Jičín: 121 km
Industry: manufacture of car parts, mining,
Twin towns: Essen, Lund – Sweden, Rotterdam – UK, Rovereto – Italy, Rivne – Ukraine, Trnava – Slovakia, Zahlé – Lebanon

Basic information

Zabrze is a town situated in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship. It lies between Gliwice and Katowice.

The town’s history is closely linked to the discovery of black coal deposits in the late 18th century and the subsequent rapid industrialisation of the region. The most famous mine is called Guido (dating from the mid-19th century), which is now open to visitors as an open-air museum. Zabrze is situated between Gliwice and Katowice.

In 1905, Stare Zabrze, Małe Zabrze and Dorotheendorf were administratively merged. Together, they had a population of 55,643 and were nicknamed ‘the largest village in Europe’ (at that time, they did not have town status). During the First World War, the village was renamed in honour of Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. On 1 October 1922, the municipality was granted town status. In 1991, the town reached its peak population of 205,789.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Industrial heritage sites:

• The ‘Queen Louise’ Mining Museum – the oldest mine in Zabrze, in operation since 1791 and active until 1998
• The Guido Mine – up to 355 metres deep

Churches:

• Church of St John the Baptist – a Neo-Gothic building dating from 1863
• Church of St Andrew – located in Staré Zabrze (1868)
• Church of St Hedwig – a wooden church dating from 1929

Other landmarks:

• The Steel House – the name given to an experimental residential building at 7d Cmentarna Street, which was built in 1927 in 26 days from prefabricated steel panels
• Jewish Cemetery – established in 1872; around 500 graves have been preserved

Famous personalities:

• Andrzej Czok – he has climbed a total of four eight-thousanders, as well as peaks such as the Eiger and Mont Blanc
• Karl Godula – industrial magnate

Points of interest:

• An international tourism fair is held in Zabrze every year.
• House of Music and Dance – opened in 1959; the auditorium has a capacity of 2,000 seats.
• Roma Cinema – located at 4 Padlewskiego Street, it is one of the most beautiful cinemas in Upper Silesia; it opened in 1912 and, more than a century later, remains a meeting place for film lovers.
• The Zabrze Philharmonic – Founded in 1950 by the miners’ trade union to promote the popularity of classical music amongst workers.